Liverpool's disastrous start to the season went further down on Wednesday as the English champions were knocked out of the Carabao Cup following a 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Anfield. The loss marks the club's sixth defeat in its last seven games across all competitions.
This multiplies the woes of a team that spent $570 million in the summer transfer window and is now faltering in its Premier League title defense. Manager Arne Slot's decision to rest most of his senior stars, including Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Cody Gakpo, backfired spectacularly. Palace, led by manager Oliver Glasner, secured their third victory against Arne Slot's side in just 80 days.
The weakened side, which included three teenagers in the starting lineup, was clinically punished by the visitors. Ismaila Sarr was the main tormentor, scoring a brace just before halftime. Sarr opened the scoring in the 41st minute after a Joe Gomez defensive lapse and doubled the lead just four minutes later, finishing off a move involving Yeremy Pino.
The second half offered no respite for Liverpool. Substitute Amara Nallo, an 18-year-old defender, was shown a straight red card in the 79th minute for a professional foul, denying a goalscoring opportunity. This was Nallo's second red card in just his second appearance for the senior side. Yeremy Pino sealed the 3-0 victory, netting his first goal for the club with a strike in the 88th minute.
Defending his team selection, the manager cited the mounting injury list and the congested schedule. "Everyone can have their opinion about it," Slot stated. "But with the squad we have maybe around 15, 16 first-team players available, this is the choice I’ve made." He acknowledged the growing pressure, saying, "It might increase a little bit but not so much because the pressure was already very high."