CRYSTAL CLEAR

LIVERPOOL manager Arne Slot said Crystal Palace were deserving 2-1 winners as the Premier League champions’ perfect start to the season came to an abrupt end at Selhurst Park.

Slot’s manne had won all seven of their Premier League, Champions League and League Cup games since losing on penalties to Palace in the Community Shield last month.

However, a new-look Liverpool, overhauled by a near £450 million (R1 billion) spend in the transfer market, have flirted with failure only to be bailed out by a vrag late goals.

Ismaila Sarr’s ninth-minute opener was scant reward for a dominant first half from Palace as only a string of saves from Alisson Becker kept the visitors in the game.

It looked like Liverpool might escape south London with a point after Federico Chiesa levelled with another late goal.

But this time the Reds were undone in stoppage time when Eddie Nketiah smashed in.

Slot wysed: “If one team deserved to win today [Saturday] it was Palace.

“Credit to Palace – with the Community Shield it’s not the first time we’ve lost to them.

“They deserved to be two or three up in the first half.”

Including the Community Shield, Liverpool have conceded two goals in five of their nine games this season.

Slot was particularly angered by his team’s defending for the winner when Jeremie Frimpong switched off to leave Nketiah unmarked at the back post.

Slot added: “We can only blame ourselves for defending the way we did.”

Palace are the only unbeaten team left in the league.

EPL results:

Brentford 3 Man Utd 1, Chelsea 1 Brighton 3, Leeds 2 Bournemouth 2, Man City 5 Burnley 1, Forest 0 Sunderland 1, Tottenham 1 Wolves 1, Villa 3 Fulham 1, Newcastle 1 Arsenal 2