Arne Slot Blames Liverpool Star for Late Crystal Palace Winner

Liverpool boss Arne Slot called out one player for what he did in the moments before Crystal Palace’s late winner in the Reds’ 2-1 defeat at Selhurst Park.

The Eagles took an early lead through Ismaila Sarr, who, on nine minutes, netted his fifth goal against Liverpool in eight career appearances.

And Oliver Glasner’s side led for most of the match despite the Premier League champions having the likes of Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Mohamed Salah on the pitch.

But substitute Federico Chiesa thought he had spared his side’s blushes with his equaliser on 87 minutes.

However, the game was not done just yet as Liverpool summer transfer target Marc Guehi flicked the ball towards Eddie Nketiah, who smashed past Alisson deep into stoppage time.

Palace went second, three points behind leaders Liverpool and are now the only side yet to taste defeat in the Premier League this term.

And it did not take long for the inquest into the result to begin from a Liverpool perspective.

Several fans voiced their concerns about Ibrahima Konate after he put in a poor showing before being replaced by Jeremie Frimpong on 74 minutes.

Shortly after his side’s first defeat of the 2025/26 campaign, Slot gave his verdict on the performance and even appeared to call out one of his players for his actions in the moments before Palace’s last-gasp winner.

Speaking in a press conference, the Dutchman said: “One of our players decided to run out because he wanted to play a counter-attack, which was of no use because time was up, so it was only about defending.

“Maybe we were too offensively minded. Not we, one player, was too offensively minded in that moment, which led to them scoring the winner, us losing the game.”

And although he did not directly name and shame the player in question, Salah was the only Liverpool player not defending his penalty area when the goal went in.

However, Frimpong appeared to step up and momentarily leave Nketiah free before he netted.

Later in the press conference, Slot was asked whether he was concerned that his side had conceded two goals from set pieces to which he replied: “No… Today, they had more than only two set-piece goals. They didn't score more, but they had chances from open play, from transition. So, there were more things not to like today than only defending set-pieces. The good thing was that in the other moments, Alisson saved us.”

The 47-year-old also admitted that Palace were deserved winners and explained how he felt the Eagles could have been “two or three goals [up] in the first half”.

Liverpool return to action with a Champions League away trip to Istanbul, where they will face Turkish champions Galatasaray on Tuesday.

Palace face Dynamo Kyiv in their Conference League opener in Poland on Thursday.