Selhurst Park, London – September 27, 2025 – Emotions spilled over at Selhurst Park after Crystal Palace stunned Liverpool with a goal deep into stoppage time, snatching a 2-1 victory and leaving Arne Slot and his backroom staff fuming.With six minutes of added time initially shown, Eddie Nketiah’s 97th-minute strike – arriving almost 40 seconds beyond that – was enough to spark chaos on the Liverpool bench. Slot, usually calm and calculated, erupted in fury, storming toward the officials to protest what he believed was an unfair extension of play. His assistants and analysts quickly followed, creating a stormy confrontation on the touchline.The game itself had been a rollercoaster. Palace, unbeaten in 18 matches under Oliver Glasner, struck first through Ismaila Sarr, who pounced after Marc Guéhi’s knockdown from a corner in the 18th minute. The London side could have extended their lead before the break, but Alisson Becker produced a series of incredible saves to keep Liverpool alive.In the second half, the Reds began to dominate, controlling over 70% of possession. Federico Chiesa’s 87th-minute equalizer – following a contentious build-up that left Palace furious – looked set to secure another late rescue act under Slot. But when Liverpool overcommitted forward in added time, Palace punished them. A long throw, a flick-on, and Nketiah’s volley sent the home crowd into delirium.What followed was bedlam. Slot charged at referee Michael Oliver, shouting about the “phantom minute” that allowed the winner. His staff added to the fury – one assistant raged over a possible handball, while another targeted the defensive setup. Even Liverpool’s set-piece coach came under scrutiny, given their repeated struggles in that area this season. Yellow cards were handed out amid the chaos, though Slot himself somehow avoided a booking.After the dust settled, the Dutchman admitted both frustration and accountability. “We blame ourselves for defending like that,” he told reporters. “But conceding in extra time of extra time? That’s not something you can accept easily.” He hinted that one player’s decision to push too high up the pitch left the backline exposed, calling it “the wrong choice at the wrong time.”The defeat leaves Liverpool level on points with Arsenal but behind on goal difference, while Palace surged into third place, boasting the league’s strongest defensive record. Social media lit up with divided opinions – some defending Slot’s passion, others questioning certain players’ discipline.For Liverpool, the defeat raises uncomfortable questions: are these late collapses rare missteps, or early cracks in Slot’s bold system? His closing words suggested defiance rather than doubt: “We’ll learn from this. We’ll come back stronger.”
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