Selhurst Park was buzzing on a crisp September evening when Crystal Palace turned a routine Premier League fixture into a headline‑making drama. The home side edged Liverpool 2-1, thanks to a last‑gasp finish from Eddie Nketiah that snapped the Reds’ flawless start to the 2025‑26 campaign.
Team News, Lineups and What the Absences Meant
Liverpool arrived with a thin‑skinned squad. Striker Hugo Ekitike served a three‑match suspension after a flamboyant red‑card incident in the League Cup, while centre‑back Giovanni Leoni missed the match with an ACL tear sustained a week earlier. Those two gaps forced Jürgen Klopp to reshuffle, slotting Jeremie Frimpong to the right of the back line and calling on newly signed Florian Wirtz to add creativity in midfield.
Despite the setbacks, Liverpool still fielded a potent XI: Alisson in goal; a back four of Frimpong, Konaté, Van Dijk and Kerkez; a midfield pairing of Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch; and a forward line of Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Mohamed Salah and the versatile forward Gapko.
Palace, on the other hand, welcomed back two of their most attacking assets. Both Yeremy Pino and Ismaila Sarr were cleared to play after weeks on the injury list, giving the Eagles a boost in pace and flair. The side still lacked depth, missing Caleb Kporha, Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure, but manager Roy Hodgson stuck with a familiar 4‑3‑3 that emphasized wing play and quick transitions.
The starting eleven for Palace featured Marko Dmitrović between the sticks, a back four of Jeremy Richards, Kylian Guehi, Flavien Lacroix and Ruben Muñoz, midfielders James Wharton and Jack Hughes, with Jacob Mitchell providing width. Up front, Sarr, Jean‑Philippe Mateta and Pino formed the attacking trio.
Match Analysis: How the Game Unfolded and What It Means
The opening half was a study in contrasts. Liverpool’s superior possession allowed them to test the Palace defense with a series of early shots from Isak and Wirtz. However, Hodgson’s side kept a compact shape, forcing the Reds to play out wide. A half‑chance from Pino was cleared off the line by Van Dijk, underscoring how thin the margin could have been.
Palace’s breakthrough came ten minutes before the break when Mateta latched onto a low cross from Mitchell and fired a low‑driven effort that slipped past Alisson’s outstretched hand. The goal revived the crowd and forced Liverpool to chase the game.
In the second half, Klopp introduced fresh legs, pulling on the likes of Salah and bringing on a young midfielder to add impetus. The Reds equalised midway through the period when a quick one‑two between Salah and Isak unlocked the Palace back line, and Isak capped the move with a clinical finish into the bottom corner.
With the score level at 1‑1, the match entered a tense ebb‑flow. Palace’s resilience shone as they absorbed pressure and looked to hit on the counter‑attack. The decisive moment arrived in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Nketiah, who had entered the fray as a substitute, found a pocket of space on the left, cut inside and smoothed a low driven shot across the face of the goal. The ball rattled in the net, sending Selhurst Park into pandemonium.
Beyond the drama, the result carries weighty implications. Liverpool’s perfect start is now blemished, and the loss may prompt a tactical rethink, especially regarding squad depth when injuries strike. For Palace, the win bolsters their standing in the table and proves they can compete with a top‑six side when they execute their game plan with discipline.
Fan reaction on social media mirrored the on‑field tension. Palace supporters celebrated the victory as a historic moment, dubbing Nketiah a “hero off the bench.” Liverpool fans, while disappointed, praised their team’s fight and expressed optimism that the setback will serve as a catalyst for growth.
Looking ahead, Liverpool will travel to face Wolverhampton Wanderers next week, a match that offers a chance to rebound. Palace, meanwhile, will host a mid‑table opponent, where maintaining defensive solidity could see them climb further up the standings.
In a league where surprises are the norm, this 2‑1 triumph adds another chapter to the season’s narrative, reminding everyone that on any given weekend, underdogs can rewrite the script with a single moment of brilliance.
