Crystal Palace delivered a stunning blow to Liverpool's impeccable start to the season, securing a thrilling 2-1 victory at Selhurst Park on Saturday. The Reds, who had entered the fixture boasting a perfect record of five consecutive wins since the Premier League campaign began, found themselves overwhelmed by a dominant Crystal Palace side, particularly in the first half.

Oliver Glasner's men displayed exceptional form, creating numerous chances and arguably should have held a more significant lead by halftime. Despite their relentless attack, they only had Ismaila Sarr's goal to show for their efforts as they went into the break with a slender 1-0 advantage. Liverpool's goalkeeper, Alisson Becker, played a crucial role in keeping his team in contention, pulling off several excellent saves to prevent further damage.

The second half saw a shift in momentum, with Liverpool manager Arne Slot acknowledging his team's improved performance. Substitute Federico Chiesa eventually leveled the score for the Reds, seemingly salvaging a point for the Premier League champions. However, the drama was far from over. In a dramatic late twist, Eddie Nketiah smashed home a winner in the 98th minute, ensuring Crystal Palace's unbeaten start to the season continued and inflicting Liverpool's first defeat.

Speaking after the match, Liverpool manager Arne Slot admitted to the challenges faced by his team. "Very difficult first half. They did really well and deserved to be 1-0 up, we were lucky it was only 1-0," Slot stated, reflecting on Palace's dominance. He added, "Second half it was the opposite. It took a while before we scored and we did with a few minutes left. But from a second set piece they won the game."

Slot also emphasized the growing importance of set pieces in the competitive nature of the Premier League. "If you want to compete you need a very positive balance with set pieces and even more in this league. It was one of our biggest strengths last season, now we have conceded two against Newcastle and two here. But this league is more and more and more about set pieces," he lamented, highlighting a critical area for improvement for his squad.