Salah sinks Palace, Sanchez ends goal drought
Manchester United has regained second place in the Premier League with a routine 2-0 home win over Swansea City, hours after Liverpool deposed them with a 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace.
Liverpool's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (R) celebrates, with teammates, scoring the team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool at Selhurst Park in south London on March 31, 2018.
Mohamed Salah was Liverpool's hero yet again as the Egypt star clinched a dramatic 2-1 win at Crystal Palace, while Alexis Sanchez ended his Manchester United goal drought in a 2-0 victory over Swansea on Saturday.
Despite the huge Champions League quarter-final first leg against Manchester City looming on Wednesday, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp named his strongest side for the Premier League trip to south London.
Luka Milivojevic drove struggling Palace into a 13th-minute lead from the penalty spot after Loris Karius fouled Wilfried Zaha.
But Senegal winger Sadio Mane levelled four minutes after the break with a close-range finish.
Despite having one of his quieter games of an incredible debut season at Liverpool, Salah proved the match winner as he smashed home in the 84th minute.
Salah, who has 37 goals in 42 games in all competitions this term, has scored in the joint-most Premier League matches (21) in a single 38-match season.
Goals from Mane and Salah secure all 3️⃣ points for the Reds. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/eSyKILFfyJ
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 31, 2018
'Very cool finish'
That ties the mark set by Robin van Persie in 2012-13 and Cristiano Ronaldo in 2007-08.
"I think the moment you see it is Mo (on the ball) you feel good. It was a very cool finish and long may that form continue," Klopp said.
"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."
Liverpool were unable to hold onto second place as United moved two points ahead of them at Old Trafford.
Goal ✅
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 31, 2018
Assist ✅#MUFC Man of the Match ✅
🥇 @Alexis_Sanchez pic.twitter.com/596H0SL007
'A positive season'
"Lots of players played internationals, so they were tired in the second half. Every point is vital because we want to stay in second place," United manager Jose Mourinho said.
"In other leagues we would be fighting for the title. We are having a positive season and we still have the FA Cup to come."
Romelu Lukaku scored for United with a deflected strike from Sanchez's pass in the fifth minute.
Former Chelsea and Everton star Lukaku, who has netted in five times in his last six appearances, now has 100 career Premier League goals.
Chile forward Sanchez bagged just his second goal since joining United from Arsenal in January in the 20th minute.
The Premier League's highest paid player had gone seven games without a goal until he finished off Jesse Lingard's pass.
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