Liverpool’s flawless opening to the season came crashing down at Selhurst Park as Crystal Palace struck late to secure a 2-1 victory that manager Arne Slot admitted was fully deserved.
The Premier League champions had won all seven of their domestic and European fixtures since their Community Shield defeat to Palace last month, but their habit of escaping with late goals finally ran out.
Ismaila Sarr’s ninth-minute strike gave Palace a lead that barely reflected their dominance of the first half, with only a series of saves from Alisson Becker keeping Liverpool in the contest. Slot’s heavily rebuilt side, refreshed by almost £450 million of summer investment, looked vulnerable again at the back, conceding two goals for the fifth time in nine matches this season.
Liverpool appeared to have salvaged a point when Federico Chiesa equalised with a late finish, continuing the theme of late escapes. But deep into stoppage time Eddie Nketiah smashed home after Jeremie Frimpong switched off at the back post.
“If one team deserved to win today it was Palace,” Slot conceded. “With the Community Shield it is not the first time we have lost to them. They deserved to be two or three up in the first half. We can only blame ourselves for defending the way we did. One of our players wanted to break on a counter-attack when the game was already finished, instead of defending. That cost us.”
The defeat leaves Palace as the Premier League’s only unbeaten side. Stretching back to their FA Cup triumph last season, Oliver Glasner’s team are now 18 matches without defeat in all competitions.
“These are the moments why we love football,” Glasner said. “The fans will have a great Saturday evening. We deserved it. The first half was our best since we arrived and even when they equalised, we kept our composure. It was a complete team effort.”
Liverpool’s stumble has tightened the title race, while Palace’s resurgence under Glasner continues to gather momentum, transforming them from resilient survivors into genuine challengers.
