British-record signing Alexander Isak scored as Liverpool moved closer to securing Champions League football next season, but the 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace owed as much to third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.
Isak's return to form
Isak, in only his fifth game back since fracturing a fibula at Tottenham in December, has naturally taken time to rediscover his sharpness after four months out. However, his opening strike was an example of why the club spent £125 million to sign him from Newcastle last summer, displaying the sort of instinctive finishing which the team has lacked.
Woodman's heroics
At the other end of the scale, the 29-year-old Woodman, on his full Premier League debut for the club, showed there is just as much value in free transfers. One brilliant save led seconds later to Andy Robertson scoring Liverpool's second goal.
Florian Wirtz scored in added time, his first since January, securing a third successive league win and moving Liverpool up to fourth, eight points clear of sixth-placed Brighton.
Controversial Palace goal
Palace's 71st-minute goal, controversially scored by Daniel Munoz – who lobbed the ball into an empty net with Woodman laid injured – subdued the mood. The only other cloud on a sunny afternoon was the sight of Mohamed Salah going off with an apparent hamstring injury.
With only four matches remaining, fans may well have seen the last of the club great on the pitch before his departure this summer after nine years, but he contributed plenty to a third successive league win.
Palace's focus on Europe
Palace's focus is on Thursday's UEFA Conference League semi-final against Shakhtar Donetsk, but they took the game to their opponents, outnumbering and outmanoeuvring them in midfield. Chris Richards headed over and Brennan Johnson wasted another chance before Liverpool thought they had won a penalty when Salah was brought down by Johnson – but VAR spotted the Palace player had got a touch on the ball.
Breakthrough and key saves
The breakthrough came in the 35th minute when Alexis Mac Allister's scuffed shot was controlled by the Sweden international, allowing the ball to drop before bouncing a left-footed shot beyond Henderson.
Woodman closed down Jean-Philippe Mateta after Curtis Jones was caught in possession for his first important save, but his second was a brilliant, instinctive reaction low down to his left to keep out the Frenchman's header. On the counter-attack, Jones slid in Robertson to guide a shot inside the far post. Most of his team-mates celebrated with the departing left-back, but central defenders Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate rushed to congratulate Woodman, a Palace academy graduate.
The Kop sang his name and the soon-to-return Alisson Becker applauded from the bench, with “England's number one” ringing out after he clawed Maxence Lacroix's header off the line.
Second half drama
Half-time Palace substitute Borna Sosa dragged a shot wide, Jaydee Canvot nicked the ball off Isak as he was about to pull the trigger, Salah was forced off, and then came the visitors' disputed goal. Woodman injured himself saving from Ismaila Sarr, and Munoz saw his opportunity to reduce the deficit.
For a moment it appeared the 21-year-old Armin Pecsi would be summoned from the bench, but Woodman continued and was relieved to see Jorgen Strand Larsson's shot rebound off one post, roll along the line, and clip the other upright.
