LIVERPOOL 3 – 1 CRYSTAL PALACE
Liverpool – Isak 35’, Robertson 40’, Wirtz 90+6’
Crystal Palace – Munoz 71’
Pre-Match
Today’s game is big for Liverpool’s hopes of a top four finish. They are in fifth place, but if they snag all three points against Crystal Palace at Anfield this afternoon, then they could end the weekend as high as third. Freddie Woodman starts his first game in the goal for Liverpool. Something something, hope he’s a man who guards the wood? I don’t know, did I get there? Alexander Isak leads the line, while Curtis
Jones starts as right back.
First Half
It starts out as a pretty open, end-to-end match. Both teams earn early corner kicks, though they come to nothing. Palace do seem slightly better in possession, but Florian Wirtz has the first good chance, charging the goal and getting off a shot that’s unfortunately turned behind.
On the other end, Richards heads over an empty goal, as Woodman was pulled out of position chasing the cross in. Good luck for Liverpool there. Same again five minutes later, when this time it’s Johnson who shoots well over the bar and into the Kop.
Mohamed Salah has a penalty shout about 25 minutes into the game. He rampages into the box, but a defender gets a foot on the ball and throws him off. The replay makes it clear that it was a clean tackle, and the game moves on.
It’s Isak who scores the first goal at 35 minutes in. Salah strides down the wing and sends it into the box. The ball gets deflected back to Mac Allister who shoots from distance. He doesn’t make a great connection, but the shot is intercepted by Isak, who takes a tough a strikes it true, past the goalkeeper.
Freddie Woodman makes a diving save to keep out the equalizing goal from Palace minutes later. This leads to a blisteringly fast break: Wirtz, who collects the rebound, to Jones, up to Andy Robertson. Robertson sails along the wing and takes a clean shot right into the far corner to make it 2-0. Woodman gets plenty of congratulations from Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil van Dijk for his fast reactions.
Woodman is really doing very well on his full Premier League debut. He makes another diving save near the end of the first half. The resulting rebound shot is sent over the bar for a corner.
The half ends with Liverpool up 2-0 and prepared to play towards the Kop in the second half.
Second Half
The second half begins unchanged for Liverpool. At about five minutes in, Sosa gets a shot off, but it’s wide and no stress for Woodman.
More worryingly, Salah goes down with an apparent hamstring injury. As he’s gingerly walking off of the pitch to be replaced by Jeremie Frimpong, he gives an extended cla[ to the fans and a long look around Anfield. You can tell he is afraid this will be his last game. That would be such a shame if one of the best — if not, potentially the best — players to ever wear a Liverpool shirt ends their career by limping off with an injury.
Crystal Palace rely on poor sportsmanship to pull one back. Woodman makes a save and goes down injured. As Liverpool players signal to the referee to stop the game, Munoz sends the ball into the net. Technically allowed, but crummy, and boos ring out across Anfield and the players, particularly Konaté and van Dijk are not happy.
Goalscorer Isak comes off for Ryan Gravenberch to help solidify the defense and preserve Liverpool’s one goal lead for the last 15 or so minutes left in this match.
It’s getting dicey in the final 10 minutes. Palace nearly score twice in as many minutes. The first is deemed offside, the second ricochets off both goalposts and never crosses the line.
Jones and potential game winner Robertson both come off for Joe Gomez and Milos Kerkez.
Despite the nervy finish, it’s Wirtz who gets the last goal. It’s a rocket into the bottom corner that seals the deal for the Reds.
Final Thoughts
The Reds jump to joint third with Manchester United, pending the Red Devils’ game against Brentford on Monday evening. Still, the potential loss of Salah stings. Here’s hoping it’s nothing serious and we see him play again before the season’s over.
