Final Thoughts: Mohamed Salah’s Record-Breaking Season Continues as Liverpool Lift the Premier League Title | OneFootball

Liverpool 1 – 1 Crystal Palace – The Postmortem

With the Premier League title already clinched, this final home fixture served more as a celebration than a contest for either team. On a sun-drenched Anfield afternoon, the presentation of the Premier League trophy was the true main event and the match prior was merely the appetiser to the main event. The encounter itself offered a reminder that this squad—mentally on the beach for several weeks—still has depth issues to be addressed, particularly if Arne Slot is to build on this triumph next season.

Reports this week of players linked are not a coincidence.

For Crystal Palace, it was a chance to spoil the party, and they nearly did just that and celebrated their FA Cup win over a crest-fallen Manchester City. Oliver Glasner’s men took advantage of a sluggish Liverpool first half but were eventually reeled back by the enduring brilliance of Mohamed Salah.

Photo: IMAGO

The Starting Elevens

Liverpool:

• GK – Alisson Becker

• RB – Conor Bradley

• CB – Ibrahima Konaté

• CB – Virgil van Dijk (c)

• LB – Andy Robertson

• CM – Ryan Gravenberch

• CM – Curtis Jones

• CM – Dominik Szoboszlai

• RW – Mohamed Salah

• CF – Luis Díaz

• LW – Cody Gakpo

Crystal Palace:

• GK – Dean Henderson

• RWB – Daniel Muñoz

• RCB – Maxence Lacroix

• CB – Chris Richards

• LCB – Jefferson Lerma

• LWB – Tyrick Mitchell

• CM – Will Hughes

• CM – Daichi Kamada

• RW – Eberechi Eze

• LW – Ismaïla Sarr

• CF – Jean-Philippe Mateta

Substitutes:

Trent Alexander-Arnold – Conor Bradley – 45’

Darwin Núñez – Ibrahima Konaté – 62’

Diogo Jota – Dominik Szoboszlai – 62’

Wataru Endo – Luis Díaz – 69’

Harvey Elliott – Andy Robertson – 85’

Goals (Assisted by):

Liverpool 0 – 1 Crystal Palace

Ismaïla Sarr (Tyrick Mitchell) – 9’

Liverpool 1 – 1 Crystal Palace

Mohamed Salah (Cody Gakpo) – 73’

Match Statistics

Possession – Liverpool 69% – 31% Crystal Palace

XG – Liverpool 2.17 – 1.75 Crystal Palace

Total Shots – Liverpool 14 – 8 Crystal Palace

Shots On Target – Liverpool 3 – 5 Crystal Palace

Corners – Liverpool 11 – 0 Crystal Palace

Fouls – Liverpool 7 – 10 Crystal Palace

Yellow Cards – Liverpool 2 – 0 Crystal Palace

Red Cards – Liverpool 1 – 0 Crystal Palace

Saves – Liverpool 4 – 2 Crystal Palace

First Half

A carnival atmosphere at Anfield didn’t quite translate onto the pitch, as mindsets struggled to adjust back to the levels which secured a 20th English league title. Liverpool looked half-paced, their tempo dulled by the occasion and recent title celebrations. It was clear that training had been replaced with a staggered schedule that would enhance the squad’s rest period, however, game week 38 was still needed. It was Palace who took the lead, as Tyrick Mitchell exposed the space left by an overeager Conor Bradley and fed a clever pass into Ismaïla Sarr. The former Championship attacker dispatched calmly past Alisson as his defensive group failed to protect the world-class Brazilian.

Liverpool huffed and puffed but lacked incision in a game verging on stagnation. Gravenberch and Szoboszlai offered limited drive, Curtis Jones failed to replicate the brilliance of Alexis Mac Allister, and Salah was unusually quiet. Given the limited opportunities to head into the dressing room all square, there seemed to be an acceptance in the game and that the post-match party were all that mattered.

Second Half

Changes at the break saw Trent Alexander-Arnold return to a standing ovation (thanks in part to Jurgen Klopp’s plea), which saw Liverpool immediately play with more clarity and conviction. However, any momentum was stalled when Gravenberch received a straight red card just after the hour mark for a reckless tackle, reducing the hosts to ten. The game was slipping and another loss was incoming, until a legendary goal scorer rose to the Anfield fore and created even more elation within the famous stands.

Following a quick transition down the left, Cody Gakpo found space before cleverly squaring for Mohamed Salah to finish with composure. The Egyptian King delivered yet again and the 29th goal within this Premier League season was secured. Slot introduced Núñez, Jota, Endo, and Elliott, in search of a winner, but with the extra man, Palace were able to hold on despite the efforts of the alterations.

Final Thoughts

Liverpool’s title lift was the true headline and the weeks leading up to the Virgil van Dijk trophy lift have been little more than a countdown to euphoria. The intensity has waned with the job done, and this match served more as a symbolic farewell than a battle for points, something which has allowed the squad an extended rest from the pressures of elite-level football. With Gravenberch’s red card and key players showing signs of fatigue, it’s clear how thin the margins are between celebration and concern. Forget about totals and the tears from North London, a stroll to the finish line in the final month shows nothing more than overall dominance.

Arne Slot will know this squad—while good enough to lift a title—needs additions, especially with a potential summer of turnover looming.

Palace earned their draw. Liverpool earned their trophy and the pitch became a dance floor for the champions.

Steven Smith’s Score Prediction:

Liverpool 3 – 1 Crystal Palace