Several reports have revealed the Liverpool player targeted by Arne Slot’s post-match criticism after the Reds’ 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Liverpool’s flawless start to the Premier League season came to an abrupt end in South London. Palace, who extended their unbeaten streak to 18 matches across all competitions, fully deserved the victory after taking an early lead through Ismaila Sarr.
Federico Chiesa struck late to level the score for Liverpool, but Eddie Nketiah’s dramatic 97th-minute winner sealed all three points for the home side.
The match saw Liverpool struggle to find their rhythm, with Palace dominating large spells of the game. Even a draw would have been harsh on the hosts, given how much control they had throughout the contest.
After the final whistle, Slot told reporters that one of his players abandoned his position in the lead-up to the decisive goal.
“One Player” Blamed for Liverpool’s Defeat
Speaking to the press, Slot said:
> “We can only blame ourselves for defending the way we did. One of our players decided to push forward, trying to launch a counter-attack, but it was pointless — the game was almost over, and our focus should have been entirely on defending.
Maybe we were too attack-minded as a team, or maybe just one player was, and it cost us the match.”
Both The Athletic and The Mirror have identified Jeremie Frimpong as the player Slot was referring to. The Dutch defender, who arrived from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, previously thrived as an advanced wing-back in Xabi Alonso’s three-at-the-back system in Germany.
At Liverpool, however, he has been deployed in a traditional back four, requiring greater defensive discipline — something he may still be adapting to.
While the Reds are expected to recover quickly from this setback, the defeat underlined the need for Slot’s side to assert more control in key moments if they are to successfully defend their Premier League crown.
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