Arne Slot offered a candid reflection on the late goal that handed Liverpool their first defeat of the season on Saturday.
The Reds looked set to take a hard-earned point from Crystal Palace after Federico Chiesa’s 87th-minute equaliser. However, a momentary lapse in concentration allowed Eddie Nketiah to snatch the winner deep into stoppage time, seven minutes beyond the 90.
Liverpool’s coaching staff were visibly frustrated at the officials after full-time, especially as only six minutes of added time had been signaled. Yet, once Slot had a moment to reflect, he took a calmer and more philosophical view of the decisive moment.
Slot’s honest post-match reaction
Speaking to Sky Sports shortly after the match (via BBC Sport), Slot said:
> “It’s never ideal to concede in extra time of extra time, but with a substitution there was probably an extra half-minute to play, which is fair. I need to check exactly when they scored, but ultimately, we should have defended the throw-in much better.
We learn from every game, but especially from tough ones like this.”
Slot’s comments were refreshingly direct, acknowledging that Nketiah’s goal was completely avoidable.
The incident unfolded just as the clock ticked into the 97th minute. Palace broke quickly from a throw-in. While Milos Kerkez initially dealt with the first threat, Liverpool’s defense switched off during the follow-up, allowing Nketiah to pounce decisively.
Regardless of how much stoppage time was added, Slot emphasized the need to stay fully focused until the very last whistle — something Liverpool failed to do, ultimately costing them the match.
Looking ahead, Slot will be determined to instill this lesson into his players before their Champions League trip to Galatasaray on Tuesday. The quick turnaround gives the Reds an immediate chance to bounce back and secure back-to-back wins to start their European campaign.
Despite this setback, Liverpool remain top of the Premier League and very much in contention to defend their title. Slot will hope that the painful mistake at Selhurst Park serves as a wake-up call for the rest of the season.
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