Crystal Palace 2 – 1 Liverpool
Premier League champions Liverpool tasted defeat as Crystal Palace delivered a dramatic home victory.
After Federico Chiesa’s strike seemed to have brought Liverpool back on level terms, Eddie Nketiah scored in the dying moments, handing Palace a sensational win in the final shot of the match.
On Saturday, in a thrilling Premier League encounter, Liverpool went down 2-1, suffering their first loss of the season under Jürgen Klopp.
Ismailia Sarr gave Palace the lead in the 9th minute. Chiesa equalized for Liverpool in the 87th minute. In added time, Nketiah struck from close range to seal the victory for the hosts.
Palace had the ball for 28 percent of the game and attempted 16 shots, five of which were on target. Liverpool’s goalkeeper Alisson Becker made several fine saves to keep his team in the contest. Liverpool, meanwhile, managed 20 shots but only four on target, with Palace keeper Dean Henderson producing three crucial saves.
The match began slowly, with Palace taking the first corner. In the 9th minute, Ryan Sessegnon’s challenge created an opportunity in the small D-box, allowing Ismailia Sarr to finish a swift move and put Palace ahead.
Two minutes later, Sarr nearly doubled the lead, but Alisson made a strong save at the near post. Liverpool tried to respond, but Palace’s counter-attacks repeatedly threatened their defense.
In the 22nd minute, Daniel Muñoz had another great chance, only to be denied by Alisson’s reflexes. Moments later, Jean-Philippe Mateta saw a shot blocked by the keeper. In the 28th minute, Alexander Isak failed to convert a header from Mohamed Salah’s cross. Ten minutes later, Ibrahima Konaté missed another opportunity from a dangerous corner.
In first-half stoppage time, Mateta’s shot hit the post, and Henderson kept Palace ahead with a save from Salah’s attempt, taking Liverpool into halftime still trailing.
The second half saw Liverpool push forward, nearly equalizing in the 59th minute when Henderson made an outstanding save from Flohian Vihjets’ effort off Dominic Solanke’s cross. Palace had their chance immediately afterward, but Sarr’s cross was cleared by a Liverpool defender.
In the 64th minute, Isak missed a close-range shot, and Mateta’s header was blocked by Alisson a minute later. In the 70th minute, Isak again missed from Curtis Jones’ corner, while six minutes later, Solanke’s shot went just wide. Salah’s long-range effort sailed over the crossbar.
In the 79th minute, Nketiah wasted a golden chance from Mateta’s cross, missing a close-range header. But in added time, Palace snatched victory as a long throw fell to an unmarked Nketiah, who scored easily from close range. VAR confirmed he was onside, and the referee awarded the goal.
This victory follows Palace’s Community Shield triumph over Liverpool in August and marks a memorable Premier League win.
After six matches, Liverpool remain top with 15 points, while Palace move to second with 12 points, remaining unbeaten in the season with three wins and three draws.
