Mohamed Salah suffers injury vs Crystal Palace

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Liverpool dominated from the whistle, with Alexander Isak, recently returned from a broken leg, looking sharp and Andy Robertson doubling the lead. Image Credits: Imago ImagesThe atmosphere at Anfield on Saturday afternoon was a cocktail of triumph and trepidation.

While Liverpool appear to have finally broken their “Palace hoodoo” with a commanding performance, the sight of Mohamed Salah limping toward the tunnel in the second half has cast a long shadow over the 2-1 lead.Arne Slot’s side were efficient and purposeful from the first whistle. Alexander Isak, continuing his impressive return from a long-term injury, opened the scoring in the 35th minute with a predatory finish after pouncing on a scuffed shot from Alexis Mac Allister, his third goal since returning to the side.Five minutes later, Andy Robertson, preferred over Milos Kerkez for this fixture, doubled the lead by arriving late at the back post to thunder home a cross and give Liverpool a commanding 2-0 cushion before half-time.The second half brought drama of a different kind.Liverpool thought they had won a penalty when Salah went down under a challenge from Brennan Johnson, with referee Andy Madley initially pointing to the spot before a lengthy VAR review overturned the decision, replays showing Johnson had made contact with the ball before Salah lost his footing.That controversy was quickly overtaken by a far more serious concern.In the 6oth minute, Salah suddenly pulled up chasing a long ball, clutching his hamstring, and was helped from the pitch looking devastated.Jeremie Frimpong came on in his place and ensured Palace could not mount a comeback, but the loss of Salah’s creative influence was immediately visible.The three points have moved Liverpool to 58 points, level with Aston Villa in fourth place and seven points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea, with the Premier League’s confirmed fifth Champions League spot now firmly within their grasp.The return to Europe’s elite competition next season looks effectively secured.But the injury list at Kirkby tells a story of a squad pushed to its limits.Salah now joins Hugo Ekitike, out for the season with a ruptured Achilles, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni with long-term knee problems, Giorgi Mamardashvili sidelined after the derby collision, and Alisson Becker still working his way back to full fitness.If Salah’s hamstring injury is as serious as feared, Liverpool’s final four games of the season will serve as an early preview of life without their greatest modern icon, and a reminder of quite how much they still depend on him.