Liverpool Falls to Late Palace Drama

LONDON — What goes around, comes around. Liverpool, once the champions of scoring late goals this season, experienced a reversal of fortune on Saturday, suffering a last-minute 2-1 defeat against a rising Crystal Palace.

The match began with Crystal Palace gaining the upper hand, courtesy of Ismalia Sarr’s goal in the ninth minute. Although Liverpool managed to equalize late in the game through Federico Chiesa in the 87th minute, Eddie Nketiah, a substitute for Palace, snatched the victory with a goal in the dying seconds.

This win propels Palace to second place in the Premier League and continues their impressive unbeaten streak of 18 games across all competitions. Perhaps the most significant moment for the club came last month when chairman Steve Parish halted the transfer of captain Marc Guéhi to Liverpool.

Guéhi’s prominence became evident in this match, highlighting Liverpool’s ongoing defensive issues. During the first half, Liverpool struggled, and it seemed they would be content to end the half with only a slight deficit.

First Half Dominance

Sarr opened the scoring for Palace following missed defensive actions by Liverpool from a corner. Palace maintained their pressure with multiple attempts, forcing Liverpool’s goalkeeper, Alisson Becker, into critical saves. Liverpool fans might have regretted not securing Guéhi’s services as he consistently outperformed Ibrahima Konaté.

Despite possessing significant attacking talent, Liverpool found it challenging to convert opportunities into goals. Summer signing Alexander Isak struggled initially but improved in the second half, while Mohamed Salah’s most notable contribution was inadvertently diverting a teammates’ shot away from the goal.

Palace’s Late Winner

Chiesa’s late equalizer appeared to set Liverpool up for another famous escape, a pattern established this season. However, as fate would have it, Nketiah scored with almost the final kick of the game, delivering a significant early-season boost to Palace in the title race.

Post-match, Liverpool’s manager Slot reflected on the team’s defensive missteps, highlighting a lack of focus that led to conceding the winner. Guéhi’s involvement in the winning goal only intensified the disappointment for Liverpool, prompting discussions about another transfer attempt in January.

Looking Ahead

While this defeat is not catastrophic for Liverpool, it serves as a critical lesson. They must quickly learn from this and avoid losing ground in the title chase against rivals like Arsenal, who are set to play Newcastle next. Last season, a similar setback led Liverpool to an extended unbeaten run and the championship.

On the other hand, Crystal Palace’s victory showcases their development under coach Glasner, equaling the record for unbeaten games as a manager. As fans celebrated excitedly after the match, they voiced aspirations of winning the league, leaving the future uncertain but filled with hope.