Crystal Palace stunned a youthful Liverpool side with a dominant 3-0 win at Anfield to book their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. Two first-half goals from Ismaila Sarr and a late strike from Yeremy Pino secured the victory, deepening the Reds’ current crisis under Arne Slot. The defeat means Liverpool have now lost six of their last seven matches across all competitions, including the recent Premier League loss to Brentford, as reported by Softfootball.
Arne Slot made ten changes to his team, starting three teenagers and leaving out key players such as Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk. The decision came as Liverpool continued their tradition of using this competition to give opportunities to young players, as reported by Softfootball. However, the inexperience showed, as Palace took full advantage of a fragile defense and low confidence to cruise past the Reds on a rain-soaked night in Merseyside.
After a bright opening from the hosts, Palace struck first when Joe Gomez’s error allowed Sarr to fire into the bottom corner. The Senegal forward doubled the lead before half-time, combining beautifully with Yeremy Pino to leave debutant goalkeeper Freddie Woodman helpless. The young keeper, along with Kieran Morrison and Wellity Lucky, all made their Liverpool debuts, but the night was one to forget for Slot’s experimental side.
The second half offered little improvement. Federico Chiesa’s frustration boiled over before 18-year-old Amara Nallo was sent off for a last-man challenge on Justin Devenny. With Liverpool reduced to ten men, Pino capped the performance with a composed finish, sealing a well-deserved 3-0 win for Oliver Glasner’s side.
This victory, which was posted on the club’s official X account, extends Palace’s remarkable streak to three straight wins against Liverpool in 2025, including the Community Shield final and a 2-1 Premier League upset, highlighting their tactical edge under Oliver Glasner.
Sarr’s brace means he has now scored seven career goals against Liverpool, of which five goals came in the last four games, as posted on the club’s official X account. The result leaves Slot under growing pressure to deliver a turnaround, with Liverpool now desperate for a response when they host Aston Villa in the Premier League this weekend.
