Liverpool’s dramatic equaliser against Crystal Palace didn’t just spark wild celebrations—it also triggered a storm of accusations. A Palace defender went public with claims that Mohamed Salah handled the ball in the build-up to Federico Chiesa’s late strike.
On social media, Chris Richards openly questioned the legitimacy of the goal, reposting an image he believed showed the ball brushing Salah’s arm seconds before Ryan Gravenberch delivered the cross. “I knew I wasn’t seeing things,” the American defender wrote, fuelling heated debate online.
The incident occurred just before the 90th minute, when Chiesa pounced inside the box to level the score temporarily. VAR reviewed the situation, but the Premier League later clarified that the referee’s decision stood, stating there was no “conclusive evidence” of a handball.
Liverpool’s joy was short-lived, however. Palace snatched victory deep into stoppage time thanks to Eddie Nketiah, condemning Arne Slot’s men to their first league defeat of the season.
The controversy only added to Liverpool’s frustrations, with defensive lapses once again proving costly. Slot’s tactical reshuffle at the break—bringing on Cody Gakpo and altering the system—failed to turn the tide, while expensive summer arrivals Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak missed crucial chances.
Despite Alisson’s heroics between the sticks, Liverpool left Selhurst Park empty-handed. Now, with a Champions League showdown against Galatasaray and a trip to Chelsea looming, the pressure is mounting on Slot to find the right balance in his evolving squad.
Meanwhile, Palace extended their unbeaten run to 18 matches, with Richards’ pointed online post keeping the debate over Salah’s involvement very much alive.
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