Liverpool

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

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Liverpool may be reigning Premier League champions and the current leaders but they have been guilty of occasional defensive lapses this season, including in Saturday's defeat at Crystal Palace.

Head coach Arne Slot isn't pinning the blame on his backline, however. He said at Monday's news conference: "One of our strengths last season was keeping the other team away from goal and normally that doesn't start with your defenders."

Slot insists the devil is in the detail, pointing out that four of the seven top-flight goals his team have conceded came from set-pieces.

At this stage 12 months ago, the Merseysiders had conceded just two goals, neither of which was from a set-piece. They also earned four clean sheets in their first six games, twice as many as in the current campaign.

Despite changes to personnel leaving Liverpool with a slightly more attacking line-up, they haven't faced more shots or shots on target in the current campaign – those numbers are largely similar. But they are conceding far more high-quality chances, with the expected goals total by their opponents 2.4 greater than at the same stage in 2024-25.

As a result, there has been a dramatic drop in the Reds' save percentage, which has fallen from almost 90% to 56%.

That is not a reflection on goalkeeper Alisson. The expected goals on target model, external, which takes into account how accurate and powerful shots are, only has him underperforming by half a goal in 2025-26, and little should be read into that.

Instead, Liverpool need to give the Brazilian better protection, particularly from set-pieces.

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Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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Liverpool boss Arne Slot was annoyed by a few things this week, and losing in the 97th minute would test any manager's patience.

He has, however, once again impressed with his unwillingness to spin a problem with a player. The other week, he hooked Milos Kerkez in the first half after a ridiculous dive, making it clear he felt that it was beneath the dignity of the club.

‌During the week, Hugo Ekitike got sent off for removing his shirt after scoring the winner in the 85th minute. Did Slot bemoan the referee's intransigence or call the law an ass? No, he didn't - he called out his player for being stupid in the moment.

‌Every fan feels the automatic yellow for removing your shirt is a bit harsh, but they also know that it is monumentally dim to do it, especially if you have already been booked.

‌Arne will bemoan the loss at Crystal Palace but his stock continues to rise - with me, anyway.

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"Liverpool have got a bit of a problem at the back," former Premier League striker Chris Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"I feel they are a work in progress as they don't have the same balance.

"Andy Robertson has been phenomenal on the ball over the years and Milos Kerkez is nowhere near peak Robertson level. That is a bit of an issue.

"Ibrahima Konate has had a dreadful start to the season, they have issues at right-back and the left-back hasn't really found his form.

"They have Virgil van Dijk but then only one cover at centre-half and that is Joe Gomez.

"I am not sure Arne Slot likes Jeremie Frimpong. I was at the game at the weekend and he made second-half changes and took Conor Bradley off, put Dominik Szoboszlai to right-back and kept Frimpong on the bench."

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Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike says he was "disappointed" to be suspended for Saturday's game against Crystal Palace and "it won't happen again".

Ekitike scored a late winner against Southampton in the Carabao Cup but was sent off for taking his shirt off having earlier been booked.

"It wasn't smart," said the 23-year-old. "I felt disappointed to watch the boys from home last Saturday [against Palace].

"I apologised to everyone already, my team-mates and that kind of thing. It won't happen again. I move on and focus on football."

Ekitike was signed for £69m in the summer and has made a fine start.

He said he has has "settled well" into his new club and is looking forward to improving under head coach Arne Slot and alongside Alexander Isak, whose £125m arrival broke the British transfer record.

"I can't see one big club playing with only one striker, so I think it's good that he's here," Ekitike added.

"At my age, I still have a lot of things to improve and learn, so for me it's good that he's here.

"[As for if we can play together] that's for the coach to decide how he wants to play. That's not me.

"I've been playing in a two-striker composition, one striker, so I can do a lot of things. If we have to play together, I can do that."

Liverpool's interest in signing Bayern Munich's Dayot Upamecano in January could come unstuck, with the Bundesliga club keen to tie the 26-year-old France centre-back down to a new contract. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Champions League game against Galatasaray at RAMS Park (20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Slot confirmed Federico Chiesa has not travelled with the squad because of a "little niggle" picked up against Crystal Palace.

• On learning from Saturday's defeat at Selhurst Park: "Win, lose or draw - if you want to compete for trophies and wear a Liverpool shirt, you have to give your all and play good football. We conceded so many chances against Palace, so we can improve and those things I will show to the players."

• Slot stressed his team do not "play football to keep possession", adding: "We play to score goals and win games. As long as Liverpool have existed, they have more possession than other teams. Sometimes teams are happy to defend because they are very strong. Teams are managed so well and are so fit, it is getting harder and harder to play through, so we brought in good attackers who can help unlock those road blocks."

