Late drama seals Palace win as Nketiah nets stoppage-time winner
Crystal Palace shocked Liverpool with a 2-1 victory at Selhurst Park, as Eddie Nketiah fired home eight minutes into stoppage time after a lengthy VAR check. The win snapped Liverpool’s perfect start to the season and handed Palace their 18th match without defeat as they moved up the table.
Early blow and a controversial corner
Palace struck early when a misdirected clearance from a Liverpool corner fell to Ismaïla Sarr, who calmly tucked home from close range after Ryan Gravenberch inadvertently headed the ball into the danger area. Replays suggested the corner may have been the wrong decision, with some angles hinting the ball last touched Tyrick Mitchell before it crossed the line.
Commentators on Viaplay noted the contentious start, with one pundit describing Palace’s opener as a harsh blow for the visitors, while another warned that an unsettled Liverpool might still find a way back into the game.
Medical delay and early saves
The game paused for around seven minutes after a medical incident in the crowd, delaying play as players waited for information on the fan in need of assistance. When action resumed, Liverpool pressed for parity, with Gravenberch nearly equalising after D yn. Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson had to be alert to a string of Liverpool attempts, including a late first-half scare where a ball fell invitingly to the edge of the box.
Second half: Chiesa strikes and relentless pressure
Into the second half, Liverpool continued to push, with Cody Gakpo forcing a save from Henderson from distance and Dominik Szoboszlai finding Florian Wirtz in a good position, only for Henderson to gather calmly. The leveller finally arrived in the 87th minute when Federico Chiesa converted a well-worked move after a headed knockdown from Szoboszlai. The forward’s finish found the bottom corner, leaving Palace with a mountain to climb in the final minutes.
Henderson’s heroics and late twists
Henderson produced another season-defining stop when he denied Muñoz from 11 metres with a superb acrobatic parry, then rushed off his line to beat Mateta one-on-one. The veteran keeper’s performance kept Palace in the contest as Liverpool searched for a winner of their own, with Palac e surviving several dangerous moments before the final twist.
Reflections and the late winner
With eight minutes of stoppage time added, a long throw from Jefferson Lerma hung in the air and drifted through the box, finally landing at Nketiah’s feet at close range. The Arsenal loanee remained composed and slotted past Alisson to hand Palace a stunning 2-1 win. “I tried to stay calm, got a good first touch and a good finish,” Nketiah told Sky Sports after the match.
The victory also punctuated a trend in this fixture: Liverpool had been scoring in every game of the season up to this point, a run that now faced its first interruption. Pundits from Viaplay reflected on the night, with one noting that Palace deservedly grabbed the win after a disciplined display, while another underscored Liverpool’s vulnerability in the closing stages.
Implications and standings
Liverpool still sit atop the table after six games, but Palace leapfrogs to second ahead of Bournemouth, riding an 18-match unbeaten streak in the league. The teams had previously met in the Community Shield, where Palace had triumphed on penalties after a 2-2 draw. The result at Selhurst Park adds another twist to what is shaping up as a dramatic campaign for both sides.
