Merseyside | Analysis and fan reaction to Liverpool's EFL Cup exit
Liverpool 0 - 3 Crystal Palace
Arne Slot’s selection gamble did not pay off as a heavily rotated Liverpool side fell to Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup last 16, marking the Reds’ sixth defeat in seven games.
Slot handed starts to three teenagers and included a further five among his substitutes, making ten changes from the team that had lost 3-2 at Brentford on Saturday.
Palace took full advantage of lapses at the back, with Ismaila Sarr scoring twice in four minutes before half-time to put the game beyond the hosts, and Yeremy Pino sealed the victory with a late low, curling finish.
How this youthful Liverpool side limped out of the cup
The youthful selections were intended to manage fixtures in the coming fortnight, but they struggled against a strong and experienced Palace side.
Crystal Palace, led by Oliver Glasner, took advantage of Liverpool’s weakened line-up. The Eagles fielded a solid team, including captain Marc Guehi, whose potential £35 million move to Liverpool fell through in September. Guehi’s presence underlined Liverpool’s ongoing defensive vulnerabilities, a point emphasised as the Reds conceded three goals despite Slot’s deployment of three central defenders and full-backs Milos Kerkez and Calvin Ramsay.
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Amid the disappointment, there was a glimmer of promise from the teenage winger Rio Ngumoha, who has already become Liverpool’s youngest Premier League scorer. Operating on the left but cutting inside with freedom, Ngumoha repeatedly threatened the Palace defence and drew audible encouragement from the home supporters. Yet beyond his performance, the rest of the rotated squad struggled to make an impact, leaving Liverpool to exit the competition earlier than anticipated.
Best fan reaction
Harry: What was that abysmal performance? An unthinkable starting eleven with no first-team substitutes. I was watching Newcastle against Spurs on TV and their fans were laughing at us at half-time. I am not sure Slot is unsackable but, knowing Liverpool, they will put all the big players back in on Saturday against Aston Villa. Milos Kerkez looks like a rabbit in the headlights and is not worth the money. I am very worried.
Sophie: This is all very sad. Where has our beautiful, fast-attacking team gone? So many back passes and no inventive ideas, just the same horrid football we saw against Brentford, even with a different line-up. What is Arne going to do?
Daniel: For all the criticism Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak have received over their performances compared with their price tags, it is Kerkez who has not been good enough. He was brought in to be our new left-back but is not showing the experience needed.
Emma: Form is temporary, class is permanent. Liverpool have the class players and we will bounce back.
Lucas: Why put so much pressure on our younger players? It is unfair when they are just starting out. We are clearly not going to perform in the league right now, so a stronger team with senior players on the bench would have been the way to go. Instead, the narrative that Liverpool is failing will gain momentum. This was an important game to show strength and depth, not hand victory away from the start.
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