LONDON: The Reds were not at their free-flowing best in London despite enjoying most of the possession. They went behind in the 13th minute to a Luka Milivojevic penalty — Reds keeper Loris Karius having brought down Wilfried Zaha — before Sadio Mane levelled after the break. Despite having one of his quieter games, Mohamed Salah proved to be the match winner with an 84th-minute strike.
But while the performance was not that of a top-four side, Klopp did not seem to care, seemingly happy Liverpool were able to grind out a vital three points as they look to ensure Champions League football next season.
“The win was deserved,” Klopp said. “You saw it was difficult and really intense today with the atmosphere as it was, but in the end I think it was really well deserved. We got two wonderful goals after a tough start.
“It is usual for us that we need to fight here, especially after a difficult start, but it makes it more special at the end.”
While Liverpool dominated possession throughout the first half they found clear-cut chances hard to come by and looked frustrated at the break, going in 1-0 down.
After the break there was more urgency about Klopp’s men and it was not long before they got the goal they were after. James Milner worked his way down the left before fizzing in a low cross which was easily steered in by Mane.
On the balance of play it was no more than Liverpool deserved, but those who thought it would usher in a deluge of goals were to be proved wrong. Once again, for all their possession, the Reds lacked a clinical edge — strange considering the free-scoring nature of their season so far.
Mane was lucky not to get a red card for a deliberate handball, having already been booked for diving. He was hauled off by Klopp and so missed Salah’s winner. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain crossed to Andrew Robertson on the left, whose pass found the Egyptian in the box. Salah took a touch before firing home for his 29th Premier League goal of the season.
But even then there was a sense that the Reds had been lucky. Their former striker Christian Benteke missed two glorious chances, and had one of those gone in then it could have been a different story. In contrast, Salah had only one real chance and made it count.
Next up for Liverpool is Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday. And for Jordan Henderson, victory over Palace sets them up nicely for the biggest game of their season so far.
“It was a big result. We were not at our best, but we kept going and fighting,” the Reds skipper said.
“It is a sign of a good team to win while not playing our best. We kept finding a way and Mo got another goal to win the game.
“At half-time we thought we could get back in the game and win it. The lads reacted brilliantly. (The win) gives us momentum for the game on Wednesday.”
Mohamed Salah reigns again as Liverpool stage Crystal Palace coup
Mohamed Salah reigns again as Liverpool stage Crystal Palace coup
World No. 5 Elena Rybakina to headline strong field at 2026 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open
- The 2022 Wimbledon champion joins defending champion Belinda Bencic and Spanish favorite Paula Badosa for the event from Jan. 31 to Feb. 7
- Rising stars Victoria Mboko and Alexandra Eala continue breakthrough journeys at WTA 500 platform
ABU DHABI: One of the strongest fields in its history has been unveiled for this year’s Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open.
The 2022 Wimbledon champion and world No. 5 Elena Rybakina will head an exciting line-up featuring Grand Slam winners, Olympic medalists and the sport’s most exciting rising stars when the WTA 500 tournament returns to the International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City, from Jan. 31 to Feb. 7.
The Kazakh powerhouse, who won the tournament in 2024, has established herself as one of the game’s elite competitors. Since her triumph at Wimbledon, she has reached the 2023 Australian Open final and secured multiple WTA 500 and 1000 titles, including the 2025 WTA Finals Riyadh where she brushed aside World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets.
“I really enjoyed my time in Abu Dhabi last year,” said Rybakina, who was defeated in the semi-finals by Bencic. “The city’s support for tennis is amazing, and reaching the semifinals was a solid way to begin 2025. This year, I’m coming back with the goal of going all the way again. The competition will be fierce, but that’s what makes it exciting.”
Rybakina will be joined by Belinda Bencic, who returns to defend her unbeaten record at the event. The Swiss Olympic gold medalist has lifted the trophy in both 2023 and 2025 and remains the only player never to have lost a match at the tournament.
Spanish favorite Paula Badosa adds further depth to the elite contingent. A former world No. 2 and Indian Wells champion, Badosa brings explosive power and fierce competitiveness to a field that promises compelling matches throughout the week.
The tournament’s commitment to the next generation is underlined by the confirmation of two of 2025’s most compelling breakthrough stars. Canadian sensation Victoria Mboko, who rocketed from outside the world’s top 300 at the start of 2025 to inside the top 20 following titles in Montreal and Hong Kong, continues her remarkable rise on the WTA Tour.
Joining her is Filipina star Alexandra Eala, who returns to Abu Dhabi following her 2024 debut. The 20-year-old former US Open girls’ champion has continued her steady climb through the rankings and remains the highest-ranked Filipino player in tour history.
Czech duo Barbora Krejcikova, a multiple Grand Slam champion in both singles and doubles, and Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion, bring proven track records while American rising star Emma Navarro, Denmark’s Clara Tauson and Canada’s Leylah Fernandez — the 2023 French Open finalist — add further depth to an already formidable lineup.
The field also features former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, who captured the 2025 doubles title in Abu Dhabi alongside Ellen Perez. Chinese star Qinwen Zheng, Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska and 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin round out a top 20 that promises world-class tennis from the opening qualifiers through to the championship weekend.
Further elite talent includes Ekaterina Alexandrova and Liudmila Samsonova, Belgium’s Elise Mertens, Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia, American McCartney Kessler and Australian Maya Joint.
Nigel Gupta, MARI tournament director, said: “The 2026 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open field represents everything this tournament has become — a compelling blend of Grand Slam champions, Olympic medalists and the sport’s most exciting emerging talent. Elena Rybakina’s arrival as our top seed adds tremendous star power, while Belinda’s pursuit of a third title and the inclusion of breakthrough stars like Victoria Mboko and Alexandra Eala demonstrate our commitment to showcasing both today’s champions and tomorrow’s legends. This is shaping up to be our strongest edition yet.”
