“Was of no use” – Arne Slot Blames Liverpool Player for Palace’s Late Winner
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot openly criticized one of his players after Eddie Nketiah’s stoppage-time strike condemned the Reds to a 2-1 defeat against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
It was Liverpool’s first Premier League loss of the season, sealed in the 97th minute when a long throw-in was poorly defended, leaving Nketiah free to score.
The Reds had been second-best for much of the match, with Ismaila Sarr’s ninth-minute opener fairly reflecting Palace’s strong start. Federico Chiesa’s late equalizer in the 87th minute gave Liverpool hope of salvaging a point, but their defensive lapse in injury time proved costly.
Slot made it clear that one player’s decision had led to the winner. “We can only blame ourselves. One of our players ran forward looking for a counter-attack, which was pointless because time was up. That moment should have been all about defending. Maybe we were too attack-minded—actually, not we, one player was too attack-minded—and it cost us the match,” he said.
Both of Palace’s goals came from set-piece situations, echoing concerns after Liverpool also conceded twice from dead balls in last month’s 3-2 win over Newcastle. But Slot downplayed fears of a recurring weakness: “They didn’t just threaten from set-pieces—they created chances from open play and transitions too. There were many things not to like today beyond set-piece defending. The positive was that Alisson saved us in several moments.”
Slot admitted Palace were worthy winners, noting they could have been “two or three up in the first half” and praising Oliver Glasner’s side for their threat in behind and on the counter.
Liverpool now turn their focus to Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Istanbul to face Galatasaray, while Palace prepare for their Europa Conference League opener against Dynamo Kyiv in Poland.
