Crystal Palace beat Liverpool 2–1 at Selhurst Park — Ismaïla Sarr’s early strike, Chiesa equaliser, Eddie Nketiah’s 97’ winner. Full match recap, stats, timeline, tactics & where to watch.
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool
Crystal Palace shocked Liverpool 2–1 at Selhurst Park as Ismaïla Sarr struck early, Federico Chiesa levelled late, then substitute Eddie Nketiah finished with a dramatic 97th-minute winner to end Liverpool’s perfect start to the season.
Why Crystal Palace – Liverpool mattered
This wasn’t just a Saturday fixture — it was a litmus test for both teams at different points in their campaigns:
- For Liverpool: The Reds arrived unbeaten and in dominant early form; a win would have sustained momentum and confidence for the run into October. Losing in dramatic fashion exposes vulnerabilities in concentration and game management.
- For Crystal Palace: Another historic scalp in front of an electric Selhurst crowd — Palace’s last-month form (including a Community Shield penalty shootout win) and ability to unsettle top sides indicates they’re a genuine home-form dark horse. This win extends Palace’s unbeaten run across competitions.
- For the Premier League table and narratives: The result shuffled early-season talking points: Liverpool are no longer flawless, Palace reinforce their “giant-killer” reputation, and both clubs must recalibrate for the next fixtures. Official league pages and live coverage captured the immediate fallout.
18 games unbeaten.
Statement made. pic.twitter.com/4WPSq6vwFd— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) September 27, 2025
Final score & essential match facts
- Final: Crystal Palace 2, Liverpool 1.
- Goals: Ismaïla Sarr (9′) — Palace; Federico Chiesa (≈87′) — Liverpool; Eddie Nketiah (97′) — Palace.
- Venue / Attendance: Selhurst Park — full house, vibrant atmosphere and a throbbing home crowd that played its part. (Match live blogs and club reports.)
- Referee / incidents: A short delay was reported early for a medical emergency in the crowd; the match also featured late drama including a Liverpool push and Palace subs that changed the tempo.
How the game unfolded — timeline & turning points
Early blow (8–10′)
Crystal Palace stunned Liverpool inside the opening ten minutes. A quick Palace break and clinical finish from Ismaïla Sarr — timing his run behind Liverpool’s line — gave the hosts a dream start and forced Liverpool to chase the match from an early stage. Selhurst’s crowd erupted; Palace’s plan to sit compact and hit on the counter immediately threatened the Reds.
Middle phase — Liverpool probe, Palace resilient
For long periods Liverpool had the ball and probed patiently. The Reds created chances — combinations through the half spaces and wide penetration — but Dean Henderson (Palace goalkeeper) produced several key saves and Palace defended aggressively, using fouls and set-play discipline to keep the lead. Live coverage noted Liverpool’s possession dominance but a lack of decisive finishing in the middle third.
Late drama (≈87’–90+)
Just as it looked like Palace might hang on, Federico Chiesa pounced on a loose ball after a shaky Palace clearance to equalise late (reported around the 87th minute), shifting momentum and opening the game into a chaotic closing period for both sets of fans. Liverpool sensed a late winner; Palace braced and made tactical substitutions to protect and counter.
Stoppage-time shock (97′)
Deep into stoppage time — a period thick with tension — Palace found a winner. Eddie Nketiah, a substitution, reacted fastest in the scramble and converted in the 97th minute to send Selhurst into delirium and heap misery on Liverpool’s players and travelling fans. It was the kind of stoppage-time moment that swings headlines and social feeds.
[Note: Images are collected from Instagram]
Player spotlights — who made the difference
Ismaïla Sarr (Crystal Palace)
Sarr’s early goal changed the whole script. His run behind the defence and composure to finish inside the box demonstrated the pace and directness that Palace coach relies upon — a constant threat to Liverpool’s high line. His work rate also tracked back to help neutralise Liverpool counters at key moments.
Eddie Nketiah (Crystal Palace)
A super-sub impact: Nketiah’s 97th-minute winner will be replayed for years at Selhurst. He offered incisive movement in the box, exploited second balls, and delivered a clinical neutraliser to Liverpool’s late surge. Substitutions like this underline tactical trust and the value of experienced finishers.
Federico Chiesa (Liverpool)
Chiesa’s late equaliser was a reminder of Liverpool’s attacking depth and his ability to arrive in dangerous channels. His strike re-energised the Reds — unfortunately for Liverpool it only delayed the Palace ecstasy. Chiesa’s mobility and link-up were an injection in the final 15 minutes. (The Independent)
Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace)
While not the flashiest name on the scoresheet, Henderson produced crucial saves that kept Palace ahead during Liverpool’s best passages — match reports credit him with top-class interventions. Match narratives emphasised his role in withstanding pressure until the final punches.
Tactical analysis — formations, matchups & managerial chess
Palace’s blueprint
- Compact block, quick counters: Palace sat relatively deep, invited Liverpool possession, and targeted transitions. Sarr and Mateta (or Nketiah off bench) were the outlets for fast breaks. That early goal validated the approach: score and then force Liverpool to break you down. (inkl)
- Set-piece and second-ball aggression: Palace’s intensity on set plays and the midfield’s willingness to challenge for second balls limited Liverpool’s ability to sustain long attacks. The team’s fitness and work rate were evident in the closing minutes.
