Ismaila Sarr Stars as Liverpool Lose AGAIN

Ismaila Sarr scored against Liverpool AGAIN as the Reds slumped to their 6th defeat in 7 matches after they were soundly beaten 3-0 by Crystal Palace. The win makes it three consecutive wins over Liverpool for the Eagles this season after beating them in the Community Shield and in the Premier League.

Arne Slot named a bizarrely weak side as he started fringe players against a team he had already lost to twice before yesterday. We saw starts for Rio Ngumoha, Wataru Endo, Trey Nyoni and Freddie Woodman.

Oliver Glasner meanwhile named more or less the usual eleven with Jean-Philippe Mateta, Tyrick Mitchell and Adam Wharton the only starters not in action from the start.

The tie started a bit slowly, indicating that Liverpool’s drastically changed lineup, featuring many younger players, needed time to find its rhythm. There was barely any action of note in the first quarter of an hour, Ngumoha had a shot blocked in the 7th minute and Kieran Morrison sent his header over the post from a cross a few seconds later. In the 16th minute Ngumoha took another shot that went wide of the goal, posing no real threat to the keeper. This pattern of attacking frailty continued for the hosts.

In the 28th minute, Federico Chiesa had a left footed shot from a relatively tight angle saved by Walter Benitez.

Crystal Palace grew into the game and started benefiting from their greater experience. Their first true sight of goal arrived in the 37th minute when Ismaïla Sarr unleashed a shot on goal that was saved by Liverpool’s debutant goalkeeper, Freddie Woodman. That was a warning shot, one Liverpool refused to heed, and they were punished 4 minutes later.

In the 41st minute, Palace opened the scoring, capitalizing on a costly defensive mistake. Joe Gomez misplaced his clearance under pressure from Daniel Muñoz inside the box, allowing Sarr to rifle the ball into the corner.

Palace smelled blood and their killer instinct was showcased on the stroke of half-time. In the 45th minute, Ismaïla Sarr scored his second goal, doubling the lead just before the break by receiving a masterful pass from Yéremy Pino and slotting it home with a shot to the left side of the goal for 2-0. The half ended with a disciplinary incident, as Daichi Kamada was booked for an offense just before the whistle.

With a commanding two-goal deficit and the atmosphere at Anfield souring, Liverpool desperately needed a change in the second half, but it was Palace who made the first move, bringing Jean-Philippe Mateta on for Eddie Nketiah in the 46th minute.

Palace’s clinical focus continued immediately after the restart, with Sarr attempting to secure a hat-trick from long range in the 49th minute, forcing Woodman into a save. Mateta also tried his luck in the 51st minute but it was straight at Woodman.

Liverpool managed only one effective response in this period as Federico Chiesa’s shot was blocked by Jaydee Canvot in the 52nd minute, resulting in a corner. The hosts’ frustration was visible, culminating in Andrew Robertson receiving a Yellow Card in the 55th minute for a foul on Jeremy Pino.

As the second half progressed past the hour mark, Palace made the calculated decision to withdraw the double goalscorer Ismaïla Sarr for Justin Devenny in the 62nd minute. Liverpool responded with a triple substitution in the 67th minute, introducing Kaide Gordon, Wellity Lucky, and Amara Nallo in place of Trey Nyoni, Wataru Endo, and Joe Gomez in a clear attempt to completely reboot the team’s energy and structure.

However, the inexperience of the new additions quickly became a liability. Federico Chiesa received a Yellow Card for an offense in the 72nd minute, and Liverpool soon missed their best chance of the half in the 75th minute: Ngumoha won a corner and the ensuing set-piece found Chiesa, who miscontrolled the ball on the edge of the six-yard box and taking away the shooting opportunity.

The night went from bad to disastrous in the 79th minute with a moment that effectively ended the contest. Substitute Amara Nallo was sent off for a straight red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity as he miscontrolled the ball and allowed Mateta to release Justin Devenny clear on goal before Nallo hauled Deveny back.

With Liverpool reduced to ten men, the outcome was sealed in the 88th minute. Yéremy Pino, who had been Palace’s creative hub all night, confirmed the rout by driving into the box, showcasing beautiful footwork to evade several defenders, and slotting an excellent finish into the bottom corner for 3-0.

The final minutes saw the addition of four minutes of stoppage time before the Full-Time Whistle confirmed Crystal Palace’s emphatic and well-deserved 3-0 victory at Anfield.