Liverpool manager Arne Slot admitted that Crystal Palace were worthy winners after the Premier League champions’ unbeaten start to the season ended with a 2-1 defeat at Selhurst Park.
Slot’s side had won all seven of their matches in the Premier League, Champions League and League Cup since their penalty shootout loss to Palace in the Community Shield last month.
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But despite a £450m summer overhaul, the Reds were undone late on after Federico Chiesa’s equaliser looked to have salvaged a point.
Ismaila Sarr struck early for Palace before substitute Eddie Nketiah smashed home a stoppage-time winner, leaving Slot frustrated with Liverpool’s defensive lapses.
“If one team deserved to win today, it was Palace,” said Slot. “They should have been two or three goals ahead in the first half. We can only blame ourselves for defending the way we did.”
The Dutchman was particularly angered by his players switching off in stoppage time.
“One of our players ran out because he wanted to play a counter-attack, which was of no use because time was up. We should have only been defending,” he added.
Palace remain the only unbeaten side in the Premier League, with Oliver Glasner hailing his team’s “best half” since his arrival and crediting their resilience in the second half.
