Three goals. One red card. Seven matches, six losses. On October 29, 2025, Liverpool Football Club was knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Crystal Palace in a 3-0 thrashing at Anfield Stadium—a result that left fans stunned, players shell-shocked, and the club’s leadership quietly reassessing its direction.
Another Collapse at Anfield
It wasn’t just the scoreline. It was how it happened. Ismaila Sarr, the lightning-fast winger for Crystal Palace, scored twice—once with a curling left-footed strike that beat Freddie Woodman at the near post, and again with a clinical finish after a devastating counterattack. Yeremy Pino, the Spanish winger on loan from Villarreal, sealed the deal with a low drive into the bottom corner. All three goals came from transitions Liverpool simply didn’t defend. And then, 12 minutes after coming on as a substitute, 18-year-old defender Amara Nallo received his second red card in just over a month. The first came against PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League last season. This one? A reckless, studs-up challenge on a Palace midfielder near the touchline. No warning. No second chance. Just a straight red.
Manager Arne Slot, the Dutch tactician who led Liverpool to the Premier League title in his debut 2024-2025 season, didn’t flinch in his post-match comments. But he didn’t need to. The silence from the dressing room said more than any press conference could.
Slot’s Rotational Gamble and Its Cost
Slot made eight changes from the side that beat Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 in the Champions League just days earlier. Goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, 28, made his debut. Midfielder Kieran Morrison, 19, got his first start. And Nallo, a promising academy product, was thrown into the fire as a late sub—likely because of injuries and squad fatigue. The gamble didn’t just fail. It backfired spectacularly.
"It is always a blow to lose a game of football, especially if it leads to going out of a competition," Slot said. "But it is the same selection I did tonight as I did last season in rounds like this. There are many reasons, maybe, why we’ve lost six out of seven – none of them are good enough to accept losing so many. I can come up with arguments or reasons, but none of them will be enough to go to that standard because at Liverpool losing six out of seven is always too much."
He’s right. At a club with Liverpool’s expectations, six defeats in seven matches isn’t a blip—it’s a crisis. And yet, according to Fabrizio Romano, the Italian journalist who’s become a trusted voice in football transfer news, Fenway Sports Group—Liverpool’s American owners—remain fully behind Slot. "They’re 100 percent convinced that Arne Slot is the best manager to handle this situation," Romano reported. "And there’s very good communication on a daily basis."
The Human Element: When Leaders Step Up
What stood out wasn’t the loss. It was what happened after Nallo’s red card. As the teenager trudged off, head down, the atmosphere in Anfield turned from frustration to pity. Then, captain Virgil van Dijk and center-back Ibrahima Konaté walked straight into the tunnel with him. No words were needed. No manager intervened. The club’s most respected players took care of their own.
"I didn’t need to say that much," Slot admitted. "Ibou and Virgil immediately went inside to talk to him. That tells me that they are great human beings in a moment like this... It wasn’t needed that I took care of him. These two already took care of him."
That moment—quiet, unscripted, deeply human—might be the only positive takeaway from a night of chaos. At a club where leadership is often measured in trophies, sometimes it’s measured in who shows up when things fall apart.
What’s Next? A Crucial Run Begins
Liverpool’s next two matches are make-or-break. First, a home clash against Aston Villa in early November, a team pushing for top-four contention. Then, on December 11, 2025, a Champions League heavyweight clash with Real Madrid CF in Madrid. Lose both, and the pressure on Slot will become unbearable. Win one, and the narrative shifts. Win both, and Liverpool might still salvage something from this season.
Meanwhile, whispers are growing. Reports from Sport Bible suggest Jurgen Klopp, who led Liverpool to six major trophies in nine years before stepping down in May 2024, has been spotted in the stands during recent matches. He hasn’t commented publicly. But his absence from the public eye since leaving has been conspicuous. Fans are asking: Is he watching because he’s concerned? Or because he’s considering a return?
Why This Matters Beyond the Result
Liverpool isn’t just losing games. They’re losing control. The discipline issues—Nallo’s red cards, the defensive lapses, the lack of composure under pressure—aren’t just tactical. They’re cultural. This is the same team that once thrived on relentless intensity and unbreakable unity. Now, they look fractured.
Slot inherited a squad built by Klopp’s philosophy: high press, high risk, high reward. But without Klopp’s charisma and emotional connection, the team seems to be searching for identity. The younger players—Nallo, Morrison—are talented, but they’re not ready for this pressure. The veterans—van Dijk, Konaté, Mohamed Salah—are carrying more than ever.
And here’s the quiet truth: if Liverpool doesn’t turn this around before Christmas, the 2025-2026 season could become the first in over a decade where they finish without a trophy. That’s not just disappointing. It’s unacceptable at Anfield.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Arne Slot still in charge despite six losses in seven games?
Despite the poor run, Liverpool’s ownership, Fenway Sports Group, maintains full confidence in Slot after his Premier League title win in 2024-2025. Daily communication between Slot and the club’s leadership remains strong, and insiders believe his long-term vision—especially in developing young players like Kieran Morrison and Amara Nallo—justifies patience. The club’s history suggests they rarely fire managers mid-season unless results become catastrophic.
What does Amara Nallo’s second red card reveal about Liverpool’s youth development?
Nallo’s dismissals highlight a gap between academy potential and Premier League readiness. He’s a physically gifted defender but lacks the tactical discipline needed at this level. Liverpool’s academy has produced stars before—like Trent Alexander-Arnold—but the transition from youth football to top-flight pressure remains inconsistent. The club now faces pressure to improve psychological support for teenagers thrust into high-stakes environments.
Is Jurgen Klopp likely to return to Liverpool?
There’s no official indication Klopp plans to return. He’s currently enjoying a break after nine intense years. But his presence at recent matches, combined with the team’s struggles under Slot, has fueled speculation. Klopp himself has never ruled out a future return to Liverpool—but he’s also said he wants to avoid "emotional decisions." For now, it’s rumor, not reality.
How does this loss to Crystal Palace compare to past defeats?
This is Liverpool’s third loss to Crystal Palace this season—a rare and troubling pattern. Historically, Palace have been a tough opponent at Selhurst Park, but losing at Anfield by three goals in the Carabao Cup is almost unprecedented. The last time Liverpool lost three home games to the same opponent in a single season was in 1988. This isn’t just a bad run; it’s a systemic issue.
What impact does this have on Liverpool’s Premier League title chances?
With six losses in seven matches, Liverpool are now 14 points behind league leaders Arsenal as of late October 2025. Even if they win their remaining games, they’ll need other top teams to falter badly. The Champions League remains their best shot at silverware, but with Real Madrid looming and defensive fragility on display, even that path looks increasingly narrow.
Why didn’t Slot change tactics after Nallo’s red card?
Slot’s philosophy is built on consistency—even in adversity. He believes in sticking to the system, even when short-handed. After Nallo’s dismissal, Liverpool switched to a 4-4-1, but the midfield lacked control. The players looked confused, not disciplined. Slot’s refusal to abandon his principles may be admirable, but it’s also becoming a liability when the squad isn’t equipped to execute them under pressure.
