Arne Slot met with the media after a 3-1 win vs. Crystal Palace. The boss provided a Mohamed Salah injury update, discussed whether the game felt closer than the scoreline indicated with a 2-0 lead and also shared his thoughts on Daniel Munoz’s controversial goal

Slot and the Liverpool medical staff are taking a wait-and-see approach when it comes to Salah’s injury, but the boss also hinted it could be serious.

“We all know how hard it is for him to leave the pitch. We take him out two minutes before the end, he is still like ‘I could have scored two more,’ so that tells you something, but we have to wait and see how bad it is. "Let's hope for the best and that he is available in the last part [of the season]."

With the way this season has gone, Liverpool supporters at Anfield and around the world did not feel all that comfortable when Andy Robertson scored to put the Reds up 2-0. Slot shared those feelings to an extent.

“Yes and no. It became much more nervy, and I don’t think we deserved to concede that goal in that particular fashion, but otherwise Palace was much more in the game than the 2-0 lead of us showed, so it wasn’t a complete surprise to me that they could score somewhere in the second half. Because they were getting closer and closer, but yeah, the way we conceded was, of course, not as expected.” 

Slot refused to blame Daniel Munoz for scoring when goalie Freddie Woodman was injured. Many around the football world say Munoz violated the spirit of fair play by not kicking the ball out of play.

“I don’t blame them, by the way, I think the referee should stop the game, which he did twice or three times earlier in the game, but you can see how I’m talking a little bit frustrated about that goal,” Slot added. “As I said, the amount of times that referees stop play for players that are not even injured, we all know that this happens a lot at the moment in the Premier League, overall in the world it is going to become a tactic to pretend that you’re injured for the referee to stop the play.” 

Based on Slot’s comments, I don’t have much hope for him returning to the pitch this incredibly sad season. I also agree that Daniel Munoz is not to blame for scoring for Crystal Palace. The referee should have recognised that it was a legitimate injury and stopped play.

What are your thoughts on Slot’s comments? Do you agree? Sound Off below

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Liverpool got a huge three points with a tense 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace. The victory moves the Reds even with Manchester United on points and goal difference as Liverpool now sit just outside the Top 3 on the table. The Victory comes at a cost, however, as Mohamed Salah was subbed off due to an apparent hamstring injury. We will look at that and other talking points from today’s match.

Mohamed Salah was having a brilliant game on the wing, as seen from the player ratings, but an apparent hamstring injury forced him off in the 59th minute. The way he left the pitch made me think that Salah has played his last match in a Liverpool shirt, which is unfortunate given that Arne Slot just said Salah was “Back To Normal” as far as goal-scoring form.

Third-String goalie Freddie Woodman turned in a top performance in his first EPL start for Liverpool. He made six saves and started the counterattack that led to Andy Robertson’s goal. He was able to shake off an injury during which Crystal Palace scored a cheap empty net goal, which Freddie was on the ground, and cover himself in glory thanks to several other big saves.

Andy Robertson doesn’t score many goals. In fact, it was only the 14th of Robertson’s long Liverpool career. It could also be his last as Robertson is leaving the club after the season. So the Scotsman took time to reflect on the strike.

“Obviously, our objectives this season have changed during the season due to our form,” Robertson said. “But I've said it all along, Champions League [qualification] is so important to this football club, and I think today we've made a big step. You're constantly trying to finish in the top five. Obviously, we knew Villa dropped points early doors, and we knew if we won, we could go above them. We want to chase the people above us, of course we do, and we want to make sure we secure Champions League, that's so important to this football club, and I think we've made a big step today."

It was a bittersweet day at Anfield as Mohamed Salah possibly played his final moments in his Liverpool career, and Andy Robertson scored, nearly, if not his last, goal for the club. But the three points proved to be big as the Reds are now firmly on their way to Champions League qualification. That seems to be the main focus of the club at the moment.

Have we seen the last of Mohamed Salah in a Liverpool shirt? Also, what are your thoughts on the Liverpool goal after the Woodman injury? Let us know below. 

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Liverpool jumped out to a two-goal lead, but a controversial second-half goal from Crystal Palace forced them into desperate defending until a stoppage-time goal from Florian Wirtz sealed the 3-1 win and three more points for the Reds

• Woodman (7/10) Very good work in goal and also sprung the counter that led to the second tally
• Robertson  (710) Looked like a striker on his goal
• Szoboszlai (6//10) Solid game but quiet in comparison to others
• Jones (7/10)  Best game in a while. Inch-perfect pass to Robertson for an assist
• Van Dijk (8/10) Strong game in the back. Tracked back well to snuff out dangerous moments
• Konate (7/10) Same as Van Dijk but clearances just did not come in as big of moments
• Gakpo (5/10)  Needed more chance creation  
• Wirtz (8/10) put the game way, and  won possession at critical times
• Salah (710) Did not score, a vinge performance creating chances in what could be his final performance after an injury
• Isak (6/10)  Good goal but got a bit lucky as he scuffed the shot. Not many other chances
• Mac Allister (5/10) Quiet day. Jones had a better performance in the midfield 

• Frimpong (6/10) Had a chance on a late counter to put the game away but put the shot wide
• Gravenberch (5/10) Bad foul to set up a late chance for the Eagles
• Gomez (6/10) Good defending in stoppage time
• Kerkez (6/10) Popped up in a few dangerous areas after coming on

• Arne Slot (8/10)  The boss has settled on a solid lineup and is sticking to it 

The only sour note from the match was the injury to Salah but a really impressive showing from Liverpool

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