London, September 27, 2025 – Liverpool’s unbeaten start under Arne Slot came crashing down in dramatic fashion as Crystal Palace snatched a 2-1 victory in the Carabao Cup, exposing a glaring weakness in the Reds’ defensive setup from set-pieces.
It was a night of frustration for the Premier League leaders, who had dominated possession but failed to deal with two routine dead-ball situations. A corner in the first half and a long throw-in deep into extra time proved decisive, leaving the Dutch manager visibly exasperated.
“We have to improve in these situations,” Slot admitted afterwards, acknowledging that Liverpool’s inability to cope with aerial threats has already cost them several goals this season.
—
The Game That Got Away
Selhurst Park was rocking under the Friday night lights, with Palace taking advantage of Liverpool’s rotated squad. Key names like Salah, Van Dijk, and Alexander-Arnold were rested, but Palace sensed their opportunity.
Ismaila Sarr punished poor marking midway through the first half, ghosting in at the far post to put the hosts ahead. Liverpool fought back through Federico Chiesa’s thunderous strike after the break—his first goal since arriving from Juventus in the summer.
But just when extra time seemed destined for penalties, disaster struck. A misjudged clearance gifted Palace a throw-in, and Chris Richards’ long launch into the box sparked chaos. Eddie Nketiah pounced on the loose ball, firing home what proved to be the match-winner with just seconds left on the clock.
—
Slot’s Stern Response
The Liverpool boss, usually calm on the touchline, was animated and openly critical in his post-match interview.
“Set-pieces are becoming more and more important in this league,” he warned. “If we want to compete at the top, we cannot concede goals like this. It’s happened before against Newcastle, and now again tonight. That is unacceptable.”
Liverpool’s defensive record from dead balls tells its own story. Six goals conceded from set-pieces already this season is a sharp decline from the solidity of last year. Questions are now being asked about the team’s reliance on zonal marking, as well as the pressure mounting on set-piece coach Aaron Briggs.
—
Bigger Picture
For Palace, the result was a huge boost in their domestic campaign, with manager Oliver Glasner praising his side’s resilience: “We knew Liverpool were strong, but set-pieces gave us a chance—and we took it.”
For Liverpool, however, the defeat has raised alarm bells. With injuries piling up and crucial fixtures against Arsenal and Benfica around the corner, Slot faces an urgent task: shore up the defense from set-pieces or risk undoing the early momentum of his tenure.
As one fan put it on social media after the game: “Brilliant going forward, but schoolboy errors at the back. This has to change.”
Liverpool’s march continues, but the warning signs are loud and clear.
Leave a Reply