Liverpool’s trip to Selhurst Park ended in chaos and fury as Crystal Palace struck a stoppage-time winner to hand the Reds a painful 2-1 loss on Saturday.
The night seemed to be turning in Liverpool’s favour when Federico Chiesa grabbed an 87th-minute equaliser, cancelling out Ismaila Sarr’s early strike. But just when it looked like Arne Slot’s men would escape with a point, Palace found one last punch.
Deep into stoppage time—beyond the six minutes originally indicated—Eddie Nketiah capitalised on a sloppy defensive moment and fired home in the 98th minute. Only Alisson Becker’s heroics had kept Palace at bay earlier, but the final blow proved unavoidable.
Coaches Rage at Officials
As the final whistle blew, Liverpool’s bench stormed towards the officials, furious that the decisive goal came after the allotted time had expired. BBC Radio 5 Live reporter Ian Dennis described the reaction bluntly: “That was scored in the 98th minute, and Liverpool’s bench are absolutely furious. There was six minutes of added time.”
But Was the Real Issue Elsewhere?
While frustration over the clock dominated the post-match fallout, the real sting for Slot will be the manner of the defending. With the game heading into the 97th minute, a rushed clearance gifted Palace a dangerous throw-in. The Reds switched off at the worst possible moment, leaving Nketiah unmarked to pounce.
The question Liverpool’s head coach will need to ask is not just why two extra minutes were played, but why his players failed to manage the final moments. For a team that has shown such resilience this season, it was a costly lapse in concentration.
Despite the defeat, Liverpool remain at the top of the Premier League table, their early-season form leaving them with a cushion. But the Selhurst Park sting will serve as a sharp reminder that even champions cannot afford to switch off until the very last whistle.
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