Crystal Palace delivered a 3-0 upset victory over Liverpool in the EFL Cup fourth round at Anfield, extending the champions' poor run to six losses in seven games. Ismaila Sarr scored twice in the first half, with Yeremy Pino adding a late third after Amara Nallo's red card. The result sees Palace advance to face Arsenal in the quarter-finals.
Liverpool's struggles deepened on Wednesday night as Crystal Palace secured a convincing 3-0 win in the EFL Cup last 16 at Anfield. Manager Arne Slot made 10 changes to his lineup, resting key players like Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Dominik Szoboszlai amid a packed schedule including upcoming matches against Aston Villa, Real Madrid, and Manchester City. The Reds started brightly but crumbled late in the first half, with Ismaila Sarr opening the scoring in the 41st minute after latching onto a loose ball, then adding a second on the stroke of halftime via a one-two with Yeremy Pino.
The second half worsened for Liverpool when 18-year-old Amara Nallo received a straight red card in the 79th minute for fouling Justin Devenny, marking the first time a Liverpool player has been sent off in back-to-back appearances. Pino sealed the victory with a curled effort two minutes from time, giving Palace their third win over Liverpool this season following triumphs in the Community Shield and Premier League. This marks Liverpool's heaviest defeat under Slot and their first five successive domestic losses since 1953.
Slot defended his rotation post-match, stating, "This club has always used this competition for academy players as well. It felt to me the right decision and I've not changed my opinion of that because we lost." Palace boss Oliver Glasner praised his side's performance, calling it "disrespectful" to label Liverpool's team weakened and highlighting contributions from players like Joe Gomez and Wataru Endo.
The quarter-final draw, conducted after the matches, pits Palace against Premier League leaders Arsenal. Other ties include Cardiff City vs Chelsea, Manchester City vs Brentford, and Newcastle United vs Fulham, scheduled for the week commencing December 15. Despite the loss, Liverpool's hierarchy remains supportive of Slot, with reports indicating full trust in the manager to navigate the team's challenges.