Liverpool Stumble as Slot Blasts Konaté’s “Selfish” Error in Palace Shock
Liverpool’s perfect Premier League start came crashing down at Selhurst Park, as Arne Slot’s men surrendered their unbeaten record in a 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace. The Dutchman, who has been lauded for his late-turnaround “Arne Time” victories, left South London furious – branding his side’s collapse as “selfish and stingy football.”
Palace’s First-Half Statement
Oliver Glasner’s Palace extended their unbeaten run to six, showcasing the defensive steel that has made them the league’s tightest unit. They struck first on 23 minutes through Marc Guehi’s towering header, exposing once more Liverpool’s vulnerability from set-pieces. By halftime, the Eagles could easily have been out of sight, with Eddie Nketiah missing a one-on-one and Jean-Philippe Mateta striking the post.
Liverpool Fight Back, but Falter
Slot rang the changes at the break, introducing Alexis Mac Allister and Darwin Núñez. The shift paid off when Mohamed Salah’s shot was parried into the path of Luis Díaz, who rifled home to level in the 52nd minute. For much of the second half, Liverpool looked the likelier winners, with Virgil van Dijk commanding at the back and Trent Alexander-Arnold pulling the strings from deep.
Yet, in stoppage time, disaster struck. Substitute Ibrahima Konaté, with options around him, attempted an audacious lob that went horribly wrong. Nketiah pounced on the loose ball, volleying past Alisson to spark pandemonium at Selhurst Park and hand Palace their first home league win over Liverpool since 2010.
Slot’s Fury
Slot didn’t hold back in his post-match press conference, excoriating Konaté’s decision.
“What he played is NOT football any coach or team wants,” Slot raged. “Selfish. Stingy. In the 97th minute, with the game in the balance, you don’t play Hollywood passes. That’s not mentality, that’s ego.”
Flanked by a downcast Konaté, who admitted “I take responsibility,” Slot doubled down, pointing to broader issues in his defense. Liverpool have already conceded 40% of their goals this season from set pieces, something the manager described as “poor decision-making that must stop.”
Backlash and Fallout
The fallout was immediate. #KonateOut trended among Liverpool supporters, while pundits queued up with criticism. Gary Neville called the error “a betrayal of Slot’s principles,” and Jamie Carragher declared it “unforgivable in a title race.” Palace boss Glasner, meanwhile, praised his side’s resilience: “We knew Liverpool’s late show was coming, but today it was our turn.”
Despite the defeat, Liverpool remain second on goal difference behind Arsenal with 24 points from 10 matches. Yet for Slot, the game was a sobering reminder of how quickly momentum can turn.
“We talk about mentality every day,” he said. “Today, we didn’t have it. If one team deserved to win, it was Palace.”
Konaté now faces the challenge of regaining his manager’s trust, while Liverpool must regroup ahead of clashes with Arsenal and Manchester City. Slot’s revolution is still in motion, but this stumble shows the road to the title will be far from smooth
