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Liverpool’s unbeaten run in the Premier League came to an end on Saturday afternoon as Crystal Palace snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory at Selhurst Park. The Reds looked set to leave London with at least a point after Federico Chiesa’s late equaliser, but substitute Eddie Nketiah stunned Arne Slot’s side in stoppage time with a decisive finish.
It was a match that swung from frustration to relief and finally heartbreak for Liverpool, whose afternoon never quite clicked despite moments of quality.
Team Selection: A Couple of Key Changes
Arne Slot made two changes from the Merseyside derby win over Everton. Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz both returned to the starting XI, while Chiesa and Jeremie Frimpong had to wait for their chance from the bench.
The Reds lined up with Alisson in goal, a centre-back pairing of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté, and young Milos Kerkez at left-back. The midfield saw Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Alexis Mac Allister, with Salah and Bradley supporting Isak in attack.
It looked like a strong lineup on paper, but Palace were determined to make life uncomfortable.
Early Blow: Sarr Strikes for Palace
The match started in cagey fashion, with little between the sides. Then, in the ninth minute, Liverpool’s sluggish opening was punished. A Palace corner, delivered by Daichi Kamada, wasn’t dealt with properly. Gravenberch’s attempted clearance fell kindly for Ismaila Sarr, who reacted quickest and fired past Alisson from close range.
The goal gave Selhurst Park a surge of energy. Liverpool were suddenly chasing the game against a home side playing with confidence. Alisson was called into action minutes later, making a sharp stop to deny Yeremy Pino, who found space on the edge of the box. Without the Brazilian’s alertness, the Reds could easily have found themselves two down inside 20 minutes.
Liverpool’s Response: Glimpses but No Breakthrough
Liverpool did respond. Mohamed Salah’s free-kick was blocked, and from the rebound Gravenberch forced Dean Henderson into a strong save that clipped the post.
Palace, though, remained a constant danger. Daniel Muñoz twice threatened to double the lead, first with a low strike Alisson palmed away, then heading over the bar from the rebound.
Jean-Philippe Mateta also found joy against the Liverpool backline. Twice he broke through with pace and power, but again Alisson stood tall, producing one of his trademark one-handed saves to keep Liverpool in touch.
Before the break, Mateta was at it again, curling a strike that clipped the post and smashing a volley just over. Palace could have gone in at half-time with a bigger cushion, but Liverpool survived, trailing by just one.
Second Half: Liverpool Push Forward
Cody Gakpo was introduced at the break, replacing Conor Bradley, in an effort to spark more attacking fluency. The Reds saw more of the ball in the early stages of the second half but still lacked precision in the final third.
Florian Wirtz nearly found the breakthrough when Szoboszlai slipped him in, but Henderson was alert to punch the shot away. Moments later, Isak spun cleverly in the box but dragged his effort just wide.
Liverpool were beginning to build momentum, with Szoboszlai and Salah both firing efforts toward goal, though neither could find the target. Palace, however, remained dangerous on the counter. Substitute Nketiah sent a warning shot when he headed wide from a Mateta cross.
Chiesa to the Rescue… Almost
With the minutes ticking down, Arne Slot turned to Federico Chiesa. The Italian forward immediately brought energy and nearly made an instant impact, curling a shot just wide with Henderson rooted to the spot.
In the 87th minute, Chiesa got his reward. A deflected cross fell kindly in the box, and Chiesa pounced, firing low into the bottom corner. Liverpool’s relief was clear; they had snatched a point and looked capable of pushing for a winner themselves. Selhurst Park, however, was about to witness one more twist.
Nketiah Breaks Liverpool Hearts
As stoppage time began, both teams pressed for the decisive goal. For Palace, it was a long throw into the Liverpool box that created the moment.
The ball dropped to Nketiah, who reacted quicker than the Reds defenders and drilled a low finish past Alisson. The home crowd erupted. Liverpool, stunned, had no time to recover. The whistle blew minutes later, confirming their first Premier League defeat of the campaign.
What Went Wrong for Liverpool?
This was a frustrating afternoon for Slot’s men, who never looked fully settled at Selhurst Park.
- Defensive vulnerability: Palace created numerous clear chances, with Mateta and Sarr regularly exploiting gaps in behind. Alisson was called on far too often.
- Wasteful finishing: Liverpool carved out opportunities through Isak, Wirtz, and Szoboszlai but lacked composure in front of goal.
- Midfield balance: Mac Allister and Gravenberch showed flashes, yet too often Palace found space to break quickly through the middle.
For a team that had started the season so strongly, it was a reminder that margins in the Premier League are razor-thin.
Standout Performances
- Alisson Becker: By far Liverpool’s best performer. His string of saves kept the Reds in contention long enough for Chiesa to equalise.
- Federico Chiesa: Made an immediate impact off the bench. His movement and sharp finish looked set to salvage a point.
- Ismaila Sarr & Jean-Philippe Mateta: Both were constant thorns in Liverpool’s defence, combining pace and direct running that unsettled Konaté and Kerkez in particular.
What It Means for the Reds
This defeat ends Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the Premier League season. While it’s just one setback, it raises questions about consistency away from home and defensive resilience.
Arne Slot will want a swift response. With fixtures coming thick and fast, the Reds can’t dwell on this loss for long. The challenge now is to show the mentality that champions are made of bouncing back immediately and turning frustration into fuel.
Final Thoughts
Crystal Palace fully deserved their win. They were organised, sharp on the counter, and clinical when it mattered most. Liverpool, meanwhile, paid the price for a slow start and lapses at the back. Chiesa’s equaliser might have felt like the story of the day, but Nketiah’s stoppage-time strike ensured the headlines belonged to Palace.
For Liverpool, this was a stumble rather than a collapse, but it’s a reminder that even the strongest sides need to be at their best every week in the Premier League. The Reds will dust themselves off and go again. But for now, Selhurst Park remains a tough ground to visit and on this occasion, it was the place where Liverpool’s unbeaten run came to an end.
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YNWA (You’ll Never Walk Alone)!
The Liverpool FC Times Team
LiverpoolFCTimes.com