Alexander Isak finally had his Anfield moment as Liverpool battled to a huge 3-1 win over Crystal Palace.
It has not been the easiest return for the striker. Isak has looked dangerous in flashes, but there have also been too many games where things simply have not dropped for him in the box. Against Palace, that changed.
The finish was sharp, and badly needed. It was his first Premier League goal at Anfield this season, which feels almost impossible given his quality. After the game, Arne Slot made it clear just how strange that statistic really is.
Who was the best performer in a nervy win against Crystal Palace? 👀
Liverpool v Crystal Palace - Premier League
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Arne Slot discusses Alexander Isak goal and injury luck
Slot was understandably pleased with the way Liverpool kept going against Palace. It wasn’t a straightforward afternoon, and there were moments when the game could have turned against the Reds.
But Liverpool found a way through it, with Isak and Andy Robertson setting them on the right path before Florian Wirtz finished the job late on.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Slot said: “We’ve played many games this season where we deserved more than we got. It was equal and it could’ve ended differently. We kept fighting and were able to score another goal.
“A great goal from Florian, work rate, we created our own luck as well. Freddie had an unbelievable game, made a lot of saves. Alex [Isak] scored his first at Anfield this season, which you can hardly believe. That tells you how much bad luck he has had.”
Alexander Isak scores for Liverpool during their Premier League match against Crystal Palace at Anfield.
Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
For a player like Isak, going this deep into the season without a league goal at Anfield is not what we would have expected — even with the injury. He has had fitness issues, difficult moments and the team has not quite clicked around him.
Isak needed it, Liverpool needed it, and fans certainly enjoyed seeing him finally get that moment. The hope now is that it gives him something to build on over the final games of the season.
Arne Slot on Andy Robertson goal and Liverpool exit
Isak was not the only Liverpool player with a big moment against Palace. Exit-bound Robertson also got himself on the scoresheet with what could be his last goal in a red shirt.
Slot, though, was not interested in turning Robertson’s goal into a farewell discussion straight after such an important win.
Asked about Robertson after the game, he said: “I don’t think that’s the moment to talk about that. I think we should talk about how important his goal was and how important this win was.
“The fans appreciate him a lot and he appreciates the club and the fans as well. Let’s see what the future brings but at this moment in time it should all be about his goal because he doesn’t score that many.”
Will Liverpool overtake United and finish third?
Here's how the table looks after the Reds' 3-1 win over Palace 👇
Florian Wirtz knee slides in celebration after scoring for Liverpool during their Premier League match against Crystal Palace at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Liverpool FC).
Photo credit: Getty Images/Liverpool FC
That was a sensible answer. For now, the focus should be on the goal and the win.
Robertson does not score many, as Slot pointed out, but this one mattered. It helped Liverpool through a nervy afternoon, and gave one of the club’s modern legends yet another special Anfield moment.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox