Liverpool’s challenging season continued as they were overcome 3-0 by Crystal Palace in the League Cup, with Ismaila Sarr netting twice for the visitors. This defeat, which further darkens the clouds over manager Arne Slot’s tenure, marks Liverpool’s sixth loss in their last seven matches across all competitions. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace advances to the quarter-finals of the tournament.
As other Premier League heavyweights rested their starters, Liverpool fielded a weakened team which struggled to perform at Anfield on Wednesday night. The match appeared evenly poised until Sarr struck in the 41st minute, capitalizing on a defensive mistake by Joe Gomez. Just moments later, Sarr doubled Palace’s tally as he connected with a clever pass from Yeremy Pino.
Liverpool’s troubles escalated when Amara Nallo received a red card in the 79th minute, an unfortunate continuation of his struggles, having now been sent off in both his senior appearances. Pino added further injury to the hosts with a late goal in the 88th minute, sealing Liverpool’s fate.
Slot voiced his concerns post-match, stating, “It’s not of Liverpool standards to lose six out of seven,” while also emphasizing the significance of their upcoming Premier League fixture against Aston Villa, declaring, “Every Liverpool game is a must-win.”
The defeat highlighted a rare occurrence for Liverpool as it was their first domestic cup loss at Anfield by three goals without a response since a similar fate against Bolton in the FA Cup back in February 1934. Additionally, this marked the league champions’ third defeat to Crystal Palace this season, a truly remarkable statistic as Palace’s boss Oliver Glasner noted, “I don’t know how often this happens when you play the champions three times within three months, and you win three times. So credit to the players.”
In other fourth-round action, holders Newcastle United defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 at St James’ Park, while Arsenal secured a 2-0 victory over Brighton. Manchester City came back to win 3-1 against Swansea City, and Chelsea edged past Wolverhampton Wanderers in an exciting 4-3 contest.
Despite the current struggles, there remains hope for Liverpool as they look to regroup. Their supporters can take solace in the team’s past successes and the potential for a turnaround in their upcoming matches. With opportunities to improve, Liverpool fans are eager for a resurgence as the season progresses.