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The Postmortem: Liverpool 0-3 Crystal Palace – EFL Cup

With Liverpool looking to respond after a horrid run of form, this clash with Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup was billed as an opportunity to restore some much-needed confidence. Instead, it became another evening of frustration, disjointed play, and managerial misjudgment as Arne Slot’s heavily rotated Reds were comfortably beaten at Anfield. The atmosphere turned quickly from curiosity to resignation, as Palace executed their plan to perfection while Liverpool looked like a team drifting without identity or direction.

The Starting Eleven

Liverpool XI

• GK – Freddie Woodman

• RB – Calvin Ramsay

• CB – Joe Gomez

• CB – Andy Robertson (c)

• LB – Milos Kerkez

• CM – Alexis Mac Allister

• CM – Wataru Endō

• CM – Trey Nyoni

• RW – Kieran Morrison

• CF – Federico Chiesa

• LW – Rio Ngumoha

Substitutes

Kaide Gordon → Alexis Mac Allister (67’)

Amara Nallo → Kieran Morrison (67’)

Wellity Lucky → Andy Robertson (67’)

Trent Kone-Doherty → Rio Ngumoha (87’)

Goals

Liverpool 0 – 1 Crystal Palace – Ismaila Sarr (41’)

Liverpool 0 – 2 Crystal Palace – Ismaila Sarr (Yeremy Pino) (45+2’)

Liverpool 0 – 3 Crystal Palace – Yeremy Pino (88’)

Match Statistics

• Possession – Liverpool 59% | Palace 41%

• Total Shots – Liverpool 7 | Palace 12

• Fouls – Liverpool 12 | Palace 15

• Corners – Liverpool 3 | Palace 2

• Saves – Liverpool 6 | Palace 1

First Half

An expectant Anfield crowd watched in shock as a disjointed Liverpool side failed to impose itself on a well-drilled Palace unit. Despite controlling early possession, the Reds lacked penetration and tempo, moving the ball aimlessly through a passive midfield trio that never looked capable of unsettling the visitors.

Trey Nyoni’s inclusion alongside Mac Allister and Endō provided a glimpse of the future but lacked the composure of the present, while Federico Chiesa’s tireless pressing was undermined by the team’s lack of structure behind him. Palace were sharper in transition and punished defensive naivety twice before the break. Ismaila Sarr opened the scoring with a ruthless finish before adding a second moments later from Yeremy Pino’s incisive assist, both goals highlighting Liverpool’s chaotic organisation at the back.

Second Half

The restart brought no real change in tempo or conviction. Substitutions at the hour mark felt more like damage control than tactical correction, with Slot introducing Kaide Gordon and two academy defenders to see out the inevitable. Liverpool huffed and puffed without inspiration, and as Palace sat compact, the home side looked out of ideas long before the final whistle.

Yeremy Pino’s late strike merely confirmed what the night had already revealed: that this was a Liverpool team bereft of confidence, rhythm, and leadership. Arne Slot’s experiment, a weakened side in the midst of a crisis backfired badly, leaving supporters wondering whether the manager truly grasped the scale of the challenge facing him.

Final Thoughts

This was another low point in what is fast becoming a season of unwanted questions. The Reds looked disorganised, underpowered, and unmotivated. The decision to rest key players while on a losing streak will draw understandable criticism, particularly when the replacements offered little to suggest they are ready to contribute at the required level.

Palace were the better team in every department, more aggressive, more structured, and more clinical. For Liverpool, this result extends a dreadful run that threatens to derail Slot’s tenure before it has properly begun. With Aston Villa up next and pressure mounting, the Dutchman must find a solution or risk the walls of Anfield closing in far sooner than anyone expected.

My follow-up piece this week will look at why the first team assets were left out of the squad as it may point to the bigger picture.

Steven Smith’s Score Prediction:

Liverpool 2 – 1 Crystal Palace

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