At Anfield tonight, Liverpool faced Crystal Palace in the fourth round of the 2025/26 EFL Cup, and the game turned out to be a stunning upset. Crystal Palace shocked everyone by defeating Liverpool 3–0 on their home turf, showing an incredible display of discipline, determination, and clinical finishing that left the Anfield crowd silent by the final whistle.
From the very start, Liverpool looked like the favorites. They dominated possession early in the game, pressing high up the field and moving the ball quickly through the wings. Players like Mohamed Salah and Luis Díaz tried to break down Palace’s solid defensive wall, while Darwin Núñez constantly made runs behind the defense hoping to get on the end of a through ball. Despite Liverpool’s early pressure, Crystal Palace stayed composed and organized, relying on quick counter-attacks to threaten on the break.
The first goal came midway through the first half when Palace took advantage of a rare defensive mistake from Liverpool. A misplaced pass in midfield was intercepted, and Eberechi Eze quickly led the counter, driving forward before sliding the ball to Jean-Philippe Mateta, who finished coolly past the goalkeeper to make it 1–0 for Crystal Palace. The goal stunned Liverpool, and although they continued to press forward, Palace’s defense, led by Marc Guéhi and Joachim Andersen, held firm.
In the second half, Liverpool tried to regain control, but Crystal Palace showed they had come prepared. They absorbed the pressure with a deep defensive line and struck again in the 63rd minute. This time, Eze was the provider once more, sending in a dangerous free kick that found Andersen unmarked in the box. The Palace defender rose highest and powered a header into the net to make it 2–0. The atmosphere at Anfield turned tense as Liverpool’s players grew frustrated, struggling to break through the resilient Palace defense.
As the match progressed, Palace began to play with more confidence, keeping possession more comfortably and frustrating Liverpool with their physical play and tactical awareness. Then, in the final ten minutes, they sealed the victory. A counter-attack down the left side saw Jordan Ayew sprint past two defenders before cutting the ball back for Eze, who calmly slotted home the third goal, making it 3–0 and putting the result beyond doubt.
By the end of the match, Liverpool’s attacks had lost rhythm, and Palace controlled the tempo. The visiting fans celebrated wildly as their team pulled off one of the biggest shocks of the EFL Cup this season. It was a night to remember for Crystal Palace — a complete performance combining solid defending, smart transitions, and ruthless finishing.
Liverpool, on the other hand, will look back on this game as a missed opportunity. Despite their dominance in possession and several chances created, they couldn’t convert or match Palace’s energy in the key moments. Manager Jürgen Klopp will surely demand a strong reaction from his side in the next match as they aim to bounce back from this disappointing defeat.
Do you think crystal palace will win again in there nextmatch?
