Crystal Palace beat Liverpool 2-1 at Selhurst Park on Saturday, as Eddie Nketiah scored a 97th-minute winner to send the home fans wild.
That means that the only remaining unbeaten team left in the Premier League is, Crystal Palace.
WATCH — Full match replay
Ismaila Sarr put Palace ahead and if it wasn’t for several stunning saves from Alisson in goal, and Jean-Philippe Mateta’s shot bouncing off the inside of the post, Liverpool would have been further behind at half time.
MORE — Arne Slot reaction to defeat
Federico Chiesa did equalize in the 87th minute as Liverpool thought they had grabbed a dramatic and deserved point to remain unbeaten, but Nketiah popped up with the final attack of the game and buried his shot to secure a famous win for Palace.
Palace now have 12 points for the season, while Liverpool remain on 15.
Liverpool finally pay the price for sloppy defending
Arne Slot admitted earlier this week that Liverpool had perhaps been a bit lucky to have started the Premier League season with five wins from five. Their luck ran out at Crystal Palace on Saturday and they can have no complaints with a first defeat of the season. Liverpool had over 70 percent of the ball, as usual, but they were opened up time and time again through sloppy passes out of the back, plus looked shaky defensively and couldn’t handle Palace’s press in key moments. They should have been down by three or four goals at half time if it wasn’t for some slack finishing from Palace and brilliant goalkeeping from Alisson. Even though Liverpool improved in the second half and looked to have rescued a point late on, this result has been coming. Van Dijk and Konate were shaky and the protection ahead of them in midfield was lackluster with Gravenberch chasing shadows and Mac Allister struggling alongside him. Liverpool have picked up plenty of late winners this season but they were on the receiving end of that at Selhurst on Saturday and this was perhaps the wake-up call Slot’s side needed if they’re going to defend their crown this season and try to win it all. Liverpool will surely blow most teams away, but their failure to strengthen at center back this summer looks like it may cost them in the long run.
What’s next?
Crystal Palace head to Everton on Sunday after playing against Dynamo Kiev in the Europa Conference League on Thursday. Liverpool travel to Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, then head to Chelsea on Saturday.
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool score: 2-1
Sarr 9', Nketiah 90+7'; Chiesa 87'
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool live updates! — By Joe Prince-Wright
Nketiah wins it in the 97th minute
Eddie Nketiah is free at the back post as a long throw is flicked on and finds him. He finishes superbly to send Selhurst Park wild. VAR checks, but Nketiah was onside! The goal stands! Chaos!
Chiesa equalizes!
Gravenberch whips in a cross and Richards can’t clear properly, and the ball drops to substitute Federico Chiesa who finishes at the back post. VAR is having a look as the ball appears to have flicked off Salah’s hand before Chiesa finished... but the goal stands. Liverpool’s fans go bonkers in the away end.
Nketiah misses his header!
Mateta whips in a wonderful cross from the left and substitute Nketiah is free in the box, but can’t get his head on it. Palace so close to surely clinching the win.
Szoboszlai’s shot deflected over by Salah!
Dominik Szoboszlai’s shot is probably going to creep in but Salah is in the middle of the goal and tried to flick it in, but it goes over.
Double sub for Liverpool
Frimpong and Chiesa are on for Konate and Wirtz. Liverpool have so many attacking players on the pitch. Can Palace hold on?
Isak heads over
Sub Curtis Jones whips in a dangerous cross but Isak heads over from close range. That was a tough chance. It’s all Liverpool as we approach the final 15 minutes.
Isak misses a big chance!
Oh, that looked like he was going to equalize. Isak is played in on the left side of the box, dribbles past a couple of players but just gets off balance and fires wide. Glorious chance for Liverpool and Isak. ‘What a waste of money!’ sing the Liverpool fans...
Henderson denies Wirtz!
Szoboszlai clips in a lovely ball and Wirtz is unmarked, six yards out and flicks the ball towards goal but Henderson reacts superbly to push it away. That is the closest Liverpool have come to equalizing.
Gakpo fires wide
The sub is found on the edge of the box but he curls his effort just wide. Liverpool appear to have woken up and have had some sustained spells of pressure.
Gakpo on for Bradley at half time
Dominik Szoboszlai has gone to right back, with Gakpo coming on for Bradley. That means Gakpo is on the left and Wirtz has come in as a number 10.
Half time: Crystal Palace 1-0 Liverpool
Fantastic first half from Palace, who should be further ahead. Liverpool totally overrun in midfield and making some huge mistakes at the back when under pressure. If it wasn’t for Alisson, Liverpool would be 3-0 down, at least, and could have no complaints about it. Big half time teamtalk from Arne Slot coming up...
