Liverpool’s quest for the Premier League title took a critical hit as Crystal Palace clinched a 1-0 victory at Anfield on Sunday, dealing the Reds their first home league defeat in 29 matches.
This loss leaves Jurgen Klopp’s side trailing Manchester City by two points and level with Arsenal, who have a chance to seize the top spot with a win over Aston Villa later in the day.
Eberechi Eze’s early goal secured a vital win for Crystal Palace in their fight for survival, extending their lead over the relegation zone to eight points.
Meanwhile, Liverpool‘s season under Klopp is unraveling, with their recent form a far cry from their earlier dominance.
Despite being in contention for a quadruple not long ago, Liverpool’s hopes took a hit after exiting the FA Cup to Manchester United and succumbing to a 3-0 deficit against Atalanta in the Europa League quarter-final first leg.
With just three wins in their last eight games across all competitions, Liverpool’s fatigue is evident, having already played 51 matches this season.
Their tendency to start slow has become a recurring issue, evident once again as they found themselves chasing the game against Crystal Palace.
Although Alisson Becker returned to the goal, he couldn’t prevent Eze’s opener. Despite efforts to rally, including a remarkable goalline clearance by Andy Robertson, Liverpool struggled to break through Palace’s defense.
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Klopp’s halftime changes, bringing on Dominik Szoboszlai and Trent Alexander-Arnold, aimed to turn the tide, but Liverpool’s finishing lacked precision, with Diogo Jota’s effort cleared off the line by Nathaniel Clyne.
Alisson’s heroics denied Palace a second goal, but Liverpool failed to capitalize on their chances, with Mohamed Salah’s late attempt blocked. Unless they stage a remarkable comeback against Atalanta, Klopp’s tenure at Anfield may conclude with just two more home games, turning what seemed like a triumphant farewell into a disappointing end to an era.
