Crystal Palace wasted no time in unsettling Liverpool, with Ismaïla Sarr striking in the ninth minute after chaos from a set piece. Tyrick Mitchell intercepted a poor Virgil van Dijk pass, Daichi Kamada swung in the corner, and amid the scramble, Marc Guéhi’s pressure forced Ryan Gravenberch into a weak header that dropped perfectly for Sarr to slot home. Selhurst Park erupted, and Liverpool suddenly looked like they’d turned up without reading the script.
The Eagles could have doubled their advantage almost immediately, but Yeremy Pino failed to convert after some slick interplay. As BBC Sport noted, only Alisson Becker’s brilliance — with fine saves from Daniel Muñoz, Pino, and Jean-Philippe Mateta — prevented Palace from running riot in the first half. By the interval, the champions were gasping for breath, grateful that the woodwork and their keeper had kept them in the contest.
Henderson’s Big Moments
Liverpool did improve after the break, pushing Palace deeper and finally making Dean Henderson earn his wage packet. The ex-United keeper tipped Ryan Gravenberch’s thunderous drive onto the post before denying Florian Wirtz from point-blank range. For a brief spell, Palace were pinned in and living on instinct rather than Glasner’s system.
Still, Henderson’s interventions underlined why Palace have become so resilient. As Sky Sports observed, Palace have now gone 18 matches unbeaten in all competitions — a streak built on defensive steel as much as attacking flair. If Selhurst Park had nerves, Henderson was the aspirin.
Isak and Chiesa: The Expensive Nearly-Men
Liverpool’s record £125m signing Alexander Isak was handed a Premier League debut, but it was one to forget. He scuffed wide when clean through, his sixth touch of the half telling the story of how well Palace shackled him. The only Swedish meatball served up was frustration for Arne Slot’s side.
Instead, salvation seemed to arrive via another big-money recruit. Substitute Federico Chiesa pounced on a loose ball in the 87th minute, slotting home with the kind of composure that suggested Liverpool’s knack for late goals might strike again. As The Guardian put it, Slot must have felt “the trademark late escape was back on the menu.” Alas, dessert was denied.
Nketiah’s Last-Gasp Heroics
Step forward Eddie Nketiah. The former Arsenal man, now wearing Crystal Palace colours, latched onto Marc Guéhi’s flick in the 97th minute to prod home at the far post. VAR had a sniff at Gravenberch’s offside position, but the goal stood. Cue pandemonium in south London.
It was Palace’s first home win over Liverpool since 2014, and it carried all the hallmarks of Glasner’s work: a settled side, ruthless pressing, and clever set-piece routines. “Wild celebrations” barely did justice to Selhurst Park’s noise levels, noted BBC Sport. Liverpool were left flat on the floor, undone by their own trick of late drama.
The Bigger Picture: Palace the Real Deal?
This wasn’t just three points. Palace are now the only unbeaten side left in the Premier League and sit second, just three behind Liverpool. Glasner’s men, already FA Cup holders and Community Shield winners, look like a side playing with conviction and consistency. Europe awaits them next week, and on this form, they won’t just be making up the numbers.
Liverpool, meanwhile, were reminded that £250m worth of talent doesn’t guarantee cohesion. Wirtz looks like a player still trying to find his fit, and Slot’s side — for all their attacking potential — looked brittle under pressure. As Selhurst Park shook, Palace looked like contenders, Liverpool like pretenders (at least for a day).
