Liverpool moved up to fourth in the Premier League with a third straight win, but their victory was overshadowed by an injury to Mohamed Salah. The Reds overcame bogey side Crystal Palace, who had beaten them three times this season, but lost Salah to an apparent hamstring injury.
Isak and Robertson Strike
Alexander Isak put Liverpool ahead, bobbling a shot into the corner after the home side saw a penalty overturned by VAR for Brennan Johnson's tackle on Salah. Liverpool then offered a glimpse of their past, as Andy Robertson produced a perfect effort into the bottom corner to finish a sweeping counter-attack.
The occasion took a turn when Salah was forced off with an apparent hamstring injury, in what could prove to be his final game for the club. Palace then pulled a goal back in bizarre and controversial fashion, with Daniel Munoz chipping into an unguarded net after Freddie Woodman was injured.
Jorgen Strand Larsen nearly made it 2-2, but his effort hit the post and rolled along the line. There were a few more nervous moments, but Florian Wirtz sealed the points with a stunning injury-time strike as Liverpool saw out the game to leapfrog Aston Villa in the Premier League table and strengthen their grip on a place in next season's Champions League.
VAR Gets One Right
It does get forgotten in the modern age of online outrage and increasingly polarised viewpoints that, occasionally, VAR reminds you why it was first introduced. When referee Andy Madley pointed to the spot, Johnson must have felt relieved that VAR was in action and would save his skin.
Salah's reaction suggested he wasn't convinced it was a penalty and replays showed that Johnson got a toe to the ball while sliding in to stop the Egyptian. Once Madley was sent to the pitchside monitor, it was a straightforward overturn - and a refreshing reminder of the power of the technology.
Isak Finally Back Scoring
Isak cost Liverpool £125million. His debut campaign in a red shirt has been nothing short of a disaster, with injury and a lack of fitness undermining his ambition to hit the ground running for his new side. But now finally ready, his time has come, with Hugo Ekitike sidelined with a serious injury.
His first goal since December 20 - and his fourth in 21 appearances altogether this season - was not a pretty sight. His first touch from Alexis Mac Allister's shot cushioned the ball perfectly before his shot ricocheted fortuitously off the ground and over Dean Henderson's dive. It was his first in the league at Anfield for Liverpool - and fans will hope the first of many.
Woodman Steps Up
No Alisson. No Giorgi Mamardashvili. No problem. When Woodman joined Liverpool from Preston in the summer, he would've hoped to get an opportunity, but he must have known it might never come.
When it did, he stood up, while playing against the side he grew up supporting in south London. Liverpool's counter-attack for their second goal was started by Woodman's low save from a Jean-Philippe Mateta header and he made sure it was 2-0 at half-time by pushing away a back-post header from Maxence Lacroix.
The match started with a tetchy atmosphere at Anfield, with fans protesting an increase in ticket prices by holding up yellow cards, but there was a party atmosphere later on as chants of "England's number one!" went around.
Salah Goes Off Injured
The celebratory atmosphere was impacted when Salah went down holding the back of his left leg following an inocuous challenge on the edge of the Palace box. The referee waved away a half-hearted appeal for a free-kick, before Salah signalled to the bench.
The medical staff rushed onto the pitch, and after a consultation, Salah walked off to a round of applause from the home fans, to be replaced by Jeremie Frimpong. With just four games left of the season, there are fears it could be his final appearance for the club, ahead of his departure this summer.
Palace's Controversial Goal
The away side got back into the game in bizarre fashion when Munoz took advantage of Woodman being down to lob the static Liverpool defence and make it 2-1. Liverpool were furious with Palace for playing on while their goalkeeper was down after making a save one-on-one, but Arne Slot's defenders were culpable for not protecting their goal.
The officials only stop the game when it's a head injury and Woodman was able to carry on, meaning Slot didn't have to turn to his fourth-choice goalkeeper.