Liverpool’s approach
- Possess and probe: Liverpool dominated possession, as expected, using wide rotation and half-space overloads. The Reds flooded the midfield and tried to create chances via Szoboszlai, Salah and Chiesa combinations. The issue was failing to convert territorial advantage into early goals.
- High line vulnerabilities: Sarr’s early run exposed vulnerability when Liverpool’s defensive line pushed up; pacey counters became Liverpool’s tactical Achilles heel in this match. Trending tactical analysis suggests games where Liverpool are forced to defend deeper suit teams with pace on the break.
Managerial moments
Both managers used substitutions late — Palace to protect and counter; Liverpool to chase the game. Palace’s change to bring on Nketiah proved decisive, showing the difference a single substitution can make in stoppage. Post-match commentary will focus on whether Liverpool’s bench choices could have altered the result earlier.
Key stats & analytics (what the numbers say)
(Use official Opta/PL numbers for publication; below are the narrative takeaways supported by live stats sites.)
- Possession: Liverpool dominated possession (as typical), but Palace achieved greater efficiency on the counter and made their clear chances count.
- Shots on target & big chances: Palace’s early high-quality chance (Sarr) and late Nketiah scramble were decisive; Liverpool had more attempts but fewer clear-cut finishing moments before Chiesa’s equaliser. Live match trackers noted Liverpool’s xG advantage but Palace’s higher conversion rate for big chances. (Flashscore)
- Defensive actions: Palace’s numbers in interceptions and tackles in the final third increased markedly as they defended the lead. That intensity was crucial in nullifying Liverpool’s late pressure.
(When you publish, embed the Premier League match stats widget and an Opta xG chart to illustrate possession vs. quality of chances.) (Premier League)
Incident reports & crowd note
Two live outlets reported a medical emergency in the crowd early in the game, which triggered a temporary stoppage while medics attended to a supporter. Players — including Mohamed Salah — were seen asking for medical assistance as stewards and club medics responded; the individual was reportedly stabilised and removed. The episode momentarily overshadowed play and highlighted the human side of matchday events. (The Sun)
Fans & social reaction
Selhurst exploded at the final whistle — social feeds filled with Palace supporters celebrating an iconic win. Liverpool fans and pundits reacted with frustration and analysis about defensive errors and late-game management. Sport social channels quickly circulated Nketiah’s winner, Chiesa’s strike, and Sarr’s opener; highlight reels trended on X and YouTube shortly after full-time. Live blogs and micro-reaction threads from The Guardian, The Independent and Sky Sports captured the immediate pulse around the result.
Injuries & squad notes
- Pre-match: Both teams had rotation/selection questions — Liverpool have been managing fitness across a congested schedule and Palace had selection choices after a busy run of fixtures. The official club TV/website listed full team news and bench options.
- In-match: No major injuries reported at time of publication beyond the crowd incident described earlier; both managers will assess any knocks in training. Postmatch pressers often clarify small knocks and availability for the next game.
What this result means — short & medium term
For Crystal Palace
- Huge morale boost: A home win over Liverpool consolidates Palace’s reputation for being a very difficult place to visit; the victory also adds crucial points and belief for the upcoming run of fixtures. (VG)
- Tactical validation: Palace’s counter approach and late-game resilience validate the manager’s selection and tactics when facing top opposition. Expect Palace to build on this and aim for more points at Selhurst this season. (inkl)
For Liverpool
- Wake-up call: Losing a match they dominated in terms of possession is a reminder that dominance does not equal goals; Liverpool will need to sharpen finishing and concentration in the final third. Defensive shape on counters will also be assessed.
- Fixture management: The result increases pressure to get points in upcoming matches; rotation and recovery planning are now even more important as Liverpool navigate a congested schedule.
Where to watch, highlights & replays
- UK: Premier League broadcast partners (check Sky Sports / TNT / Amazon depending on rights windows). Palace’s club feed and Premier League highlights packages will publish clips.
- US / International: ESPN/Peacock and other regional partners carry Premier League rights; match replays and extended highlights are usually available on the official Premier League YouTube channel and club channels shortly after full time. (ESPN.com)
- Best clips to search for: “Ismaïla Sarr Selhurst goal,” “Federico Chiesa Palace equaliser,” “Eddie Nketiah stoppage-time winner Selhurst” — these will dominate YouTube and social highlights within minutes of final whistle. (Flashscore)
Quotes & immediate reactions (paraphrased from post-match coverage)
- Palace manager (post-match tone): Praised players’ resilience and the crowd’s role, highlighting tactical discipline and belief in the system. (See club media and Guardian live quotes.) (Crystal Palace F.C.)
- Liverpool manager (post-match tone): Expressed frustration about not converting chances and conceded Palace’s fight; acknowledged corrective work needed ahead of next fixtures. (See post-game press conference summaries.) (The Guardian)