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By RIATH AL-SAMARRAI, CHIEF SPORTS FEATURE WRITER Published: 01: 29 AEST, 26 April 2026 | Updated: 02: 47 AEST, 26 April 2026 13 View comments Where one drama ends another begins. For Liverpool, the consolation to a poor season will almost certainly come in the form of Champions League qualification after a ropey win against Crystal Palace, but it remains to be seen if Mohamed Salah will be fit to see it through. His removal shortly before the hour mark with what appeared to be a hamstring injury will inevitably stir fears of an anti-climactic end to one of the most sterling club shifts the Premier League has known. As he left the field, he waved to all four corners of Anfield in one of those gestures that will only enhance the anxiety around his forthcoming scans. From there, he departed straight down the tunnel, with the mood eventually lifted by a 3-1 win that strengthened recent momentum for Arne Slot’s side. Whether Slot can be entirely satisfied with the mechanics of victory is another matter. Having relied heavily on his third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, Liverpool burst into a sprint with goals from Alexander Isak and Andy Robertson, before allowing one of those late wobbles that have been synonymous with their dismal title defence. First, Palace pulled one back through Daniel Munoz in semi-farcical scenes when Woodman was down injured – cue some localised outrage – and then Jorgen Strand Larsen hit both posts off a single strike. Liverpool’s confidence is a frail commodity, indeed, and those final 20 minutes highlighted a mental shortcoming for the umpteenth time. Floran Wirtz struck a brilliant half-volley for 3-1 that added some favourability to the numbers, but it was a tough win, albeit one that extended their league streak to three and ended their Palace curse. Mohamed Salah was forced off with an injury which could prematurely end his Liverpool career Alexander Isak was on target as Liverpool strengthened their grip on a Champions League spot This was a good day for both Wirtz and Isak and, belatedly, those who sanctioned the £241million outlay for their signings. Isak’s volley for 1-0 was well placed and Wirtz played a supporting role in the creation of Robertson’s goal before scoring the pick of the bunch himself. But there remains work to be done in forging a relationship between two such costly elements of the machine. If these final games serve any broader purpose, it must be the establishment of a rapport between the pair. And yet Isak was still too slow here in anticipating Wirtz’s intentions, and from the other side, Wirtz, at No 10, repeatedly favoured Salah and Cody Gakpo instead of his centre forward. The greater issue of the two remains Isak. This performance, including the goal, were an upgrade on what we have seen but he isn’t yet sharp and his movement patterns are out of sync with the team’s best creator. That needs to change. If Liverpool’s ruling class hoped their ticket-price hikes would pass unchallenged, they got it wrong. At the pre-designated moment of the 13th minute, the yellow fliers raging against inflated costs were raised en masse – almost the entire stadium participated, reinforced by a chorus: ‘You greedy b******s, enough is enough. ’ Liverpool fans raised yellow fliers raging against inflated ticket prices in the 13th minute Daniel Munoz pulled one back for Crystal Palace with goalkeeper Freddie Woodman down, leading to angry reactions from Liverpool players Given the injuries to Alisson Becker and Giorgi Mamardashvili, this was Woodman’s first league start for Liverpool and it was an opportunity well taken. The highlight was his excellent stop from a Jean-Philippe Mateta header that set in train the move for Roberston’s goal. There were two other strong saves to deny Mateta and Jaydee Canvot, and another in the second half from Ismaila Sarr, though he injured his knee in the course of the latter, allowing Munoz to finish into an empty net. Liverpool grumbled about poor sportsmanship, but Palace played to the whistle so it was a thin claim.
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