Glasner's pulsating Palace expose Liverpool flaws as Nketiah's 97th-minute winner seals dramatic win

Crystal Palace came from behind to stun Liverpool 2-1 at Selhurst Park, with Eddie Nketiah striking virtually on the final whistle to seal a dramatic win and keep Palace's remarkable sequence alive. Palace had led through Ismaila Sarr in the ninth minute, while Liverpool's defense offered glimpses of the fragility that has haunted them this season. Alisson Becker produced a string of late saves to keep the scoreline tight, denying Yeremy Pino, Daniel Munoz and Jean-Philippe Mateta, who also struck the woodwork, before Federico Chiesa's 87th-minute equaliser briefly shifted the momentum.

Palace's early dominance stretched for roughly 34 minutes as the home crowd in the Holmesdale Fanatics roared their side on. Sarr's opener, a reward for Palace's intensity and pressing, set the tone as Liverpool struggled to cope with the hosts' pace and interplay. The visiting goalkeeper Alisson was the one Liverpool player who managed to emerge with credit from the opening spell, with palatable drama ensuing as Chiesa's equaliser closed the gap. The sea-change felt tangible when Nketiah tucked home a winner in stoppage time, delivering a blow to Liverpool and a lift to Palace's ambitious mood.

The crash course for Liverpool's defense continued into the second half as Palace continued to press with purpose. Palace captain and central defender Marc Guehi showed composure amid the chaos around him, and his long throw-in moments helped unsettle the visitors, contributing to the moment that produced Nketiah's late strike. Guehi even had a hand in the buildup to the winning goal, further illustrating Palace's willingness to go long and direct when required. Liverpool's backline, by contrast, looked unsettled at times, with Ibrahima Konate under pressure and Virgil van Dijk booked for dissent after a spell of disarray.

Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada supplied energy and organization in Palace's midfield, providing ballast as the Eagles pursued an all-out approach that has become a hallmark under Oliver Glasner. Sarr's pace and finishing instinct remained a constant threat, while Mateta, though sometimes inconsistent in front of goal, was a relentless nuisance for Liverpool's defenders throughout the contest. The match also underscored the value of Dean Henderson in goal for Palace, whose reflex saves helped buy time for his side to charge forward.

Liverpool, despite seven wins across all competitions entering the match, continued to show the growing strain of integrating new, high-cost additions. Alexander Isak, handed his first league start, looked short of full fitness and drew the crowd’s reactions when he was withdrawn after producing a clear chance. Florian Wirtz, another marquee arrival, has yet to settle into a consistent role, looking more workmanlike than decisive in this latest outing. The visitors also had Hugo Ekitike involved in the build-up and, later in the week, faced a one-match ban for a yellow-card dismissal, an issue described by some observers as a reflection of the broader discipline puzzle within Liverpool's evolving squad.

Nketiah's stoppage-time strike capped a performance that, for Palace, validated Glasner's belief in a team that relentlessly pursues the win. The Austrian's animated touchline presence and tactical clarity have become a catalyst for Palace's uptick in form, and his players responded with discipline, energy and a willingness to gamble at the right moments. Glasner spoke afterward of a first half that deserved to yield more than a one-goal lead and praised the squad's confidence and runs into the box, noting that the team must enjoy such moments rather than question why they exist. "We played an amazing first half and had a deserved lead. We deserved the win. To overcome the pressure of Liverpool — they deserved an equaliser — but I'm delighted at the reaction of our team," he told BBC's Match of the Day.

The result left Palace further embedded in a club-record stretch of 18 games unbeaten in all competitions, a run that includes their FA Cup triumph over Manchester City in May. It also made Palace the league's feel-good story, at least for the moment, with the Holmesdale Fanatics' electrified mood reflecting a broader sense that something special is taking shape at Selhurst Park. The club sits in the unusual position of second place, three points adrift of the current champions—a build that, in the eyes of fans and management, makes the question not whether Palace can win the Premier League, but how far they can go this season. While the road ahead remains long and the sample size limited, the mood around Palace is distinctly buoyant and pragmatic in equal measure.

Liverpool's struggles were a reminder that even clubs with strong resources can be exposed when the balance of the squad is unsettled and the defensive structure is tested by a high-intensity opponent. As the final whistle blew, Palace celebrated a victory that felt earned, earned in large part through their passion, readiness to attack, and a late, decisive moment that underscored why Glasner's side has become a fixture in the national conversation about title-contending potential this season.

The wider context remains fluid, with observers noting that the summer recruitment wave at Liverpool will require time and cohesion. Yet for Palace, there is a clear, growing arc: a team that is increasingly difficult to break down, capable of dictating terms when the mood shifts, and unafraid to chase a result until the last moment. As the league campaign moves forward, the question for opponents will be whether they can withstand Palace's tempo long enough to prevent a late surge that could redefine the season's complexion. For now, Crystal Palace is a story defined by resilience, momentum, and the enduring influence of Oliver Glasner on a squad that continues to grow in confidence and capability.