Liverpool remembered just who they were with a resounding win against Crystal Palace, though injury to Mo Salah left fans fearing they have seen the last of a legend.
Liverpool 3-1 Crystal Palace
Premier League (34) | Anfield
April 25, 2026
Goals: Isak 35′, Robertson 40′, Wirtz 90+6′; Munoz 71′
Mo Salah’s Liverpool career could be over
It is always strange and somewhat painful when predicting a historic end. Many Liverpool fans will recall it well from the final days of Steven Gerrard – what does this club even look like without him and how does it move forward?
For weeks now we’ve known that the final farewell of Salah in a Liverpool shirt is approaching, and many have slowly started to make peace with that.
And yet, it may now have already come. Salah going down and clutching his hamstring on the hour mark did not look good.
This is a footballer famous for simply not getting injured. Wear and tear isn’t in Salah’s vocabulary and yet the Egyptian King knew straight away that something wasn’t right so would have to go off.
What came next was most concerning: the delayed exit, the long drawn stare at all four of Anfield’s corners as the applause rained down. Everyone will obviously hope otherwise, but this could have been Salah’s final-ever run out in the famous red shirt.
A legacy all but unrivalled.
Freddie Woodman – an unlikely hero
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 25, 2026: Liverpool's Freddie Woodman after the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 3-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The role of the No. 3 goalkeeper is a curious one. Most of the time these guys never ever play, they exist in case of a hypothetical that will never happen. Just ask Scott Carson at Man City for so many years.
But on Saturday, Woodman knew well in advance he was going to have to be front and centre, and he certainly did not disappoint.
Huge credit is due to the former Newcastle man, who fed off the energy of the crowd chanting his name and turned in a seriously impressive performance.
Numerous first-half saves had the Kop in voice, before a remarkable reflex save, down low to deny Jean-Philippe Mateta, led to him starting a counter which saw Andy Robertson bag one of his finest Liverpool goals.
Woodman played on valiantly despite injuring himself in the lead up to Palace’s questionable goal, and this game will live on long in the memory once his football career is wrapped up.
Anfield makes its ticket price stance loud
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 25, 2026: Liverpool supporters hold up a yellow card "Anfield's soul at risk" on 13 minutes in protest of the proposed ticket price increase during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool fans do things properly – no half measures – and so when the yellow card protest was arranged to take a stand against FSG’s proposed three-year increases in ticket prices, it was always going to land at maximum effect.
Right on the 13th minute, Anfield turned yellow, cards on every seat soaring into the air.
‘You greedy b******s, enough is enough’, boomed the chant for a full minute to follow. TV cameras panned perfectly to the sheepish face of CEO Billy Hogan in the stands, while his entourage shared smiles and forced spontaneous conversation.
Not a good look for the hierarchy, and the huge Boston Globe banner on the Kop imploring John Henry to listen to the fans sure hit the spot. Now we wait to see what comes next.
Adam Wharton fails to seize Liverpool audition
It is a poorly kept secret that Liverpool are interested in Adam Wharton. The England international is set to be flogged to the highest bidder by Palace this summer, as they seek once more to ease their financial concerns.
It’s clear Wharton has many, many attractive traits to his game. The sort of player whom managers would love to get their hands on and craft into a multi-functioning high performer.
But here, against a Liverpool midfield which was on the whole rather pedestrian, Wharton failed to grip the battle and bend the game to his will. The 22-year-old did display several beautifully weighted passes in behind, which is something the Reds could definitely benefit from in the future.
But, given figures of £70-£80 million are being spoken about, Wharton didn’t quite live up to the billing here. It will be interesting to see what transpires in the summer.
Arne Slot’s team are still too slow, but Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz will come good
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 25, 2026: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz speaks to the linesman during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Stats-wise, it is now becoming boring to say Florian Wirtz will come good.
The Germany international hasn’t had the most remarkable debut season while adjusting to English football, but his data is actually towards the top of the pile. Wirtz is second in the whole division for goal chance creations, and he slowly grew into the match here.
We saw some of the incisive passing and intelligent hold-up play, looking for the run of Isak in behind.
The duo are starting to read each other once more, which we last saw during the mid-season purple patch when each had started to collaborate on a more frequent basis, prior to Isak’s freak injury.
The Swede took his goal expertly, as did Wirtz, and the Liverpool forward line sure does have the sign of promising shoots growing. The team overall, however, needs to be much faster, more energetic and more ruthless.
For large patches against Palace, it was the familiar story of holding the ball, numerous contained passes going nowhere, a tortoise-pace progression of the ball from the edge of one area to another.
Liverpool have all the tools to scare opponents, but it still doesn’t feel as though they are being used in the correct manner.