Alexander Isak’s Liverpool Debut Ends in Late Heartbreak Against Crystal Palace
By Jordan Davies – Senior Sports Journalist
Liverpool’s perfect start to the season came to a dramatic halt at Selhurst Park, as Eddie Nketiah struck in the 97th minute to hand Crystal Palace a famous 2-1 victory.
All eyes were on Liverpool’s new-look attack, with record signing Alexander Isak making his first start alongside Florian Wirtz and Mohamed Salah. But instead of dazzling, they were outshone by Palace’s Ismaila Sarr, who pounced in the ninth minute to give the hosts the lead.
Substitute Federico Chiesa thought he had salvaged a point for the visitors with an 87th-minute equaliser, only for Nketiah to have the final say in stoppage time, rifling home a volley with the last kick of the game.
Defensive Frailties Exposed
Manager Arne Slot will be alarmed by his team’s defensive display, which looked shakier than ever after weeks of late comebacks papering over cracks.
The irony won’t be lost on Slot that Marc Guehi—Liverpool’s failed Deadline Day target—was once again superb for Palace. Without Alisson’s heroics, Palace’s missed chances, and a bit of luck, Liverpool could easily have been trailing by four or five goals at half-time.
It marked Slot’s first league defeat after five consecutive wins, giving Arsenal the chance to close the gap at the top to just three points.
Palace on Fire
While Slot fumed at officials and berated his players, Oliver Glasner’s Palace continued their incredible run. The Eagles are now unbeaten in 18 league matches—the best record across Europe’s top five leagues—and look serious contenders for European football.
Isak & Wirtz Still Finding Rhythm
Liverpool’s summer splurge could eventually cost them £246m for Isak and Wirtz once bonuses are met, but the pair are still developing chemistry. There were flashes of promise in their link-up play, yet the final product was missing.
Isak’s big chance came late in the first half when he rounded Dean Henderson, but his effort from a tight angle skewed wide, drawing mocking chants of “what a waste of money” from the Palace faithful.
Chaos at the Back
Liverpool’s defence continued to gift Palace opportunities. Ibrahima Konaté, in particular, endured a nightmare evening—losing possession, earning a booking, and repeatedly being exposed by Palace’s pace.
Alisson had to make several key saves, including one-on-one stops against Jean-Philippe Mateta and Yeremy Pino, to prevent further embarrassment.
The Late Drama
Slot threw on reinforcements in the second half, with Chiesa and Cody Gakpo adding energy. The Italian thought he had rescued a point when his scuffed finish crept into the corner, sparking a tense VAR review for a possible Salah handball.
But Palace weren’t to be denied. Deep into added time, a flick-on from a set piece fell to Nketiah, who smashed a volley past Alisson to seal a memorable win. Glasner sprinted down the touchline in celebration as Selhurst Park erupted.
Liverpool’s high-profile debutants couldn’t mask the defensive chaos, and Slot’s men paid the price. For Palace, it was another statement performance in a remarkable run.
