LONDON: Liverpool manager Arne Slot said Crystal Palace were deserving 2-1 winners as the Premier League champions’ perfect start to the season came to an abrupt end at Selhurst Park.
Slot’s men had won all seven of their Premier League, Champions League and League Cup games since losing on penalties to Palace in the Community Shield last month.
However, a new-look Liverpool, overhauled by a near £450 million ($602 million) spend in the transfer market, have flirted with failure only to be bailed out by a series of late goals.
Ismaila Sarr’s ninth-minute opener was scant reward for a dominant first half from Palace as only a string of saves from Alisson Becker kept the visitors in the game.
It looked like Liverpool might escape south London with a point after Federico Chiesa levelled with another late goal.
But this time the Reds were undone in stoppage time when Eddie Nketiah smashed in.
“If one team deserved to win today it was Palace,” said Slot.
“Credit to Palace — with the Community Shield it’s not the first time we’ve lost to them.
“They deserved to be two or three up in the first half.”
Including the Community Shield, Liverpool have conceded two goals in five of their nine games this season.
Slot was particularly angered by his side’s defending for the winner when Jeremie Frimpong switched off to leave Nketiah unmarked at the back post.
“We can only blame ourselves for defending the way we did,” said Slot.
“One of our players ran out because he wanted to play a counter-attack, which was of no use because time was up, so it was only about defending.
“One player was too offensively minded in that moment, which led to them scoring the winner and us losing the game.”
Palace are the only unbeaten team left in the Premier League.
Stretching back to before their FA Cup win last season, the Eagles have not lost in 18 games in all competitions.
“These are the moments why we love football. The fans will have a great Saturday evening now,” said Palace boss Oliver Glasner.
“We deserved it. Great performance, great game, great win.”
Glasner has transformed Palace’s fortunes over the past 18 months, but believes his side’s first-half display was a new high.
“I think the first half was the best half since we arrived,” he said.
“Leading the champions by one goal you always think they can strike back and we were under immense pressure in the second half.
“But even when they equalized and the momentum can change we kept our heads. It was such a team effort.”
Liverpool ‘deserved’ defeat to Crystal Palace, says Slot
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Liverpool ‘deserved’ defeat to Crystal Palace, says Slot
- Ismaila Sarr’s ninth-minute opener was scant reward for a dominant first half from Palace
- “If one team deserved to win today it was Palace,” said Slot
Man United climb to third, Fulham sink sorry Spurs
- Red Devils have taken their tally to 19 points from a possible 21
LONDON: Benjamin Sesko stretched his hot streak with the winning goal as Manchester United beat Crystal Palace 2-1 to go third in the Premier League, while Tottenham failed to dispel relegation fears after defeat at Fulham.
Sesko was handed his first start in seven games since Michael Carrick took charge at Old Trafford and rewarded his boss with another vital goal to edge United closer to a return to the Champions League.
Palace had taken an early lead at Old Trafford when Maxence Lacroix outmuscled Leny Yoro to guide in a header from Brennan Johnson’s corner.
But United hit back to remain unbeaten under Carrick and take their tally to 19 points from a possible 21.
The game swung on one incident as Lacroix was sent off and conceded a penalty for pulling back Matheus Cunha just before the hour mark.
Bruno Fernandes confidently stroked the resulting spot kick past former teammate Dean Henderson.
Fernandes was then the creator for the second as his curling cross was powered in by Sesko.
The Slovenian has now scored seven times in his last eight appearances to quieten critics of his £74 million ($100 million) price tag after a slow start to his career in England.
Tottenham remain perilously poised just four points above the relegation zone as interim boss Igor Tudor again failed to halt their alarming slide after a 2-1 defeat at Craven Cottage.
Harry Wilson and Alex Iwobi gave Fulham a deserved half-time lead as they moved up to ninth and back into contention for European football next season.
Richarlison headed in a late consolation for Tottenham, but they remain the only Premier League side without a win in 2026.
The one crumb of comfort for Spurs was defeat for relegation rivals Nottingham Forest, 2-1 at Brighton.
All three goals arrived in the first 15 minutes as Diego Gomez and Danny Welbeck netted for the Seagulls either side of Morgan Gibbs-White’s reply.
Forest sit two points above the drop zone ahead of a daunting trip to Manchester City on Wednesday.
