Match Report: Crystal Palace 2 - Liverpool 1

Match Date: Saturday 27th September 2025

Scorers:

Crystal Palace:

Sarr (9')

Nketiah (90+7')

Liverpool:

Chiesa (83')

Lineup: Details Here

Match Report:

Well I did say in my match preview thoughts, didn't I ? The game was actually worse than I had expected for Liverpool, especially in the first half when Palace could have been 5 goals clear of Liverpool given the chances they missed.  The first goal from Place was yet another set piece goal conceded by Liverpool, but that happens.  What you do not expect is how throughout that half the entire Liverpool team with the exception of Alisson and Viril were not giving it their A game.  The selection by Arne Slot to play Wirtz on the left wing in place of Gakpo was one where every Liverpool supporter has been against on all the social media channels; its almost accepting that the Wirtz signing is a complete failure as a creative 10.  

The player with the most struggles in the first half was Ibrahima Konate, he had reverted to the chaotic and undecisive version of himself as shown in the first two games of this season.  Mateta was giving him the run around losing most of his duels, and it was becoming reminiscent of former Liverpool player Lovren against Spurs all those years ago where Spurs went onto win that game 4-1, and Klopp had to substitute him in the first half.  Unfortunately for Slot; he did not have that luxury, the potential substitute Joe Gomez might not fair better given Gomez's underwhelming performance against Southampton the other night.  Konate would go onto improve in the second half but most fans will start asking that question: "where is Konate's head...in Madrid ?", it is becoming a legitimate question.  Liverpool's decision not to get central defensive reinforcements this summer is starting to look rather negligent when you compare how well Arsenal have done in that area.

Analysis of the first half will show that Palace are exceptionally well drilled, knowing when to press Liverpool players, targeting Bradley consistently with success, balls delivered over the top accurately, bypassing the Liverpool midfield, and Adam Wharton orchestrating the best of Crystal Palace's movement in midfield.  Liverpool's midfield seemed non existent at times, and were essentially showing those same characteristics they have been associated this season 5 games in, slow and unimaginative when dealing with low blocks.  The frontline of Liverpool in Wirtz, Isak and Salah were well marked out for most of the first half, Palace congested the space when in their low block, it felt as though Liverpool were being strangled when attempting to attack the Crystal Palace back line.  Half time could not come sooner for Liverpool.

The 2nd half began with Gakpo replacing Bradley and Szoboszlai going into the vacant right back position.  It would seem that Bradley was not having a good game in Slot's view, and although it was not like what we Liverpool fans were accustomed to in the last days of Trent, it was still a difficult watch, given how many times Palace targeted their attacks down that side.  Strangely these attacks down the right grew to a halt once Szoboszali was positioned at right back, and also the passing up front was more fluid, as Liverpool started to dominate and pile the pressure on Palace.  There was a clear chance that Wirtz should have put away, some have given him the excuse that the ball was coming at too fast, but with his price tag it would be an expectation for him to put away such opportunities.  We sold Diaz, and Nunez but one thing they had about their game was a certain intensity - Wirtz seems to be completely devoid of intensity in those moments.  As for Isak (yes the other record breaking arrival) - he was almost like a passenger throughout the game and like Wirtz when an opportunity came to him he failed to put it away.   Another silent player in midfield that should be mentioned is Mac Allister - so far this season his appearances have shown little of the creative spark from last season, and in this game he was no different, late into the 2nd half he was replaced by Curtis Jones, while Konate was sacrificed for Rio, and Isak for Chiesa.  Liverpool kept the ball better with Jones, and a chance eventually fell to Chiesa who managed to score the equalizer with the intensity he showed earlier in the week against Southampton.  Could Liverpool make a late comeback again ? - it would be so cruel for Palace to lose this game.

Late into extra time it was a sequence of throws that would cost Liverpool the game, the first throw would be launched down the Liverpool end, where Kerkez managed to keep it away from the penalty area by rashly kicking it out of play in the Liverpool half when he had plenty of time to kick it long and away/out.  The second throw was going to be one of those typical Palace long throws, all the Liverpool players were expecting something to come into their penalty area except for Frimpong who stayed out of the congested penalty area.  Then the throw would come in which would eventually be cleared by Jones with a header that landed straight into path (behind Jones) of Palace's Eddie Nketiah, who duly shot out of Alisson's reach and into the Liverpool net.  Palace had secured victory and rightfully so.

In the post match interview Slot would of course raise the issue about Palace's first goal that should not have been a goal because they should not have had a corner awarded (he was right based on video replays).  The other telling comment made by Slot was aimed at Frimpong not covering the Liverpool post that the winning Palace goal came from. There should also be an inquest into why Salah is allowed to remain on the pitch when providing so little to the team in either half of the match.  Some difficult questions also need to be asked of Slot's tactics - it seems like Liverpool under his charge in the League games always struggle in the first half to score or maintain control, and it is always the second half where they get a degree of control, the score line against Palace is something that Liverpool should be satisfied with given that the game should have ended 6-1 to Palace - such was their dominance in the first half.