Liverpool 1 – 1 C Palace – MC Global Concept

Mohamed Salah matched the Premier League record for goal involvements in a season as his late strike saw 10-player Liverpool draw 1-1 with Crystal Palace at a title party in front of their fans at Anfield.

Ismaila Sarr had threatened to spoil the hosts’ long-awaited celebrations after giving the visitors an early lead, not that that dampened the mood among the home fans, who had waited 35 years to watch their side lift the title.

One of the pre-match talking points had been whether the departing Trent Alexander-Arnold would make the starting line-up, but Slot opted once again to start with Conor Bradley at right-back, although the player’s name did receive a cheer when the teams were read out ahead of kick-off.

The other was whether the champions would give the recently crowned FA Cup winners their own guard of honour, which they did in what was a nice touch from the Reds in what was a party racous at Anfield, where former managers Jurgen Klopp and Rafael Benitez, as well as ex-captain Steven Gerrard, were all spotted in the build-up.

However, the Eagles did not read the script, taking a ninth-minute lead when Tyrick Mitchell intercepted Bradley’s pass down the line intended for Salah, before neatly spinning and finding Sarr, who coolly slotted past Alisson.

Alexander-Arnold was then brought on at half-time as Liverpool searched for a way into the contest, with the defender again receiving warm applause from around the ground, with the home fans maybe having taken on board Klopp’s advice not to boo the player.

However, despite huffing and puffing, the champions were largely frustrated by Palace and when Ryan Gravenberch, already on a yellow, was shown a straight red card for hauling down Daichi Kamada on halfway midway through the second half, the game appeared up for the Reds.

But the double Player of the Year was not to be denied, flashing home a late volley at the Kop End to bring up his record-equalling 47th goal involvement of a brilliant Premier League season that included a league-high 29 goals, as well as 18 assists.