In the EFL Cup Round of 16, Liverpool suffered a crushing 0–3 home defeat to Crystal Palace despite playing with a man down, further exposing the team’s recent poor form.
This season, Liverpool has already lost to Crystal Palace three times, the Community Shield, the Premier League, and now the EFL Cup, suffering a triple blow from the “Eagles.”
Slot’s Rotations Fail to Deliver
Head coach Arne Slot made several changes to his lineup for this match. Key defender Virgil van Dijk was given a rest, while Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo were named in the starting eleven.
At the start of the game, both sides appeared evenly matched. Although Crystal Palace showed a slight advantage in rhythm and transitions, Liverpool’s defensive structure remained solid in the early stages.
Sarr’s Brace Puts Palace in Control
However, in the 40th minute, a brilliant pass from Daichi Kamada caused chaos in Liverpool’s backline. Muñoz followed up with a touch, and Ismaïla Sarr capitalised with a precise strike to open the scoring.
Just four minutes later, Kamada once again created danger, setting up Yeremy Pino’s attack, which allowed Sarr to finish his second goal of the night. By halftime, Liverpool were trailing 0–2.
In the 80th minute, Palace launched a swift counterattack that pierced Liverpool’s defence. Young defender Nallo brought down Devine as the last man and was shown a straight red card.
Moments later, a misplaced pass from Joe Gomez led to another turnover, and under intense pressing, Pino intercepted the ball and fired it home to seal the 3–0 victory.
Nallo’s Red Card and Pino’s Goal Seal Liverpool’s Fate
In the second half, Liverpool attempted to change the momentum through substitutions, but nothing worked. The 18-year-old substitute Nallo’s red card in the 80th minute proved disastrous, leaving the Reds with ten men.
Then, in the 88th minute, another defensive lapse led to Pino’s decisive strike. He dribbled past the defence and unleashed a powerful shot, confirming Crystal Palace’s 3–0 triumph at Anfield.
Slot Under Pressure as Liverpool’s Form Crumbles
This heavy defeat dealt another severe blow to Arne Slot’s confidence. Over their last seven matches, Liverpool have won only once, and morale within the squad appears to be sinking fast.
Looking ahead, the Reds are set to face Real Madrid and Manchester City in consecutive fixtures, two daunting challenges that could define Slot’s future at the club. If Liverpool fails to deliver, the Dutchman’s tenure could be in serious jeopardy.
Although the board has publicly backed him, the continued poor performances are becoming increasingly difficult to justify.
Integration Issues and Injury Woes Add to the Crisis
To make matters worse, new signing Florian Wirtz has yet to fully integrate into the team’s tactical system, while star striker Alexander Isak is reportedly struggling with injury and may need time on the sidelines.
Under mounting pressure and a congested fixture schedule, Liverpool’s hopes of rediscovering their winning form will depend on swift tactical adjustments and a resurgence in team spirit.
