Anfield fell silent tonight as Crystal Palace delivered a stunning 3-0 knockout blow to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup fourth round. The result marks Liverpool’s fifth straight domestic defeat – their worst run since 1953 – leaving manager Arne Slot under intense pressure.
Match Breakdown: Palace Domination
The visitors took control early, with Ismaila Sarr continuing his personal vendetta against Liverpool. The Senegalese winger scored either side of halftime before Yeremy Pino’s late curler sealed the humiliation.
Key Moments:
- 41′ – Sarr pounces on Joe Gomez’s defensive error to open scoring
- 45′ – Sarr doubles lead with clinical finish after Kamada assist
- 88′ – Pino adds spectacular third with curling strike
- 79′ – Liverpool’s Amara Nallo sees red for professional foul
Liverpool’s Lineup Gamble Backfires
Slot fielded an experimental side featuring teenagers Kaide Gordon (18) and Amara Nallo (18), plus 19-year-old debutant Lucky. The young Reds looked completely overwhelmed, managing just one shot on target all night.
| Stat | Liverpool | Crystal Palace |
|---|---|---|
| Shots on Target | 1 | 7 |
| Possession | 52% | 48% |
| Red Cards | 1 | 0 |
Sarr’s Liverpool Curse Continues
The Palace winger now has seven goals in nine appearances against Liverpool across his career. “He plays like a man possessed whenever he sees that red shirt,” noted Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler during the broadcast.
“Ismaila Sarr against Liverpool is the football equivalent of kryptonite vs Superman. Absolutely unstoppable.” – @PremierLeagueStats
Slot’s Post-Match Crisis
The Dutch manager cut a frustrated figure post-match: “It’s not Liverpool’s standards to lose five out of six… but with Villa and City coming up, we have no time to feel sorry for ourselves.”
Liverpool’s Horror Run:
- Lost to Brentford (2-3) – PL
- Defeated by Palace (1-2) – PL
- Community Shield loss to Palace (Pens)
- UCL defeat to PSG
- Tonight’s Carabao Cup humiliation
What’s Next?
Crystal Palace advance to face Arsenal in the quarter-finals, while Liverpool face a season-defining week:
- Saturday: Aston Villa (PL)
- Wednesday: Real Madrid (UCL)
- Next Sunday: Manchester City (PL)
How to Watch Replays
Missed the action? Full match replays are available on FanCode in India. International viewers can catch highlights on the Carabao Cup’s official YouTube channel.
As Anfield empties early, questions swirl about Slot’s future. With crucial matches looming, Liverpool’s season hangs in the balance. One thing’s certain – Crystal Palace have become the Reds’ ultimate bogey team.
