Arne Slot’s late present flipped on its head to depart one essential Liverpool query

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Your assist makes all of the distinction. Learn extra There was a divine inevitability about Liverpool’s season to this point, one which includes them in some way, someway, popping out of each recreation unscathed. At Selhurst Park, their luck lastly caught up with them. In opposition to one of many league’s hardest groups to beat, Liverpool’s late present was turned on its head.

It isn't a revelation to find Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace are a tough staff to play. Two targets conceded this season to this point ought to let you know that alone. However for a lot of the assembly, Liverpool weren’t merely pissed off at this time; they have been dismantled.

Arne Slot felt like he had all however deserted his gameplan after a primary 45 minutes that might have resulted in a drubbing. Conor Bradley was hooked for Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai returning to his function as makeshift right-back. As the sport went on, Alexander Isak was not withdrawn – Slot mentioned in his pre-match press convention that it could not be “sensible” to play the Swede for the total 90. He ended up taking part in 84 minutes, stored on for his longest outing in a Liverpool shirt because the Dutchman prayed on £125m-worthy qualities to come back to the rescue.

They didn't. And neither did Arne time, regardless of its finest efforts. As a substitute, Ollie time reigned supreme. And it was nothing in need of deserved.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/09/27/16/05/GettyImages-2237721617.jpeg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/09/27/16/05/GettyImages-2237721617.jpeg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/09/27/16/05/GettyImages-2237721617.jpeg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Eddie Nketiah turned home in the 97th minute to flip Liverpool’s late show on its head" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

Eddie Nketiah turned residence within the 97th minute to flip Liverpool’s late present on its head (Getty Pictures) <img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/09/27/16/34/GettyImages-2237720418.jpeg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/09/27/16/34/GettyImages-2237720418.jpeg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/09/27/16/34/GettyImages-2237720418.jpeg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="“Arne time” was not enough to save Liverpool at Selhurst Park" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

“Arne time” was not sufficient to save lots of Liverpool at Selhurst Park (Getty Pictures) Palace ought to have had victory within the bag earlier than break. The league leaders, in opposition to the one facet to foil them this season, have been totally dominated by their hosts within the first half, who solely wanted 28 % of the ball to do the harm.

It was freak defensive dismay for Palace’s opener within the ninth minute, the primary time Liverpool have conceded this time period. A whipped nook inadvertently bounced off Ryan Gravenberch’s head on the again submit to place it on a plate for acquainted foe Ismaila Sarr, who knocked residence his third purpose in opposition to the Reds in as many appearances for the Eagles. The Senegal star, making his return from damage, stays one thing of a bogeyman in opposition to Liverpool, a mystique that every one started with that chic brace for Watford in 2019/20, one which impressed a shock demolition that downed their goals of an invincible season.

There was a component of dangerous luck to the purpose, one other indication that after Giovanni Leoni’s heartbreaking season-ending damage final week, Liverpool’s fortuitous run was coming to an finish. However you couldn’t pin the footballing gods on the remainder of their first-half efficiency.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/09/27/16/44/GettyImages-2237702015.jpeg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/09/27/16/44/GettyImages-2237702015.jpeg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/09/27/16/44/GettyImages-2237702015.jpeg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="There was an element of bad luck to Palace’s opener - a sign of changing fortunes for Liverpool" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

There was a component of dangerous luck to Palace’s opener - an indication of fixing fortunes for Liverpool (Getty Pictures) Liverpool have been leaking profusely on the again. Similar to at Wembley, centre-back pairing Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate couldn't deal with the all-action attacking line of their hosts. Konate was being borderline bullied by his compatriot Jean-Philippe Mateta, proof that the early-season wobbles seen from the defender – within the midst of a contract standoff on Merseyside – should not fully resolved. It’s occasions like these, in opposition to this opposition, that Marc Guehi’s insider data might have come very a lot in helpful.

Slot’s first-half saviour was his goalkeeper, arguably the one participant in a Reds shirt to embody title materials. Alisson produced three enormous stops to disclaim Yeremy Pino, Daniel Munoz and Mateta within the first 45 alone. When he couldn’t get there, the purpose body got here to the rescue. Mateta’s bending effort in stoppage time appeared sure nestle within the high nook, solely to hit the within of the submit and ricochet out. “We’re going to win the league” was the mantra from the Holmesdale Finish approaching the break, Palace wanting the way more doubtless of the 2 to stay the one unbeaten Premier League facet come full-time.

Liverpool’s makes an attempt to discover a manner again into the sport after the interval appeared to be falling flat. A presumably apoplectic Slot talking-to did spark some life out of the Reds, with two of their finest possibilities falling to the ft of Florian Wirtz and Isak. For his or her record-breaking charges, you’d count on each to bulge the online. However alas, their ensuing misfires have been reflective of neither working on the ranges that warranted the £225m funding as of but, whether or not that be all the way down to a scarcity of match sharpness in a single case or confidence within the different.

Time was operating out for the Reds, up till the identical outdated story gave the impression to be written. Federico Chiesa, who has been a revelation as a super-sub this time period after final yr’s degradation, knocked residence with three minutes to spare, and Arne time was alive and effectively.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/09/27/16/30/GettyImages-2237717336.jpeg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/09/27/16/30/GettyImages-2237717336.jpeg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/09/27/16/30/GettyImages-2237717336.jpeg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Federico Chiesa levelled with three minutes to spare as Liverpool appeared to have escaped defeat once again" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

Federico Chiesa levelled with three minutes to spare as Liverpool appeared to have escaped defeat as soon as once more (Getty Pictures) That was till the seventh of minute of six added on, the place Eddie Nketiah served Liverpool a style of their very own bitter drugs. It was a last-gasp winner made much more bitter by its supplier, with Guehi’s flick placing it within the path of the ex-Arsenal striker. What may’ve been had Igor not ditched his Palace medical on deadline day. The most recent of late exhibits to finish Liverpool’s run of inevitability.

The critique of Liverpool’s season to this point is that regardless of their wins, they've been removed from convincing. They have been something however at this time. After lastly being burned, now we wait to see how the title favourites react to this much-needed slap within the face, and whether or not it would show a blessing in disguise.