Liverpool’s difficult season took another hit as they were defeated 3-0 by Crystal Palace in the League Cup, with Ismaila Sarr scoring twice for the visitors. This loss marks Liverpool’s sixth defeat in their last seven matches across all competitions, deepening the scrutiny on manager Arne Slot’s future. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace moves ahead to the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Fielding a depleted squad as other Premier League giants opted to rest their key players, Liverpool struggled to make an impact at Anfield on Wednesday night. The match seemed balanced until Sarr broke the deadlock in the 41st minute, taking advantage of a defensive error from Joe Gomez. Just moments later, Sarr increased Crystal Palace’s lead with a well-placed finish from a brilliant pass delivered by Yeremy Pino.
Liverpool’s situation worsened when Amara Nallo was shown a red card in the 79th minute, compounding his challenges after being sent off in both of his senior matches. Pino then added a third goal for Palace in the 88th minute, firmly sealing Liverpool’s defeat.
In his post-match comments, Slot expressed his disappointment, stating, “It’s not of Liverpool standards to lose six out of seven,” and underscored the importance of their next Premier League match against Aston Villa, asserting, “Every Liverpool game is a must-win.”
This loss marked a significant moment in Liverpool’s history, as it was their first defeat at Anfield in a domestic cup by three goals without scoring, a rarity that hadn’t occurred since February 1934 against Bolton in the FA Cup. This also represents the league champions’ third defeat to Crystal Palace this season, a remarkable statistic that has not gone unnoticed by Palace’s manager Oliver Glasner, who 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.”
Elsewhere in the tournament, Newcastle United overcame Tottenham Hotspur with a 2-0 victory at St James’ Park, Arsenal triumphed over Brighton with the same scoreline, Manchester City rallied to win 3-1 against Swansea City, and Chelsea narrowly defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers in a thrilling 4-3 match.
Despite these challenges, there’s a glimmer of hope for Liverpool as they seek to regroup. Supporters can draw comfort from the team’s historical successes and the potential for a turnaround in the coming matches. Optimism remains as Liverpool fans look forward to seeing their club bounce back in the months ahead.