Liverpool finally overcame Crystal Palace at a fourth attempt this season.

Alexander Isak broke the deadlock on 35 minutes by trapping an Alexis Mac Allister shot inside the area and fired a half-volley beyond Dean Henderson.

The Premier League champions extended their lead shortly before the half-time interval courtesy of Andy Robertson’s rolled finish from a counterattack.

But the visitors halved their deficit in unsporting fashion when Daniel Munoz chipped into an empty net while Freddie Woodman was down injured.

Florian Wirtz settled any late nerves deep in added time with a rifled finish after latching onto Mac Allister’s chested ball into his path in the penalty area.

Arne Slot’s side leapfrogged Aston Villa in the race for a Champions League position, moving up to fourth after sealing back-to-back wins in the top flight.

Here were the key talking points from Anfield:

Is Salah’s farewell tour already over?

It was the moment that Liverpool fans hoped would not happen before time.

Mohamed Salah’s Anfield farewell tour has been in the works since he announced his impending departure during the March international break.

But the Egypt international may have played his final game in a red shirt.

Salah does not suffer injuries lightly; his eight years with the Premier League champions has been testament to a player at the peak of physical condition.

That all changed in the 60th minute on Saturday as the 33-year-old clutched his hamstring following a challenge from Palace midfielder Adam Wharton.

As home supporters warmly applauded his protracted withdrawal, Salah’s lingering look at all four sides of the famous stadium felt worryingly revealing.

After 440 appearances, 257 goals and 119 assists, was this really goodbye?

Salah will still be soaking Kopites’ acclaim after their season finale with Brentford but if this is the end, it was not the way he or they envisaged it.

Red show signs of bright future

Exactly 12 months ago this weekend, Liverpool clinched their 20th title.

Anfield basked in glorious sunshine as an emphatic thrashing of Tottenham clinched their quest for a record-equalling coronation as English champions.

The timeline has shifted considerably since, with Arne Slot’s side suffering the mother of all nosedives after clinching that much-coveted domestic success.

Attempts by the Dutchman to put a brave face on the predicament by insisting that the club’s future is still ‘bright’ were invariably derided in some quarters.

He may feel a sense of vindication as shoots of growth belatedly sprouted against Palace in Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz’s resurgent understanding.

At a combined £241 million, the pair have struggled to live up to their lofty price tags on a consistent basis; something not helped by Isak’s injury lay-off.

Since returning, the Swede has shown visible signs of ring rust but appeared much sharper on this outing and was rewarded with his well-taken opener.

Wirtz, too, produced a clinical finish to put this game beyond Oliver Glasner’s side deep in added time as the visitors were mercilessly pushing for a leveller.

Maybe Slot’s forecast was, despite this season’s travails, not that far off at all.

Jones can solve right-back dilemma

Liverpool’s right-back position has been a problematic one this term.

Since Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure last summer, no fewer than six players have occupied the role during the course of the current campaign.

Injuries meant that Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez, Jeremie Frimpong and Wataru Endo never had a regular run of games to consistently fulfil the spot.

Dominik Szoboszlai appeared to be the most reliable and proficient fit but it still came at a cost of losing his best qualities in the midfield department.

Another player from the engine room, however, may be a more suitable option after Curtis Jones’s back-to-back starts on the right side of defence.

Much like the Hungarian, who has made no secret of his preferred position, Jones will not envisage his long-term Liverpool future in that part of the pitch..

Yet the academy graduate was still able to drive forward in a fashion not too dissimilar to Alexander-Arnold in his pomp to set up Andy Robertson’s goal.

It may only be a temporary solution but Jones could have found a new calling.