Liverpool suffered another defeat, but thanks to Arne Slott’s “amazing” team selection, Crystal Palace won 3-0 at Anfield and booked their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals against Arsenal.
The much-changed slot line-up couldn’t handle Ismaila Sarr, who continued his scoring streak with a double against Liverpool, but Yeremy Pino added a classy finish in the second half to help the scoreline reflect the Eagles’ dominance.
The Reds have now lost six of their last seven games in all competitions and there is huge pressure on the returning first team to deliver a momentum-changing result when they host Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday night.
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Ismaila Sarr finished with calm and composure on his weak foot to put Crystal Palace 1-0 up.
Liverpool supporters would have been hoping for a game-changing scoreline in this cup game, but Slott’s decision to remove star players such as Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, make 10 changes to his starting XI and fill the bench with young, inexperienced players made the odds even better against the home side.
Slott reasoned that there were injury concerns for some key players and that Liverpool traditionally use the competition to give game time to young players. It was music to the ears of a Palace team who arrived on Merseyside hoping to end a four-game winless streak.
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Ismaila Sarr doubled the away team’s lead against Liverpool just before half-time, scoring twice.
Liverpool’s fringe side started with enthusiasm, but as the first half progressed the FA Cup holders took control. Then Searle brought about a change. His first goal was scored precisely after the ball broke to him in the box and Milos Kerkes switched off.
Sarr’s second goal came from a great reverse pass from Pino. The Senegalese international has scored four times this season against Liverpool, as well as scoring in the Community Shield and Premier League games at Selhurst Park. He also scored a penalty in the penalty shoot-out at Wembley, and the South London team won the match.
Liverpool’s frustration boiled over in the second half when Federico Chiesa was booked for a collision with Justin Deveney. He had a half-chance in the first half with the score 0-0, but his relentless running received little support.
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Referee Craig Pawson was forced to give a red card as Liverpool youngster Amara Naro brought down Justin Devennie and the Crystal Palace player scored.
The 18-year-old was then shown a straight red card after he was brought down by Amara Naro as he raced past goal – just as he did on his Champions League debut in January. This put Liverpool in an even more dangerous situation and Pinot made the most of it, curling past teenage debutant Welty Lackey and into the bottom corner of the goal.
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Elemy Pino put Crystal Palace out of sight with a lovely finish from the Spaniard as the visitors went up 3-0.
As well as Lackey, Freddie Woodman and 18-year-old Kieran Morrison made their first appearances for Liverpool, but apart from personal milestones there was little positive for Slott and Liverpool from the rain-soaked night at Anfield. Their dismal run of form continues and with one cup removed, fears of falling further out of Premier League contention will dominate supporters’ minds in the days leading up to Saturday’s clash with Villa.
Redknapp: Slott made the wrong team choice
Jamie Redknapp of Sky Sports:
“It was the wrong team. Make no mistake about it. The team he picked today was really difficult for himself. He didn’t help the young players because of the players around him. He made 10 changes from Brentford.”
“I can’t say he picked that team today and the subs are thinking, ‘We’re going to get a result against a really good Crystal Palace.’ You might hope so. I never believed for a second that they could beat them. He made a mistake today.”
“Since he came to the club, he has been unbelievable. He is under a lot of pressure, but that’s football, that’s the price of the ticket. Last season they climbed the mountain and were really sensational. Now they have to get back to that character they showed when they won the title and come together.”
Slott defends selection but says Liverpool are below standards
Liverpool manager Arne Slott:
“Losing five out of six games or six out of seven is not the norm for Liverpool.
“Everyone can have an opinion (on selection), but with our squad, probably 15 or six first-team players available, this is the choice I have made.”
On the performance: “We played for the first 30 minutes. In fact, we might have had more chances in the first 30 minutes.
“But I think everyone in the stadium knew after we conceded 1-0 and then 2-0 just before half-time that it was going to be very difficult to play against a team that we knew, knew and were structured. I think the only time we’ve ever scored twice against them was in a Community Shield game, especially against a team we haven’t played together many times before.”
