2 hours ago
34
Arne Slot criticized Jeremie Frimpong after Crystal Palace's dramatic stoppage-time winner brought Liverpool's flawless Premier League start to an abrupt end. Eddie Nketiah netted a 97th-minute winner at Selhurst Park to halt Liverpool's five-game winning streak.
Palace merited their triumph after dominating the opening period and taking the lead through Ismaila Sarr's corner conversion. Alisson delivered several outstanding saves to keep Liverpool competitive, and they appeared to have secured a point when Federico Chiesa found the back of the net after VAR dismissed any Mohamed Salah handball.
Nevertheless, Palace claimed all three points from a long throw as Liverpool failed to clear Will Hughes' knockdown. Nketiah demonstrated superb composure before firing past Alisson to send the home crowd into delirium.
Frimpong, who had come on for Ibrahima Konate in the 74th minute, misjudged the trajectory of the ball after Curtis Jones inadvertently diverted it onwards. He permitted Nketiah to slip from his marking, with the forward exploiting the gap to blast beyond Alisson.
"We can only blame ourselves for defending the way we did," Slot said 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.
"One player was too offensively minded in that moment, which led to them scoring the winner and us losing the game."
Liverpool, who has been known for its late goals throughout the season, found itself on the receiving end this time around on Saturday.
"It was a disappointing first half and disappointing end to the game," Slot admitted.
"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."
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
When asked about conceding both goals from set pieces, following Sarr's opener which came 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."
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can read the original story in the Liverpool ECHO by clicking here.
English (US) ·