FootyChatter.com

EPL Crystal Palace turned the tables on Liverpool, scoring in stoppage time to secure a memorable victory at Selhurst Park as Oliver Glasner’s side continued their unbeaten run in the Premier League. Liverpool’s habit of finding the net in the latter stages of matches this season seemed to have earned them a draw when Federico Chiesa levelled in the 87th minute. But an impressive Palace secured all three points with the last play of the game when Eddie Nketiah struck at the far post in the 97th minute. Advertisement Ismaila Sarr had given Palace an early lead. The visitors proved fallible at corners once again as Ryan Gravenberch sent a header towards his own goal and Sarr took advantage, converting from three yards in the ninth minute. Liverpool will argue the corner should not have been awarded as Palace’s Tyrick Mitchell seemed to be the last player to make contact with the ball but, nevertheless, they should have defended what came next better. Palace were dominant, forcing three fine saves from Alisson in the opening 30 minutes. Ibrahima Konate went close with a header for Liverpool before the break in a half where the below-par visitors otherwise found it difficult to trouble a defence which had conceded just twice in five league matches this season before Saturday. Dominik Szoboszlai switched to right-back as Conor Bradley made way for Cody Gakpo in a tactical half-time change and the champions did improve in the second half. Alexander Isak weaved beyond two defenders but shot wide in what was their best chance of the game before Chiesa levelled. The Athletic’s Matt Woosnam and Andy Jones analyse the action. For the second successive game, Liverpool gave their opponents a helping hand when conceding from a corner. In midweek, it was Wataru Endo’s misjudged header back into the centre of the box which had led to Shea Charles’ equaliser for Southampton in the Carabao Cup. Against Palace today, Gravenberch was the culprit as, under pressure from Liverpool summer transfer target Marc Guehi, he headed a deep corner straight to Sarr. Replays did show that the tussle between Bradley and Mitchell which led to the corner probably should have resulted in a goal kick. Slot received a yellow card when airing his frustrations about that decision, stepping out of his technical area. Advertisement Whether it was a corner or not, his side have to improve defensively from set pieces. Andy Jones Liverpool have been on the right end of late-goal heroics all season — but on this occasion, one went against them. After they failed to clear a long throw-in, Nketiah found himself free at the back post and the striker made no mistake. For Liverpool, it was a second goal conceded from the second phase of a set piece in the match. Jefferson Lerma’s long throw was kept alive by Will Hughes, and then Guehi, before the ball ended up with Nketiah, who was played onside by Gravenberch. Late-goal victories had been central to Liverpool’s start to the season, leading to questions about how sustainable that 100 per cent run was. Conceding a second set-piece goal in the match — an area of the game that was a concern for them entering the season — was not what champions do and leaves Slot with plenty to ponder. After the match, Slot told reporters: “They had more chances from open play and transition so there were more things not to like about our defending other than just set pieces. The good thing is that in those moments Alisson saved us. ” Andy Jones  Absent for three weeks because of a hamstring injury, albeit missing only two games, Sarr returned today like a player who hadn’t been out at all. His career record when facing Liverpool is excellent and his goal from close range here made it three in three against them, taking his overall total against the reigning Premier League champions to five. The ball may have fallen kindly after Gravenberch headed it into his path, but he was in the right place to convert and made no mistake. Sarr has become an integral part of Palace’s success under Glasner, converting from a winger or a striker to a No 10, and his return to the side was again a significant reason for the joy Palace had in attack on Saturday afternoon. Playing in the pocket, finding and driving into space beyond defenders is his staple, and Palace have missed that when he has not been available. Advertisement His unselfish pass to Yeremy Pino ought to have ended in a goal, but for Alisson’s excellent save. Sarr could, and perhaps should, have taken the shot on himself but chose what seemed like the better option. The same was true just after an hour when he was played in behind and squared to Pino when one versus one with Alisson, only for the pass to be cut out, although there was a suspicion of offside. It was those runs, as Glasner highlighted in his pre-match press conference, which caused Liverpool problems as Palace rampaged forward. After five goals and two assists in eight games against them, the Anfield side will be sick of the sight of Sarr. Matt Woosnam Slot said it was a “disappointing” first half and a “disappointing” end to the game. “Once again credit to Palace, ” the Liverpool head coach told reporters. “It’s not the first time we have lost against them. We have played them four times and we’ve won one, drawn one and lost two. It tells you how difficult it is to beat them. “They deserved to be up two or three goals in the first half. They created four really good chances, but the second half was much better for us and we created chances and not many teams do. It took a while for us to score. To concede another set-piece goal is disappointing. ” Glaser said Palace’s first-half performance was “really great to watch for everyone”. “It was the best half since we arrived (in February last year), ” the Palace manager said after the match. “In the second half, there was such immense pressure. What makes me proud is that we conceded the equaliser in the 90th minute and, very often, the momentum changes and you lose the game, but we kept our heads up, played forward and turned the momentum again. “We got the game winner and it makes me really proud of the group. When Will Hughes wins first header, Jeff Lerma (the throw) and Eddie scores the goal — three players who came on — it was such a team effort and that’s why we could win. ” Tuesday, September 30: Galatasaray (Away), Champions League, 8pm UK, 3pm ET (Top photo: Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle