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Liverpool player ratings from the 3-1 victory against Crystal Palace in the Premier League at Anfield.
Liverpool moved into fourth spot in the Premier League as they battled to a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace at Anfield.
Alexander Isak’s first home league goal and an Andy Robertson finish put the Reds in command at half-time. But Palace displayed spirit and while there was controversy surrounding Daniel Munoz’s goal, Florian Wirtz’s late strike ensure Arne Slot’s side took another step towards Champions League qualification.
It was the visitors who made the better start, with Chris Richards heading over the crossbar and Brennan Johnson shooting over the crossbar.
Liverpool thought they had a golden chance to break the deadlock on 23 minutes when they were awarded a penalty, with Johnson adjudged to have fouled Mo Salah. However, a VAR review deemed that Johnson had got something on the ball when tackling Salah and the decision was overturned.
Salah had the Reds’ first meaningful opportunity on 32 minutes when he crashed a first-time effort over the crossbar. But three minutes later, Liverpool were ahead through Isak. Alexis Mac Allister’s shot found its way to the striker, who displayed fine control before finishing beyond Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
Palace went agonisingly close to equalising in the 40th minute, with Jean-Philippe Mateta meeting a cross but Freddie Woodman - Liverpool’s third-choice goalkeeper deputising for injured pair Alisson Becker and Giorgi Mamardashvili - thwarted the header. From that save, Slot’s side launched a swift counter-attack, with Curtis Jones slipping in Robertson who produced a clinical finish into the far corner to double the advantage.
The Eagles did threaten to reduce the arrears in stoppage-time, with Maxence Lacroix left unmarked at the back post but Woodman made another good stop.
Palace continued to probe in the second half and they did find their way back into the game, but it was shrouded in controversy. Woodman saved from Ismaila Sarr and went down injured, but Munoz opted to take the opportunity to finish into an unguarded net.
That set up a nervy finish, with Jorgen Strand Larsen hitting the post although he might have been offside. But in the dying embers, Liverpool managed to quell any trepidation when Wirtz lashed into the far corner.
The win ensured Liverpool moved above Aston Villa in fourth spot but, more importantly, they stretched eight points clear of sixth-placed Brighton in the hunt for Champions League qualification.
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