Set-Piece Struggles Doom Liverpool: Slot’s Perfect Start Ends in Palace Shock
London, September 27, 2025 – Arne Slot’s early promise as Liverpool manager suffered a dramatic blow as Crystal Palace ended the Reds’ unbeaten streak with a 2-1 Carabao Cup third-round win at Selhurst Park. Two set-piece goals exposed Liverpool’s defensive frailties, leaving Slot visibly frustrated and prompting him to demand improvement. Conceding from a corner in the 23rd minute and a throw-in deep in extra time, Liverpool’s struggles against dead-ball situations have sparked questions about their tactics just as a tough October schedule looms, featuring Arsenal and Benfica.
Under the Friday night lights in a match moved to Sky Sports’ prime-time slot, Liverpool fielded a rotated lineup—resting Salah, Van Dijk, and Alexander-Arnold—while Palace seized the chance. Ismaila Sarr opened the scoring from a Daichi Kamada corner, exploiting Liverpool’s zonal marking. Despite controlling 68% of possession and racking up 22 shots, Liverpool only equalized in the 67th minute through Federico Chiesa’s first goal for the club, set up by Harvey Elliott.
Extra time brought heartbreak. Milos Kerkez’s poor clearance allowed Chris Richards to deliver a dangerous throw-in, and Eddie Nketiah finished amid a scramble to secure Palace’s win and a spot in the last 16. Slot’s post-match analysis was candid: “We have to do better on set-pieces. Last season it was a strength; now we’re conceding too many,” referencing recent goals against Newcastle and tonight’s defeat.
Set-piece coach Aaron Briggs, praised for Liverpool’s attacking dead-ball routines, faces scrutiny as the team’s defensive record has slipped. Palace’s efficiency from set-pieces—accounting for 45% of their goals—was ruthlessly exploited. Slot’s tactical adjustments, including a shift from a diamond 4-2-2-2 to a 4-2-3-1, were too little, too late.
The fallout was immediate online, with fans venting over #SlotOut before reason tempered the reaction. Pundits highlighted Liverpool’s open-play dominance but vulnerability on dead balls. Injuries to key players like Alexander-Arnold and Alisson compound the concern.
Meanwhile, Palace rise to eighth, buoyed by Nketiah’s brace and Sarr’s resurgence. Slot, reviewing footage at AXA Training Centre, remains determined: “Frustrated? Yes. Defeated? Never.” For Liverpool, set-pieces have become more than a minor weakness—they’re a critical battlefield that will define the Reds’ season. Slot’s message is clear: improvement is mandatory if the club’s lofty ambitions are to continue.