Mateta hits the post! Then smashes just over!
Just before the break Mateta hits the post! Lovely Palace move sets free Sarr who finds Wharton who tees up Mateta to curl a stunner past Alisson, but the ball hits the inside of the post and comes out. What a goal that would have been. Moments later a header loops over the top and Mateta has a really tough volley that he wraps his foot around but he smashes it just over. Palace are flying and should at least be 2-0 up!
Konate heads wide
A corner is whipped in and Konate heads wide. That was a big chance and it looked like it was going to sneak in.
Rare chance for Liverpool
Liverpool have settled down a little and Salah sets up Alexander Isak, who has barely had a kick. He goes around Henderson but the angle is too tight and Isak’s shot is wide. He’s jeered by the home fans who sing ‘what a waste of money!’
Another fine stop by Alisson to deny Mateta!
It could be 4-0! Konate goes down and Mateta is clean through but Alisson stands tall and denies the Palace forward. Wow. Liverpool are gifting these chances to Palace.
Alisson with a superb stop to deny Munoz!
Crystal Palace could easily be 3-0 up against Liverpool. Daniel Munoz is the latest to be denied by Alisson as the ball is cut back and the Colombian has a low shot brilliantly denied. What a save. Liverpool all over the place at the back.
Henderson denies Gravenberch
After a long delay due to a medical emergency in the crowd, Liverpool eventually take a free kick on the edge of the box. The initial shot is blocked, then the ball drops to Ryan Gravenberch and he drills a shot on goal which Dean Henderson does so well to save. The rebound from Kerkez is off target. Fine goalkeeping.
Palace should be 2-0 up!
Konate is caught on the ball by Kamada on the halfway line and Liverpool are all over the place. The ball is squared to Yeremy Pino and he has to score... but Alisson denies him with a superb stop. Wow.
Ismaila Sarr finishes from close range!
A corner comes in and it hits a Liverpool player in the face and falls straight down to Ismaila Sarr who finishes! For the first time this season Liverpool concede the opening goal in a game. Arne Slot and Liverpool’s players weren’t happy with the award of a corner in the first place, but there’s nothing they can do about it now.
Crystal Palace lineup
Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Pino; Mateta
Liverpool lineup
Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Isak
Crystal Palace team news, focus
Palace’s squad has been stretched early in the season with key players Adam Wharton and Ismaila Sarr missing time. Wharton and Sarr are back and new star attacker Yeremy Pino has recovered as well. Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure will miss this match, too, but Oliver Glasner did give an update that Riad should return near the next international break. Defensively Palace look so solid and Jean-Philippe Mateta is key to everything they do. Youngster Justin Devenny is likely to get the nod to start alongside Daichi Kamada underneath Mateta.
OUT: Cheick Doucoure (knee), Chadi Riad (knee), Caleb Kporha (back), Walter Benitez (finger)
Liverpool team news, focus
Young defender Giovanni Leoni suffered a serious knee injury in midweek, which will impact Arne Slot’s depth at center back further. Other than that Liverpool look pretty set in terms of injuries. They will be without Hugo Ekitike through suspension as he got a second yellow card for taking his shirt off when he scored the winner against Saints in midweek. That means Alexander Isak will start up top and he got his first goal in a Liverpool shirt in the midweek win. Liverpool have such a settled lineup and Jeremie Frimpong back at right back is a big boost too.
OUT: Giovanni Leoni (knee - MORE), Stefan Bajcetic (hamstring), Hugo Ekitike (suspension)
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool preview
The reigning Premier League champions have won five games from five in the Premier League as they keep popping up with late goals and getting the job done. But they did lose to Palace on penalty kicks in the FA Community Shield final at Wembley back at the start of August. Arne Slot’s squad is deep and they’re coming off a midweek League Cup win at home against Southampton and they beat Everton at home in the Merseyside derby last weekend.
Palace have also had a fine start to the season with Oliver Glasner’s side unbeaten so far and they have picked up nine points and conceded just twice. They won at West Ham last weekend as they continue to overachieve and Palace are so comfortable in their 3-4-2-1 formation and look set to push for a top eight finish, at least, as well as go far in the Europa Conference League. Following their success in the Community Shield against Liverpool in August, Palace will fancy their chances of edging the Reds once again.
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool prediction
This has a draw written all over it. Palace are so hard to play against and despite winning all of their games (just) Liverpool are yet to hit top form. Crystal Palace 1-1 Liverpool.
How to watch Crystal Palace vs Liverpool live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday (September 27)
Venue: Selhurst Park — London
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock
