Liverpool get glimpse of future as transformed Anfield left fearful, angry but ultimately delighted

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Liverpool have become synonymous with spurning chances this season. This, though, was one opportunity they made sure they wouldn’t miss.Even as the fates continued to conspire against them in new and unexpected ways, the Reds came through a test of their character and resolve to take a sizeable step towards ensuring the soothing balm of Champions League qualification after such a painful campaign.And in doing so, there was both a long-awaited glimpse of the future and the fear of having witnessed a premature farewell.On an afternoon when the Liverpool fanbase emphatically made their point over the planned increase in ticket prices, Anfield was transformed into a febrile, fervent arena the like of which have rarely been seen since the Premier League crown was sealed here 12 months ago.The reason was both a stirring performance from Arne Slot’s side and a controversial Crystal Palace goal that could easily have derailed the home team.Instead, a debut home Premier League goal for Alexander Isak and a welcome strike for Florian Wirtz – the first time the £241million duo have been on the scoresheet together – ensured the Reds avoided the historic ignominy of losing to the same opponents four times in the same season.With Aston Villa having stumbled earlier in the day and Chelsea slamming down on the self-destruct button during the week, Liverpool knew a third successive league win would move them into the top four for the first time in three months.Isak’s goal 10 minutes before the interval was the turning point, his lightning-fast improvised finish to turn in Alexis Mac Allister’s mishit shot precisely the kind of strike for which Liverpool splashed out a British record fee last summer.While the Sweden international had once again been peripheral up to that point, there was an undoubted improvement after an obvious weight was lifted from his shoulders.Wirtz, meanwhile, merited his first goal since January after a performance that indicated he was again warming to his number 10 role, helped by Dominik Szoboszlai, for the third game running, adding steel in one of the defensive midfield roles.

Mohamed Salah had been one of Liverpool’s most dangerous performers before limping off shortly before the hour to thunderous applause after suffering a suspected hamstring injury. Anfield will hope that isn’t the last they have seen of the Egyptian in action.Andy Robertson, meanwhile, continued his lap of honour with a superb finish for Liverpool’s second assisted by Curtis Jones, who followed his impressive performance as emergency right-back at Everton last week with another solid display.With no more midweek games remaining, Slot wasn’t compelled to overly rotate here.

Nevertheless, there was a notable change in midfield where Ryan Gravenberch was benched for only second time in the Premier League this season.His replacement, Mac Allister, overcame a slow start to play an important role, as did Freddie Woodman who, with Alisson Becker not yet fit enough to return and Giorgi Mamardashvili injured for several weeks, made his first top-flight start for Liverpool.If Woodman had been given a comfortable time of it when replacing Mamardashvili in the second half at Everton last week, Palace, the club he supported as a youngster and featured in the Academy, provided a much sterner examination.With the vast majority of the home crowd raising their yellow cards on 13 minutes to protest against the planned ticket price increases, a tight opening half-hour saw Chris Richards send a header over for Palace while Liverpool rightly had a penalty award overturned when Brennan Johnson made a good tackle to prevent a Salah break.And the Egyptian was heavily involved when the Reds went ahead on 35 minutes, found by Mac Allister and holding off Jaydee Canvot before making his way into the area. After Liverpool failed to properly clear a Palace corner, Jean-Philippe Mateta’s header was superbly saved by Woodman to prompt a swift counter-attack, Wirtz releasing a rampaging Jones who slipped in a pass for the overlapping Robertson to finish brilliantly into the far corner.Jones then had Woodman to thank for a smart close-range stop from Mateta after losing the ball, with the keeper then saving well from a Maxence Lacroix header shortly before half-time.Liverpool were controlling the second half when controversy struck on 71 minutes.