Ismaïla Sarr hits two as Arne Slot’s experimental Liverpool side suffer sixth defeat in seven

Crystal Palace ended Liverpool’s Carabao Cup hopes with a 3–0 win at Anfield, as Ismaïla Sarr’s first-half double punished Arne Slot’s heavily rotated side and extended the Premier League champions’ difficult run of form.

Slot made ten changes for the fourth-round tie, prioritising upcoming fixtures against Aston Villa and Real Madrid, but his young line-up struggled against a more experienced Palace team. The defeat – Liverpool’s sixth in seven matches and the heaviest under Slot – leaves the Dutchman facing growing scrutiny.

Sarr, who has now scored seven times in nine appearances against Liverpool for Palace and Watford, was the difference once again. Both goals came before half-time from incisive passes by Daichi Kamada, exposing Liverpool’s inexperienced defence.

The first arrived when Kamada threaded a ball through to Daniel Muñoz, whose miscontrol rebounded kindly to Sarr. The Senegal international calmly swept home past debutant goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, a former Palace academy player deputising for the rested Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Four minutes later, Kamada again sliced open the Liverpool back line. After a quick exchange with Yéremy Pino, Sarr raced clear and finished low beyond Woodman to double Palace’s advantage and silence Anfield.

“I was not pleased with the first 15 minutes – the players were still in their hotel beds,” admitted Palace manager Oliver Glasner. “But once we found our rhythm, we were excellent. Sarr is progressing massively; our style gives him the space he needs.”

Liverpool had started brightly, with 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha impressing on his first senior start. The teenager curled one shot narrowly wide and set up Federico Chiesa, whose effort from a tight angle was saved by Walter Benítez. But after Sarr’s double, the youthful home side never looked capable of mounting a comeback.

Slot’s bench offered little experience — the nine substitutes had made only nine senior appearances between them — leaving Liverpool to rely on their academy contingent. Palace, meanwhile, strengthened after the break as Jean-Philippe Mateta replaced Eddie Nketiah, further underlining Glasner’s intent.

The visitors comfortably managed the second half, keeping Liverpool at arm’s length and denying them any sustained pressure. Mateta twice went close, his efforts blocked by Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah, before Palace struck again in the closing stages.

Substitute Justin Devenny was brought down by Amara Nallo, who received a straight red card — his second in as many senior appearances for Liverpool, both for denying clear goalscoring chances. The 18-year-old, visibly distraught, covered his face with his shirt as he left the pitch after only 12 minutes on the field.

Moments later, Pino sealed Palace’s victory with a composed finish into the bottom corner, registering his first goal for the club. The 3–0 scoreline reflected the visitors’ control and Liverpool’s lack of cohesion.

Glasner’s team, who have now beaten Liverpool three times in 80 days, advance to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals as one of the tournament’s form sides. For Slot, whose team have already exited Europe and stumbled domestically, the pressure is mounting ahead of Villa’s visit to Anfield on Saturday.

The Dutchman defended his selection but admitted improvement was essential. “We wanted to protect players and give others a chance,” he said. “The schedule is very demanding. But results like this are not good enough. We have to respond quickly.”

Palace’s assured performance, led by the in-form Sarr, only deepened the sense of unease around Anfield. With critical fixtures looming, Slot’s experiment in youth came at a steep cost.