The visitors looked set to leave Selhurst Park with a point after Federico Chiesa struck in the 87th minute to level the contest. But in the seventh minute of added time, Liverpool’s defence switched off from a throw-in, allowing Nketiah to punish them with a decisive finish.
Although Liverpool’s bench expressed frustration at the length of stoppage time—initially listed as six minutes—Slot took a more balanced approach once the dust had settled.
> “It’s never good when you concede that late, but with the substitution the extra seconds were fair,” Slot admitted in his post-match interview. “I’ll need to check the exact timing of the goal, but ultimately, we should have defended the throw-in much better.”
The Dutchman stressed that moments like these can provide valuable lessons for his squad. “We learn from every game, but especially from defeats like this,” he added.
Liverpool’s lapse came after Milos Kerkez had initially dealt with one Palace throw, only for the hosts to strike moments later when the Reds lost focus. Nketiah capitalised, leaving the away side with nothing to show for their late fightback.
Slot is expected to emphasise the importance of maintaining concentration until the final whistle, particularly with a Champions League trip to Galatasaray just days away. The quick turnaround gives his side a chance to bounce back and keep momentum alive in Europe.
Despite the disappointment in South London, Liverpool remain top of the Premier League table. Slot will hope the setback serves as a reminder that even brief lapses can be costly in a title race that demands absolute focus.
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