Liverpool Crumble at Anfield as Crystal Palace End Carabao Cup Hopes

Liverpool’s Carabao Cup journey came to a disappointing end as a youthful Reds side were beaten 3-0 by Crystal Palace at Anfield. Arne Slot’s bold decision to rotate heavily backfired, with the hosts punished by two quickfire goals from Ismaila Sarr and a late finish from Yeremy Pino.

A Risky Line-Up from Slot

With ten changes from the team that lost at Brentford, Slot opted to rest his senior stars and give valuable minutes to his younger players. Three teenagers started, and the bench featured no one over the age of 21. While the intention was to manage fatigue during a congested period, the lack of experience proved costly.

Liverpool started brightly, with Federico Chiesa going close twice, but their attacking play lacked sharpness. Crystal Palace, organised and patient, waited for mistakes, and they arrived right on cue.

Defensive Errors Prove Costly

Joe Gomez’s misplaced pass gifted Sarr his first goal, and the Senegalese forward doubled the lead minutes later, exploiting the space left by a disjointed back line. It was a reminder of the defensive fragility that has haunted Liverpool in recent weeks.

The Reds struggled to respond. Without the creativity of Dominik Szoboszlai or the drive of Florian Wirtz, their possession play was predictable. Chiesa continued to work hard, but Palace’s defence stood firm.

Red Card Ends Any Hope of Recovery

The night went from bad to worse when 18-year-old Amara Nallo was sent off for bringing down Justin Devenny as the last man. Pino’s composed finish in the closing stages made it 3-0, sealing a convincing victory for the visitors.

It was another reminder of Liverpool’s current struggles. With senior players such as Van Dijk, Salah, Ekitike and Gakpo all absent, the younger group were left exposed in a fixture that quickly slipped away.

A Tough Run Ahead

The defeat marks Liverpool’s sixth in seven games, deepening concerns over Slot’s early reign. The schedule offers little relief, with Aston Villa visiting Anfield this weekend, followed by Real Madrid in the Champions League and a trip to Manchester City soon after.

The Carabao Cup exit will not define Liverpool’s season, but it highlights the growing cracks within a side that looks short on confidence and consistency. For Arne Slot, the challenge now is to find stability before this slump becomes a crisis.