• On having fewer clean sheets than at this stage last season: "We have conceded four goals from set-pieces. We have changed full-backs but we have [also] changed a bit more. The goals we conceded - I will look back in detail -but the first thing that comes to my mind is not that the new full-backs are the problem."

• On set-pieces after conceding twice from them against Palace: "We have shown we can defend set-pieces, but more and more it becomes a set-piece game. We have been a force in set-pieces but every team you face you have to be so well prepared for set-pieces. In my day, there was no set-piece coach, let alone a meeting. Nowadays, they are as long as the tactical meeting, which shows you the importance we give to set-pieces."

• Asked about assistant coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst's knowledge of Turkish football after his spell as Besiktas boss, Slot said: "Gio is one of my assistants, so he is part of the set-up and we discuss the teams we face. He has knowledge of Turkish football better than most of the staff, but in modern football [you have] videos to watch, so we used Gio as we have used other assistants."

• On Galatasaray and their 5-1 defeat by Eintracht Frankfurt in their Champions League opener: "I watched the game and they were very unlucky. If they play the same game again they would never concede five. They have seven wins and have only conceded two, and have scored a lot of goals this season, so they know what it takes to win the league and a game. We have to be prepared."

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live commentary of Galatasaray v Liverpool at 20:00 on Tuesday on BBC Sounds

Jordan Chamberlain
Fan writer

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Liverpool have a big problem at centre-half. They were incredibly close to getting the Marc Guehi deal over the line in the summer, but were foiled on deadline day, with Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner putting his foot down and reportedly stopping the transfer.

As a result, Liverpool went into the season with only the injury-prone Joe Gomez and Italian youngster Gio Leoni as back-ups to Virgil van Dijk and Ibou Konate.

Leoni is now out for the season after rupturing his ACL. And to make matters worse, Konate's performance against Palace was appalling.

The Frenchman looked completely uncomfortable on the ball and was bullied relentlessly by Jean-Philippe Mateta in the first half. He lost his duels, made horrible decisions and misplaced passes.

Van Dijk has been jaw-droppingly good, but he can't do it all. He needs a partner alongside him who can play football and keep his head in a crisis. Guehi, who was excellent for Palace in their deserved 2-1 win, would have been perfect.

Liverpool should accelerate their plans to secure Guehi on a free next summer upon the expiry of his contract by buying him at the beginning of January.

We could probably get to Christmas with the current centre-back options, but to go right through the season is just too risky, especially given we should be aiming to win at least one of the Premier League and Champions League.

Find more from Jordan Chamberlain at Empire of the Kop, external

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Former Premier League striker Wayne Rooney says Liverpool summer signing Florian Wirtz "damages the balance" of Arne Slot's side.

The 22 year-old is still searching for his first goal for the Reds and is yet to directly contribute to a goal since his assist in the Community Shield.

"It's been tough for him. I don't think there's any denying that," Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show.

"He's played OK. When you sign so many players like Liverpool have - Liverpool don't normally do this but they've signed basically a whole new frontline, and then you've got [Mohamed] Salah there as well - they're all competing and they all want to do well. Wirtz is probably the one who's not doing as well, but he's got so much ability.

"I don't see where he gets into the team. I think it was a lot of money. I think Wirtz actually damages the balance of Liverpool and how they play. He's a top player and I'm sure he will get better - but he's had a slow start and I think there's no denying that.

"I've seen players come into this league and it takes time. It's not the price tag. It's not the player or his ability. I don't see where he fits into what Liverpool do in that system.

"Is he a third midfield player? For me, no, he's more of an attacking player. So if I have to choose between him and Szoboszlai, then I choose Szoboszlai."

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Crystal Palace and Liverpool at Selhurst Park.

Here are some of your replies:

Palace fans

Steve: That was the best performance I've seen from Palace. It could have been 5-0 at half-time and when Liverpool made big changes, we still managed them. I have to keep pinching myself because this isn't what we are used to, but I rather like it.

Andy: The master tactician Glasner set the team up perfectly! Every player knew their role and executed. When Liverpool scored the team didn't lie down, they got back up and took the game! You've got to be happy to be a Palace fan!

Stephen: I'm speechless. It was a display of pure brilliance. We could've had six or seven goals and we deserved the win. If we could play like that every week then I'm convinced we could win the title. It's just a dream at the moment, but can it become reality?

Michael: This is the best Palace team ever. They seem unbeatable, nobody knows how to beat this well-drilled Oliver Glasner system. Long may it continue. We are living the dream.

Liverpool fans

Harry: In the first half, it honestly looked like we didn't know how to play football. We couldn't win the ball in vital areas, we were dispossessed 75% of the time when trying to find the last ball, we made sloppy mistakes and were tragic in defence. In the second half, we picked up the pace slightly but again were dispossessed and gave away chances/fouls when there was no need. I certainly think Slot needs to change something up behind closed doors.

