Liverpool boss Arne Slot hopes lessons are learned after Crystal Palace loss

LONDON – Liverpool manager Arne Slot chastised his team’s defending and said Crystal Palace were deserving 2-1 winners, after the English Premier League champions’ perfect start to the season came to an abrupt end at Selhurst Park on Sept 27.

Slot’s men had won all seven of their Premier League, Champions League and League Cup games since losing on penalties to Palace in August’s Community Shield.

However, a new-look Liverpool, overhauled by nearly £450 million (S$780 million) spent 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.”

However, pundits have criticised another Reds defender who has had a shaky start to the season.

The poor performance of Ibrahima Konate in open play will prompt alarm bells, with the injury-prone Joe Gomez the only real cover at centre-back after Giovanni Leoni’s season-ending injury against Southampton in midweek.

There was a tinge of irony in the fact that Palace captain Marc Guehi, who was reported to have undergone a medical before the collapse of his deadline-day move to Liverpool in September, was credited with the assist for the winner.

Former Liverpool and England striker Michael Owen said: “Konate in the first half didn’t know what he was doing. I can’t say that it was because of rustiness or tiredness.

“We’ve seen one or two performances like that from him this season that have been quite similar.”

Ex-Manchester City and England defender Micah Richards added: “Konate is starting to worry me a little bit.

“Him and (Virgil) van Dijk have been a good partnership, but his individual errors at this moment in time are just making the backline look a bit nervy.”

Liverpool began this term by giving up two-goal leads against Bournemouth and Newcastle United before snatching late victories. They also needed late winners against Arsenal, Burnley and Atletico Madrid, the latter after another 2-0 lead was squandered.

Palace, meanwhile, 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 equalised and the momentum can change, we kept our heads. It was such a team effort.” AFP, REUTERS