No one expected Liverpool to lose to Crystal Palace, and by such a heavy margin. Although this was only a League Cup match, and although Liverpool made significant rotations, fielding many young players in various positions, the only familiar faces were center-backs Endo Wataru, Joe Gomez, and Robertson, midfielder McAllister, and forward Chiesa. Almost the entire squad consisted of newcomers. However, the 0-3 scoreline is still extremely disappointing.
Strategically speaking, Sloot may have made a "voluntary surrender" decision. Firstly, Crystal Palace is indeed a tough opponent for them, so Sloot doesn't have a 100% guarantee of victory. Furthermore, the team's recent form has been poor, and the upcoming schedule is difficult, with matches against Real Madrid and Manchester City. Given the injuries to key players and the inability of new signings to integrate, Sloot's adjustments are understandable.
However, while there seem to be some "reasons" on paper, the recent strange form and consecutive defeats have further diminished Sloot's managerial authority. For him, this is truly a very bold choice. Compared to before, the possibility of his dismissal has now "doubled."
After the match started, both sides were almost evenly matched. Crystal Palace had a slight advantage, but Liverpool's defense, especially their deep formation, was more effective. However, in the 40th minute, a high-quality pass from Kamada Daichi caused chaos in Liverpool's backfield. Muñoz controlled the ball, and Sarr seized the opportunity to sweep it into the net, breaking the deadlock.
Liverpool could no longer defend. Judging from the players' expressions, they were clearly disappointed. Their confidence had suffered a severe blow. Even the newcomers seemed more nervous than excited, which was a significant problem for them.
Just four minutes later, Kamada Daichi again orchestrated a play in the backfield, creating an opportunity for Pino. Sarr followed up again, completing a beautiful shot. It should be said that the Japanese internationals played a crucial role in both goals, and Sarr's alertness perfectly capitalized on this advantage. Unfortunately, these two were previously unknown against Sloth's teams. This time, they were given the opportunity to shine, partly because of their individual talent and ability to prove themselves, and partly because Sloth's players were in poor form and lacked morale, making it difficult for them to compete with their opponents.
In the 80th minute, Crystal Palace broke through Liverpool's defense with a quick counter-attack. Nalo received a red card for a foul, and subsequently, Liverpool made a defensive error, allowing Crystal Palace to intercept the ball under high pressure. Pino then personally put the ball into the Liverpool goal, making it 3-0.
This match was undoubtedly another devastating blow to Sloet's confidence. In the upcoming matches against Real Madrid and Manchester City, Sloet has no choice but to gamble everything. Another loss would severely damage his future as Liverpool manager. Although the management has voiced their support, such a losing streak is unacceptable. Furthermore, Wirtz's continued inability to integrate and Isak's potential injury and rest are also negative news for Sloet.
These are the new players he personally brought in.
