Arne Slot calls out Liverpool player for error leading to Crystal Palace’s win

Liverpool were beaten 2-1 by Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon as the Reds’ unbeaten start to the season came to an end at Selhurst Park

Arne Slot pointed the finger at Jeremie Frimpong for Crystal Palace’s stunning last minute winner that ended Liverpool’s perfect Premier League start. Eddie Nketiah hammered home a dramatic 97th-minute strike at Selhurst Park, bringing Liverpool’s five-match winning run to a crushing halt.

Palace thoroughly deserved their victory after controlling the early exchanges and taking the lead through Ismaila Sarr’s corner conversion. Alisson’s brilliant shot-stopping kept Liverpool afloat, and they looked to have rescued a draw when Federico Chiesa struck after VAR ruled out any Mohamed Salah handball.

However, Palace snatched all three points from a lengthy throw-in as Liverpool failed to cope with Will Hughes’ knockdown back into the danger zone. Nketiah showed excellent control before rifling past Alisson to send the home supporters into raptures.

Frimpong entered the fray in the 74th minute, replacing Ibrahima Konate, but got caught beneath the ball as fellow substitute Curtis Jones inadvertently flicked it on. He lost track of Nketiah, who capitalised on the space to fire beyond Alisson.

“We can only blame ourselves for defending the way we did,” said Slot before alluding to Frimpong’s error. “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.”, reports the Mirror.

“One player was too offensively minded in that moment, which led to them scoring the winner and us losing the game.”

Liverpool had enjoyed the benefit of numerous late strikes throughout the campaign but found themselves on the wrong end this time around. “It was a disappointing first half and disappointing end to game,” Slot remarked.

“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. The second half was much better from us, we created chances which not many teams do here.

“It took us a while to score a goal – and when we did, to concede another set-piece goal is just as disappointing as the first half. If one team deserved to win today it was Palace.”

When questioned about shipping both goals from dead-ball situations, following Sarr’s opener from a corner, Slot continued: “If you want to compete and want to be right up there you need a very positive balance in set pieces. That is what I always say, for years, and in this league that is probably even more the situation. That was one of our biggest strengths last season.

“We hardly conceded a set piece. Now against Newcastle we conceded two and today we conceded two so that is something we need to do better. But this league is more and more about set pieces.

“We had to defend a lot of them as well and the margins are small. One of our players in the last minute runs forward to maybe try to counter attack for a second goal but in that area the ball falls for a Crystal Palace player who scores.”

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