Crystal Palace 2-1 Liverpool: Speaking factors as Eagles finish Reds’ excellent season begin to keep their very own unbeaten run

Crystal Palace have as soon as once more confirmed they’ve what it takes to beat Liverpool, triumphing over the reigning Premier League champions at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

Ismaila Sarr broke the impasse within the ninth minute, and although Liverpool bought again degree via substitute Federico Chiesa three minutes earlier than the 90 had been up, the factors stayed in South London as Eddie Nketiah stepped off the bench for Palace to win it within the seventh minute of stoppage time.

Groups

Backup goalkeeper Walter Benitez, defender Chadi Riad, in addition to midfielders Cheick Doucoure and Caleb Kporha, had been unavailable for choice for Palace boss Oliver Glasner.

With Dean Henderson in aim, Liverpool-linked Marc Guehi captained the facet from his place the again line, subsequent to Maxence Lacroix and Chris Richards. Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada performed in the midst of the park, with Daniel Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell masking the flanks. Along with goalscorer Sarr, Yeremy Pino supported striker Jean-Philippe Mateta up entrance.

In the meantime, Arne Slot within the away dugout was with out summer time signings Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni, the ahead who earned two yellow playing cards within the Carabao Cup win over Southampton and the teenage defender who will miss the remainder of the season via an ACL harm. Midfielder Stefan Bajcetic was injured as nicely.

Alisson Becker stood between the posts. The centre-back duo of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate was flanked by Milos Kerkez on the left and Conor Bradley on the precise. Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai shaped the midfield, and in assault, Alexander Isak led the road, with Florian Wirtz beginning on the left and Mohamed Salah on the precise.

Key moments

From the early phases, Palace took the sport to Liverpool. Within the ninth minute, Sarr completed from shut vary after Liverpool did not take care of a nook correctly, placing the hosts forward and sending Selhurst Park into life.

Palace seized momentum, trying harmful via set-pieces and transitions. They may have prolonged their lead many occasions: Mateta struck the submit; there have been shut possibilities from Sarr and Pino. In the meantime, Liverpool regarded sluggish defensively and struggled to say their regular management in midfield.

As the primary half wore on, Liverpool’s attacking threats—Isak, Salah, Gakpo—had been restricted by Palace’s disciplined defensive block and resolute goalkeeping. Alisson made a number of key saves, stopping the deficit from changing into extra extreme for the guests. On the different finish, Palace’s again line, particularly Guehi and Richards, had been efficient in denying house in harmful areas.

Within the second half, Liverpool introduced on Federico Chiesa, who injected extra urgency. Across the 87th minute, a defensive lapse from Palace noticed Chiesa slam within the equalizer, a lot to the aid of the guests. It regarded like Liverpool would possibly snatch a degree.

However Palace held agency in stoppage time. From an extended throw deep into Liverpool’s field and a flick-on by Guehi, Nketiah, who had come on to exchange  volleyed house to make it 2-1 within the dying seconds.

The stadium erupted; the VAR reviewed the aim but it surely stood. Palace secured a dramatic, deserved victory—their unbeaten run prolonged, Liverpool’s excellent begin ended. The ultimate minutes had been tense, however Palace’s defensive resolve and perception of their transitions paid off.

Konate’s evening to neglect as Actual Madrid hyperlinks persist

No outfield participant in a Liverpool shirt coated himself with glory at Selhurst Park, notably within the first half, however it should certainly be a match Ibrahima Konate won’t wish to look again on.

The French centre-back made mistake after mistake, trying uncharacteristically misplaced and permitting Mateta to get the higher of him with worrying ease, repeatedly. What’s extra, he was booked within the twenty sixth minute already, and it was an excellent leap of religion for Slot to maintain him on the pitch after the break.

Maybe the shortage choices – Joe Gomez performed a nasty sport himself within the Carabao Cup victory over Southampton whereas Leoni clearly wasn’t accessible – compelled the hand of the Liverpool head coach.

What precisely is the rationale behind this poor efficiency from the 26-year-old, we’ll by no means know for sure, however fixed hyperlinks with Actual Madrid might have performed their half. His contract at Anfield expires on the finish of the season and the Spanish giants are reportedly hoping to signal him as a free agent.

If that’s certainly an element, Liverpool would do nicely to both persuade him to signal a brand new contract as quickly as attainable, or put together for his exit by buying one other high-quality defender in January if attainable.

Alisson’s class

No outfield participant did, however Alisson was unimaginable between the posts for Liverpool, sparing his teammates some blushes with a number of excellent saves. It’s marvelous to see how he comes out to shorten the angle, spreads himself like a wall, and makes point-blank saves look simple.

The Brazilian denied Palace attackers on a complete of 5 events, and it’s fairly sure his workforce would’ve been down by a couple of aim by halftime with out him.

Alternatively, when the very best participant on the pitch for one of many groups is the goalkeeper, there’s clearly quite a bit going incorrect for them elsewhere.

Crystal Palace are Liverpool’s Kryptonite

This was the third time Liverpool confronted Crystal Palace in 2025, they usually haven’t been capable of win even as soon as.

Glasner’s workforce denied Liverpool victory on the ultimate day of final season within the Premier League, although the 1-1 attract that match did little to dampen the spirits of the already-crowned champions. The 2 groups then met within the Neighborhood Defend, as Palace beat Manchester Metropolis to raise the FA Cup, and a penalty shootout settled the competition of their favour. This time, Palace beat Liverpool outright, ending their 100% document within the league and, remarkably sufficient, breaking into second place within the league desk to stare at Liverpool’s again, solely three factors adrift.

It appears Glasner has discovered the right system to counter the huge high quality of the reigning champions.

That can, nevertheless, change if both Tottenham Hotspur or Arsenal win their upcoming matches this weekend, in opposition to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle, respectively.

One can solely think about what Liverpool and their followers consider the Carabao Cup draw for the subsequent spherical, the place they are going to face – Crystal Palace.

Subsequent up

However in the meanwhile, Slot received’t have any time to fret about going through Palace once more. On Tuesday, his workforce will journey to Istanbul, the place they are going to search to construct on the overcome Atletico Madrid within the Champions League, and on Saturday, a conflict with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge awaits.

In the meantime, Palace will open their Europa Convention League marketing campaign in opposition to Dynamo Kyiv in Lublin, Poland, within the Europa Convention League, and having simply overwhelmed one workforce from the Merseyside, they are going to attempt to do it once more away to Everton on the finish of subsequent week.