Crystal Palace Upset Liverpool with Late Winner to Remain Premier League’s Only Unbeaten Side

Match day drama at Selhurst Park

From the first whistle, the atmosphere at Selhurst Park was electric. Fans knew they were watching the last two unbeaten teams in the Premier League clash, and the early goal from Ismaïla Sarr in the ninth minute set the tone. Sarr’s pace on the wing and a precise finish left Liverpool scrambling to reorganise, and the Eagles seized the initiative, pressing high and limiting the Reds’ usual ball‑play.

Dean Henderson proved a reliable last line of defence, pulling off a series of reflex saves that kept the opposition at bay. Defenders Marc Guéhi, Maxence Lacroix and Chris Richards formed a compact back three, shutting down Virgil van Dijk’s attempts to find space. In midfield, Daichi Kamada and Adam Wharton combined well, linking defence to attack and allowing the forward line to stay fluid.

Liverpool, unbeaten and riding a perfect five‑win start, tried to claw back into the game. Their persistence paid off when Federico Chiesa slipped a low‑driven ball past Henderson in the 87th minute, forcing a momentary pause in Palace’s celebrations. The equaliser sparked a wave of optimism among the Anfield faithful, who hoped the late goal might reshape the narrative.

But the drama was far from over. In the dying moments of extra time, Eddie Nketiah found a pocket of space on the edge of the box and smashed a decisive shot into the top corner in the 97th minute. The stadium erupted, the goalbookers’ chants turned into a collective roar, and Selhurst Park witnessed one of the season’s most memorable finishers.

What the win means for both clubs

For Crystal Palace, the victory is more than three points. It ties their current unbeaten run of 18 matches to the club’s historic streak set in 1969 under Bert Head. Maintaining such consistency against a reigning champion underscores the tactical maturity of manager Will Still, whose side has blended youthful exuberance with disciplined organization. The win also propels Palace into serious European contention, a realistic goal if they keep their defensive solidity and exploit the speed of players like Sarr and Mateta.

The match statistics back up the narrative: Palace held 62% possession, completed 483 passes, and produced 14 shots on target compared to Liverpool’s 9. The defensive unit limited the Reds to a single goal despite Liverpool’s 18 attempts on goal, highlighting the effectiveness of the Eagles’ pressing scheme.

Liverpool, on the other hand, must process a stark reality. Their perfect start ended abruptly, exposing vulnerabilities when pressed high and when dealing with quick transitions. Jurgen Klopp’s side will likely revisit their defensive shape, especially the coordination between full‑backs and centre‑backs when faced with rapid wing play. The loss also dents their morale heading into a congested fixture list that includes European commitments.

Key Liverpool players like Mohamed Salah and Darwin Núñez were kept relatively quiet, a sign that Palace’s midfield block, orchestrated by Kamada, successfully disrupted the rhythm Liverpool relies on. The Reds will be looking to bounce back quickly, but the psychological edge gained by Palace could influence upcoming fixtures, especially against other top‑six opponents.

Both clubs will now focus on recovery. Palace’s medical team will monitor the fitness of players who logged over 110 minutes, while Liverpool will assess the impact of the loss on squad rotation ahead of a Champions League tie.

• Goal scorers: Ismaïla Sarr (9'), Eddie Nketiah (97') – Palace; Federico Chiesa (87') – Liverpool
• Man of the match: Eddie Nketiah (decisive extra‑time winner)
• Key performers: Dean Henderson (goalkeeper), Marc Guéhi, Maxence Lacroix, Chris Richards (defence), Daichi Kamada, Adam Wharton (midfield)
• Attendance: 41,857 spectators

The win cements Palace’s status as the league’s surprise package and signals that the Premier League remains unpredictable. With the season still in its early stages, fans can expect more twists, and the Eagles have just shown they can rewrite the script when the odds are stacked against them.