Arne Slot left fuming as Crystal Palace joke about Liverpool performance

Moments You Might Have Missed During Liverpool’s Defeat at Crystal Palace

Liverpool learned the hard way that late drama can go both ways as they suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season at Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.

Eddie Nketiah’s goal in the seventh minute of stoppage time sealed a dramatic 2-1 victory for the hosts. Federico Chiesa had earlier equalised Ismaila Sarr’s opener, but the Reds couldn’t hold on.

Despite the loss — only their fifth in the league under Arne Slot — Liverpool remain top of the table, having won their first five games.

But beyond the scoreline, plenty happened at Selhurst Park that flew under the radar…

Slot’s First-Half Frustration

It was clear from early on that Arne Slot was unhappy — and with good reason. Liverpool’s coaching staff were furious when a corner was wrongly awarded to Palace after Conor Bradley was judged to have touched the ball last, despite it clearly deflecting off Tyrick Mitchell.

To make matters worse, Palace scored from the resulting corner. Slot’s protests saw him booked for stepping out of his technical area.

The incident sparked fresh debates about officiating consistency, especially as Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta faced no punishment for similar antics at Anfield recently.

Delayed Offside Flags Fuel Frustration

One modern rule continues to infuriate defenders: assistant referees delaying offside calls.

In the second half, Liverpool’s high line twice caught Palace attackers offside, but play was allowed to continue — forcing Alisson into a save and Dominik Szoboszlai into a crucial challenge — before the flag finally went up.

The frustration was visible, with Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez, and Alisson all visibly fuming. Perhaps the assistant should start trusting his instincts more.

Post-Match Delays — Thanks to a Palace Prankster

After a tense match filled with VAR checks and a medical emergency in the stands, nearly 20 minutes of stoppage time were added across both halves. It’s no surprise Liverpool were keen to leave quickly after the defeat.

But their exit was delayed further — by a cheeky Palace fan who blocked the team coaches by slowly tying his shoelaces in the road. The prank added insult to injury.

Earlier, the Selhurst Park stadium announcer added to the banter, joking that a Liverpool fan’s woeful attempt during a half-time competition was “almost as bad as their team’s first-half display.” To be fair, few would disagree.

Schadenfreude in the Press Room

Saturday saw a Premier League record for stoppage-time goals, and the drama wasn’t limited to Selhurst Park.

Before kick-off, journalists in the press room were watching Manchester United’s match at Brentford — and when Bruno Fernandes had a chance to equalise from the spot, there was widespread attention.

When former Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher saved the penalty, a loud cheer broke out. It seems sympathy for United’s ongoing struggles remains in short supply.