Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes took a hit with a 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace at Anfield.
The team looked tired and lacked sharpness, missing key chances and suffering their first home defeat of the season in the top flight.
They now sit two points behind Manchester City with six games left and could fall four points behind Arsenal if Arsenal beat Aston Villa.
Jurgen Klopp’s team can offer little excuse for their disappointing performance, with their title campaign now in jeopardy, further worsened by their likely Europa League exit.
Liverpool seemed off the pace from the start, conceding their 23rd goal of the season across all competitions when Eberechi Eze scored for Palace in the 15th minute.
A defensive lapse from Virgil van Dijk nearly led to another Palace goal, but Andy Robertson’s impressive goal-line clearance kept Liverpool in the game.
While Liverpool had some bright moments, with Wataru Endo hitting the crossbar and Luis Diaz being denied by Palace’s goalkeeper Dean Henderson, they lacked composure in the final third.
Missed opportunities in the second half, including Darwin Nunez’s close-range shot and Diogo Jota’s blocked attempt, highlighted their ongoing struggles.
Liverpool had a late scare when Alisson Becker had to make a crucial save to deny Mateta, and a chance to equalize was missed by Curtis Jones in the final minutes.
Mohamed Salah’s late shot was blocked by Tyrick Mitchell, reflecting Liverpool’s frustrating inability to finish chances.
Individual performances were mixed, with Alisson Becker making important saves but also contributing to Palace’s goal with a poor pass.
Andy Robertson was one of the few Liverpool players to maintain a high level, as shown by his goal-line clearance. Conor Bradley struggled to make an impact before being substituted due to injury early in the second half.
Overall, Liverpool’s loss to Crystal Palace highlights their fading title hopes and underlines the need for significant improvement in their upcoming matches.