Carl: It seems like we do not have a real plan or sense of urgency. We should've lost this game by many more goals. I still do not understand Slot's selection process, it seems based on money equals results but it does not work. Arne, please start the seasoned players who have requisite composure and skill.

Tim: An abysmal first half, we were not switched on from the off. The constant mixing of new team players seems to mean a lack of cohesion. Some of the new signings need to step up, Isak included.

Carlo: We aren't looking like champions at all. The first half was lethargic and disorganised. The second half was chaotic and again disorganised. The multi-million pound players are not really up to the task. Champions? Not in my book.

Liverpool are likely to be priced out of a move for Atletico Madrid's 25-year-old Argentina forward Julian Alvarez, with the La Liga side wanting about £100m. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday’s Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Crystal Palace 2-1 Liverpool

• Nottingham Forest 0-1 Sunderland

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool have lived on the edge all season, as late goals have rescued victories, but there was no escape at Selhurst Park and the reigning champions did not deserve one either.

It briefly looked like another late strike, this time from Federico Chiesa, would earn a fortunate point, but their defence failed to clear a long throw and Eddie Nketiah pounced for his first goal since May.

Liverpool have been leaking goals all season, but have been able to dig themselves out of trouble at the other end.

After Crystal Palace tore their backline apart in the first 45 minutes, the Reds stepped up a gear in the second half, presumably with some angry words from Arne Slot ringing in their ears.

But they were far from fluent in what must rank as one of the worst displays since the Dutch head coach succeeded Jurgen Klopp.

British record signing Alexander Isak looked rusty, missing a glorious chance in the second half before being withdrawn to predictable chants of "what a waste of money" from home supporters.

Florian Wirtz, who also should have done better when shooting straight at goalkeeper Dean Henderson from six yards out, is also still struggling to make an impact since his big-money arrival.

In some ways, this was a Liverpool defeat that was coming, having lived so dangerously this season, but it will be no less disappointing for Slot in the manner of the outcome.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot spoke to Sky Sports after his side conceded a late winner against Crystal Palace: "It was a very difficult first half. Palace did really well and deserved to be 1-0 up, I think we were lucky it was only 1-0.

"The second half was the opposite. It took a while before we scored, we did with a few minutes left, but they won the game from a second set-piece.

"If you want to compete, you need a very positive balance with set-pieces - even more so in this league. It was one of our biggest strengths last season, but now we have conceded two against Newcastle United and two here.

"This league is more and more and more about set-pieces."

On Crystal Palace's performance: "Their game style fits really well to their players. They have a low block with fast players on the break and a big man in [Jean-Philippe] Mateta.

"We had a lot of problems in the first half, the rest of time we had possession but it was very hard to beat that low block."

On the winning goal: "It is never ideal when you concede in extra time of extra time, but there was a substitute so half a minute extra was fair. I have to check when they scored exactly, but we have to defend the throw-in better.

"We take learnings from all the games we have played and we can take even more from a game like this."

Did you know?

• Liverpool trailed for the very first time in the Premier League this campaign. The Reds have now lost four of their past seven away games in the competition (W3) - more defeats than in their previous 39 games on the road (3).

• Six of Liverpool's 12 Premier League goals this season have come in the final 10 minutes of games - more than any other side.

Hear more from Slot on BBC Sounds

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Palace's performance

What did you make of Liverpool's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Oliver Glasner makes one change to his Crystal Palace side that beat West Ham United 2-1 last weekend. Adam Wharton returns in midfield in place of Will Hughes, who drops to the bench.

Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi (c), Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Pino, Mitchell, Sarr, Mateta

Substitutes: Matthews, Lerma, Nketiah, Uche, Clyne, Hughes, Canvot, Sosa, Devenny

Arne Slot rotated his Liverpool squad in the midweek League Cup win against Southampton, so is able to name a similar team to the one that beat Everton in the Merseyside derby last weekend.

There are two changes though, as Florian Wirtz replaces Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak is handed a first Premier League start for his new club, with Hugo Ekitike suspended after his sending off in midweek.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Wirtz, Isak, Salah

Substitutes: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Chiesa, Jones, Gakpo, Robertson, Frimpong, Ngumoha

There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Brentford v Manchester United (12:30)

• Chelsea v Brighton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Crystal Palace v Liverpool - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Leeds United v Bournemouth

• Manchester City v Burnley

• Nottingham Forest v Sunderland (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Tottenham v Wolves (20:00)

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Crystal Palace v Liverpool" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Nottingham Forest v Sunderland", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Part of me is thinking that Liverpool are going to click soon and just absolutely annihilate someone.

At the same time, I just don't think that is what will happen against Palace.

Palace got the better of them on penalties in the Community Shield and while I am not sure you can read too much into that, I am going for another draw this time.

Sutton's prediction: 0-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here