Alexander Isak knows significance of Crystal Palace goal after Liverpool injury nightmare

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Alexander Isak has endured a difficult first season with Liverpool but finally scored his first Premier League home goal for the Reds on Saturday, helping them to a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace

Liverpool striker Alexander Isak(Image: LFC TV)

Alexander Isak believes his first home Premier League goal for Liverpool can serve as a launching pad for finally showcasing his finest form.

Isak has endured a torrid time with fitness setbacks, injuries and difficulties settling into a new squad since completing a British record transfer from Newcastle United last September.

However, Isak marked a third consecutive start on Saturday by intercepting a mishit shot from Alexis Mac Allister and netting only his fourth goal for the Reds, setting them on their way to a 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace that lifted them into the top four for the first time in three months.

When asked whether his strike felt like a significant moment, Isak said: "For sure, I've been battling getting back to full fitness and scoring a goal is probably the best way to finding form again. I'm really happy.

"I don't know but I felt like that shot (from Mac Allister) wasn't going in, I kind of intercepted it and it became a good touch and I managed to put it in the back of the net."

Palace had been aiming to become the first side ever to beat Liverpool on four occasions in the same campaign.

Andy Robertson struck shortly after Isak's opener before Florian Wirtz wrapped up the points late on, after Daniel Munoz had pulled one back in controversial circumstances by scoring while Reds goalkeeper Freddie Woodman lay injured on the turf.

"Crystal Palace is a good competitor and it's never an easy game," said Isak. "I think we played well in big parts of the game. Maybe we shouldn't have had to be a bit nervy at the end, but we played good and really good for the lads to get up to fourth."

"Palace are one of the most difficult teams to score against and we showed that we have got the quality and have to keep this form."

Isak netted midway through the first half at Anfield

"It's still really tight in the table and anything can happen, but we've put ourselves in a good position to attack these last couple of games."

Liverpool owed a great deal to a number of fine saves from third-choice keeper Woodman, who was making his first Premier League start for the club having come off the bench in the Merseyside derby victory at Everton the previous week.

Speaking to LFC TV, Isak added: "He did absolutely brilliant. It's never easy to come in especially in a position like him where you kind of have to be ready but it's not often you get the chance, it's really big from him to put on a performance like this."

"He deserved a clean sheet, but it was a really big performance from him."