A Historic Day at Anfield
A day filled with firsts and possible lasts unfolded at Anfield, marking a significant moment in Liverpool’s recent history. For the first time, the club’s £100m players were paired on the scoresheet as Alexander Isak found the back of the net in the Premier League at Anfield. Andy Robertson, meanwhile, scored what is likely his final goal for the club. This day signified the end of an era, even though Liverpool has yet to show that their massive spending will lead to a new chapter.
The game was a mix of old and new. Florian Wirtz’s 96th-minute goal, a beautifully executed strike from 12 yards, meant he and Isak both scored in the same match, although the Swede had already been substituted by then. Robertson’s goal added to the impressive combined value of the three scorers, which totals £249m, although he only accounts for £8m of that.
Emotional farewells are expected, and one may happen quickly. If this was the day when Mohamed Salah scored in front of the Kop for the last time, he instead limped off, applauding all four stands. This gesture may have hinted at fears that a suspected hamstring injury could rule him out of Liverpool’s next four matches. “We don’t know,” said Arne Slot. “Let’s hope for the best.”
For the departing duo of Salah and Robertson, the end is near. They seem more likely to leave a club with Champions League football. Anfield was ecstatic at times, anxious at others. Crystal Palace, often a challenging opponent, came close to an equaliser, with substitute Jorgen Strand Larsen’s shot hitting both posts. However, they failed to achieve the historic feat of becoming the first team to beat Liverpool four times in a season. Instead, Wirtz delivered his first goal in 14 games, and Liverpool now sit eight points clear of sixth-place Brighton, possibly needing just one more win for a top-five finish. “The Champions League is so important to this football club, and we’ve made a big step,” said Robertson.
He represents the opposite of Isak and Wirtz, being one of the great bargains in Liverpool’s modern history compared to the two most expensive arrivals. In the long term, Isak’s opener may prove more significant, but the second goal felt more sentimental. There may be no more popular strike at Anfield this season, given the few finer servants for Liverpool in the last decade than Robertson.
Anfield erupted, with injured Alisson punching the air, after Liverpool transitioned from one penalty area to the other. Ibrahima Konate, Wirtz, and Curtis Jones combined to release Robertson. Charging down the pitch, Robertson rolled back the years, rolling his shot past Dean Henderson. “A striker’s finish,” quipped the left-back. “Maybe I need to sit down Alex and Hugo [Ekitike] after that.” Though any lessons would come from a man with 14 goals in 376 games for Liverpool.
Yet if Robertson is a stranger to the scoresheet, Isak was not supposed to be. “Did anyone ever think we would say this eight or nine months ago, that Alexander Isak scored his first [league] goal for Liverpool at Anfield [in April]?” asked Slot. “That sums up this season. But it is really nice he has scored one. Many times this season we had better chances than we had today. That is why it is important to have players who can score goals like this.”
The opportunist in Isak controlled Alexis Mac Allister’s misdirected shot, turned and bobbled a shot past Dean Henderson. It was Isak’s first goal of 2026 and his first since returning to fitness; if he has indeed returned, given how little he moved initially. He had four touches before he scored. But after being a passenger, his predatory instincts awakened. Then he was more involved, giving Liverpool more optimism.
But the main ovations at the end were for Robertson and Freddie Woodman, whose first Premier League start for Liverpool, coming against his boyhood club, was eventful and eventually triumphant. “The moment of the game was the lead-up to the 2-0, where Freddie made a big save or it would have been 1-1,” said Slot. The deputy for Alisson and Giorgi Mamardashvili saved well from Jean-Philippe Mateta’s header and, seconds later, Robertson struck. There was a second terrific stop to keep out Maxence Lacroix’s header. The Kop chorused, “England’s No 1”.
Not quite, but just as Liverpool’s third choice made a second fine save from Ismaila Sarr, he conceded in painful fashion. “My knee got stuck in the ground,” said Woodman, who went down. Daniel Munoz directed a chip into the unguarded goal. “The referee should stop the game,” claimed Slot, though Andy Madley was not obliged to.
Anfield booed, but Palace manager Oliver Glasner argued Munoz was blameless. “With Daniel, it was parallel – the keeper raises his arm at the same time he is about to shoot,” he said. He felt Madley made the right decision. “To demand the referee has to stop the game can be very dangerous for the future,” the Austrian said. “That wouldn’t be the best for football.”
Glasner was in touchline discussions with Slot and Virgil van Dijk and added: “For me, it was clear, the keeper gets up.” But there was an intriguing addendum amid suggestions Liverpool wanted Palace to let them score. “If he doesn’t and he has to be subbed, then they could have definitely scored in our goal because then it would have been a serious injury.”
Woodman carried on – meaning Slot did not need to turn to fourth-choice goalkeeper Armin Pesci – and Munoz’s strike almost came at a further cost to Liverpool when Wharton released Strand Larsen. But, in the end, Liverpool did not need Palace to gift them a goal. Wirtz scored instead. So did Isak. That may make this an auspicious occasion. For Robertson and Woodman, anyway, it was a special one.
