Another Liverpool game, another dramatic late twist — but this time, it didn’t go in favor of the reigning Premier League champions.
When Federico Chiesa struck an 87th-minute equalizer, it seemed like Liverpool had salvaged a point away at Crystal Palace. The hosts had been ahead for most of the match thanks to Ismaila Sarr’s early goal.
However, heartbreak struck deep into stoppage time as Eddie Nketiah scored in the 98th minute, capitalizing on a poor clearance to snatch a dramatic win for Palace. The home side could’ve wrapped the game up earlier if not for several superb saves from Alisson Becker.
Liverpool’s Bench Fumes at Full-Time
At the final whistle, Liverpool’s coaching staff angrily confronted the officials. Initially, six minutes of stoppage time had been indicated, yet the decisive goal came well beyond that.
BBC Radio 5 Live reporter Ian Dennis highlighted the controversy, noting:
> “That was scored in the 98th minute, and Liverpool’s bench are absolutely furious. There was six minutes of added time.”
Slot’s Team Must Shoulder Responsibility
While Arne Slot and his backroom team were understandably upset in the heat of the moment, the real issue lay with Liverpool’s defensive lapse.
As the clock struck 97 minutes, Palace regained possession after a hurried clearance from Milos Kerkez went out for a throw-in near Liverpool’s goal. The Reds then failed to organize themselves defensively, leaving Nketiah unmarked to punish them.
The key question for Slot isn’t why the game went beyond six minutes of added time, but rather why his defense switched off at such a critical moment.
This serves as a painful lesson in game management for a Liverpool side that has generally excelled under the Dutch manager. The one silver lining is that, despite the defeat, the Reds will remain at the top of the table thanks to the cushion they built in earlier weeks.
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