Liverpool suffer bizarre first defeat, Chelsea also beaten with Hato in the team

Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the Premier League season came crashing down in dramatic fashion at Selhurst Park, where Crystal Palace stunned the league leaders with a 97th-minute winner to seal a 2–1 victory.

It was a night that had everything: early setbacks for Arne Slot’s side, long spells of frustration, a late equaliser that seemed to rescue them, and finally a gut-wrenching stoppage-time strike that handed them their first loss of the campaign.

Arne Slot rotated his squad slightly, giving Cody Gakpo a rest and opting for a front line led by Alexander Isak, with Federico Chiesa and Kylian Mbappé providing the width. Dutch internationals Virgil van Dijk, Jeremie Frimpong and Ryan Gravenberch all started, but their presence wasn’t enough to prevent an early setback. In the 11th minute, Palace won a corner that Liverpool failed to clear. The ball ricocheted around the box before falling to Ismaïla Sarr, who rifled it into the net past Alisson. The goal sent Selhurst Park into eruption and forced Liverpool into an uphill battle from the start.

From that moment, the match followed a predictable rhythm: Liverpool dominated the ball, circulating possession with patience and intent, while Palace sat deep, stayed compact, and looked to strike on the counter. The approach gave both teams chances. Palace nearly doubled their advantage before half-time when Eberechi Eze curled a shot just wide and Jean-Philippe Mateta forced Alisson into an acrobatic save. At the other end, Liverpool threatened through Isak, whose movement unsettled the Palace back line, but his finishing lacked precision.

In the second half, the pressure increased. Slot introduced Cody Gakpo on the hour mark, and the Dutch forward immediately gave Liverpool more dynamism in the final third. Frimpong pushed higher up the right flank, combining with Mbappé, while Chiesa probed relentlessly on the left. Still, Palace stood firm, with Marc Guéhi and Joachim Andersen marshalling the defence and goalkeeper Dean Henderson producing key saves.

Liverpool’s persistence finally paid off in the 87th minute. A flowing move involving Gakpo and Mbappé freed Chiesa on the edge of the box. The Italian cut inside and drove a low shot into the far corner, levelling the score at 1–1. For a brief moment, it seemed Liverpool had avoided defeat and would escape South London with at least a point. The away fans celebrated wildly, sensing their team’s resilience had saved them once again.

But the drama was far from over. Palace launched one last counter deep into stoppage time. A quick transition saw Eze slip the ball into substitute Eddie Nketiah, who timed his run perfectly to stay just onside. One-on-one with Alisson, Nketiah made no mistake, sliding the ball into the corner in the 97th minute to make it 2–1. The stadium exploded, Palace players piled onto the pitch in celebration, and Liverpool’s hopes were crushed in an instant.

For Liverpool, it was a bitter pill to swallow. This was their first defeat of the season under Slot, and it came in a game where they had dominated possession but failed to convert their chances. The late collapse served as a reminder that defensive lapses and lack of cutting edge can be punished brutally in the Premier League. Despite the setback, Liverpool still remain top of the table, but their aura of invincibility has been dented.

For Palace, it was a famous night at Selhurst Park. Roy Hodgson’s side executed their game plan to perfection: disciplined defending, opportunistic counterattacks, and a refusal to buckle under Liverpool’s relentless pressure. With Sarr and Eze causing constant problems and Nketiah writing himself into derby folklore with the last-gasp winner, Palace delivered one of the shocks of the season.

The Premier League title race remains wide open. Liverpool, though still in first place, must now respond quickly to this setback, while Palace will take confidence from knowing they can topple the very best.