Nketiah's 97th‑minute strike gives Palace 2‑1 win over Liverpool

When Eddie Nketiah, the forward for Crystal Palace Football Club, slotted the winning goal in the 97th minute at Selhurst Park on 27 September 2025, the Eagles stunned defending champions Liverpool Football Club 2‑1, ending their unbeaten start.

Match overview: a night of drama

The encounter was part of the Premier League Selhurst Park. Early on, Crystal Palace set the tone when Ismaïla Sarr fired past Alisson Becker in the ninth minute, giving the home side an early edge. Liverpool pressed for an equaliser for most of the first half but were repeatedly denied by Dean Henderson, whose reflexes kept the scoreline at 1‑0.

Key moments that defined the outcome

Two pivotal spells broke the deadlock. The first came in the 87th minute when Federico Chiesa, who was on loan from Juventus, nudged a low drive into the net to level the game. The stadium collectively exhaled, convinced a point was the inevitable result.

But the drama wasn’t over. With the clock ticking past regular time, Bosnia‑born substitute Eddie Nketiah—injected for Sarr in the 80th minute—found space at the edge of the box. After a brief VAR check that confirmed Ryan Gravenberch’s left heel had unintentionally played the ball to Nketiah, the striker slipped the ball between Alisson’s legs, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

Tactical insights from both benches

Oliver Glasner, the manager of Crystal Palace, opted for a high‑press approach, forcing Liverpool’s backline into mistakes. The back four of Daniel Muñoz, Marc Guéhi, Maxence Lacroix and Tyrick Mitchell stayed compact, while Daichi Kamada and Adam Wharton provided the engine in midfield. When the match seemed to slip away, Glasner’s gamble of bringing on Nketiah paid off handsomely.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, on the other hand, stuck to their fluid front three of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Núñez and Chiesa, but struggled to break down Palace’s disciplined shape. Alisson’s early dominance was evident, yet a miscommunication in the final minutes left a gap that Nketiah exploited.

Reactions from the dugout and the stands

Glasner erupted on the touchline, arms raised, shouting “That’s why we fight!” while fans sang the club anthem for nearly ten minutes after the final whistle. Meanwhile, Klopp nodded politely to the opposition’s staff before addressing the media, acknowledging “a brilliant night for Palace, a hard lesson for us.”

BBC’s Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer called it “the most thrilling finish you could dream of in a Premier League fixture.” The Norwegian commentator for TV 2 highlighted the atmosphere: “You could feel the pulse of the stadium in your chest.”

Season implications: what the result means for both clubs

• Crystal Palace move to 12 points from six games (3‑3‑0), remaining the only unbeaten team in the league.
• Liverpool drop to 15 points (5‑0‑1), their first loss of the campaign, and must now chase the leaders.
• The victory marks Palace’s first home league win over Liverpool in 11 years, a statistic that underscored the historic nature of the upset.
• Both managers will likely adjust their tactics ahead of the next round of fixtures, with Klopp expected to tighten his defensive transitions.

Historical context: a return to former glories

Palace’s unbeaten streak now sits at 18 games across all competitions, matching the club’s longest run set back in 1969. The win also echoes the famous 2015 triumph over Manchester City, when Palace knocked out a title‑chasing side at Selhurst Park.

For Liverpool, the defeat ends a perfect start that had fans dreaming of another title run. Historically, Liverpool’s early‑season defeats have often been a turning point; the 1995 loss to Newcastle United sparked a mid‑season slump, while the 2013 loss to Stoke City forced a tactical overhaul.

What’s next for the Eagles and the Reds?

Palace travel to Manchester United next week, where they’ll test whether this momentum can survive a top‑six clash. Liverpool, meanwhile, host Aston Villa and will look to bounce back and keep pressure on the league leaders.

Experts predict a tighter race at the top, with the unbeaten Palace now a dark horse. Former England manager Gareth Southgate commented, “If they keep this level, they could challenge for European spots, maybe even a top‑four spot if they stay consistent.”