Liverpool’s five-game winning streak came to an end on Saturday as Crystal Palace won 3-1 at Selhurst Park. Eddie Nketiah scored a very late winner deep into added time after Federico Chiesa appeared to have secured a point for the Reds.
Chiesa scored in the 87th minute as Arne Slot’s men trailed from a first-half strike by Ismaila Sarr. Palace remain the only unbeaten team in the Premier League, and they have equalled their club record of 17 matches unbeaten across all competitions.
Timeline:
9’: Goal! Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace) – Headed in from close range after a smart buildup.
87’: Goal! Federico Chiesa (Liverpool) – Buried home from close range.
96’: Goal! Eddie Nketiah (Crystal Palace) – Expertly finished from inside the six-yard box, insane injury-time winner.
Final score: Crystal Palace 3–1 Liverpool.
Tactical Breakdown:
Before Liverpool could assert their dominance over Crystal Palace, the Eagles took an early lead through Ismaila Sarr, and they defended smartly in numbers.
It was a wave after wave of attacks from the Reds, but they failed to break down a rigid backline marshalled by Marc Guehi. In the odd scenarios when Liverpool did come close to scoring, Dean Henderson stood strong.
The custodian denied Florian Wirtz from close range, making a total of three big saves. Alexander Isak had an off day as he missed a few good chances, while Salah also failed to make an impact.
Federico Chiesa came to Liverpool’s rescue as he was on hand to pounce on a loose ball after Richards’ poor header, and the Reds were back on level terms. It seemed the match would end 1-1, but Palace would have the last laugh.
Nketiah was in the right place at the right time after a long throw found its way to the former Arsenal striker, who stole all three points for the Eagles.
Standout Performers:
Alisson – Made a total of five saves to keep Liverpool in the game; he had 59 touches and 86% pass accuracy.
Adam Wharton – He was the creative fulcrum for Palace, made 4 key passes, and won 4 ground duels. Contributed both in attack and defence.
Mohamed Salah – For his lofty standards, Salah had a quiet evening. He had fewer touches on the ball (36) than Alisson. Still managed 2 key passes.
Ismaila Sarr– Played for 75 minutes but was a constant menace for Liverpool’s backline. Sarr deserved the goal, and he only had 21 touches on the ball but made sure every one of them mattered.
Manager and Player Reaction :
Arne Slot: “We were able to create a lot against a Palace team that hardly ever concedes chances. When you look at the first half, they totally deserved to win. In the second half, we were better. If one team deserved to win today, it was Palace.”
Oliver Glasner: “To overcome the pressure of Liverpool – they deserved an equaliser – but I’m delighted at the reaction of our team.”
Stats and Numbers:
| Stat | Liverpool | Crystal Palace |
| Possession | 72% | 28% |
| Shots | 20 | 16 |
| Shots on Target | 4 | 7 |
| Corners | 6 | 2 |
What It Means:
Palace jumped to second place in the Premier League standings, three points behind Liverpool. They remain the only unbeaten team in the top division.
Conclusion:
Liverpool will be happy that United and Chelsea also dropped points. The Reds have conceded two goals against Palace in the league for the first time in 12 matches, so there’s plenty of work to do for Slot to get his house in order.
