Liverpool 0-3 Crystal Palace: Carabao Cup Exit Adds to Liverpool’s Growing Crisis | OneFootball

Carabao Cup Exit Adds to Liverpool’s Growing Crisis

Anfield fell silent once again as Arne Slot’s gamble to rotate heavily backfired, with a much-changed Liverpool side crashing out of the Carabao Cup at the hands of Crystal Palace. It was another bleak evening under the lights, the Reds’ sixth defeat in seven matches, and perhaps the most troubling of all.

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Slot’s selection raised eyebrows even before kick-off. Ten changes from the side beaten 3-2 at Brentford, three teenagers in the starting line-up, and a bench with an average age barely over 19. It was a calculated risk, the kind of night meant to blood youngsters and rest weary legs. Instead, it became another chapter in a story of frailty and frustration.

Liverpool began with energy but lacked conviction. Federico Chiesa, one of the few senior figures on the pitch, twice came close to finding a breakthrough. His first effort cleared the bar, his second was palmed away smartly by Palace keeper Walter Benitez. Beyond that, the hosts offered little in the way of control or cutting edge.

Palace grew in confidence as the half wore on, and Liverpool’s defensive shape began to creak. When the opener came, it was a gift. Joe Gomez, now one of the senior men in this youthful side, lost possession in a dangerous area, and Ismaila Sarr made no mistake, drilling low past Kelleher to silence the Kop. Four minutes later, it was déjà vu. Yeremy Pino’s threaded pass found Sarr in acres of space, and the Senegalese forward curled his finish beyond a helpless keeper. Two goals in four minutes and Liverpool looked beaten long before the interval.

The second half was damage limitation. Slot’s side tried to rally, but there was no spark, no belief, and no leadership. The absence of Van Dijk, Konate, Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo, Salah, and Ekitike loomed large. With no senior options on the bench, the manager could only watch as his youngsters struggled against a Palace side growing in assurance.

Any lingering hope evaporated with eleven minutes left when 18-year-old Amara Nallo saw red for bringing down Justin Devenny as the last defender. It was a moment of naivety, but also desperation. Pino’s late curler made it 3-0 and underlined just how fragile Liverpool’s structure has become.

The result leaves more questions than answers. Slot’s commitment to rotation is understandable given the congested schedule, but the decision to field such an inexperienced side in a knockout tie will invite scrutiny. The defeat itself is damaging, but the manner of it feels even more concerning.

Now comes a defining stretch for the champions. Aston Villa arrive at Anfield on Saturday, Real Madrid follow in the Champions League on Tuesday, and then it is Manchester City away on 9 November. For a club used to challenging on all fronts, the mood has turned from frustration to fear.

The Carabao Cup may not define Liverpool’s season, but this latest loss has deepened a crisis that can no longer be brushed aside. Slot’s project is still in its infancy, but nights like this show just how fragile the foundations are becoming.