Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner was adamant after his side’s 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield that his team had not beaten a “weakened” opponent, insisting it would be disrespectful to the quality of players Arne Slot had fielded.
The Austrian boss’s comments came after the Eagles booked their place in the League Cup Quarter finals with a commanding display, making it three victories over Liverpool this season following wins in the Community Shield and Premier League.
Slot, in his first Carabao Cup outing following a bruising Premier League defeat to Brentford, made 10 changes to his team. The Dutch manager handed starts to several teenagers, including Kieran Morrison, Trey Nyoni, and Calvin Ramsay, while senior players such as Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo, Alexis Mac Allister, Andy Robertson, and Federico Chiesa provided the backbone of the side. No senior players were available on the bench, leaving the youngsters to absorb the full intensity of senior football at Anfield.
It was a calculated risk. Slot was seeking to give his young players minutes and rest key stars for upcoming Premier League and Champions League fixtures. The gamble, however, backfired spectacularly as Ismaila Sarr struck twice in the first half to put Palace in command, before Yeremy Pino wrapped up the win late in the second half after Amara Nallo’s dismissal in the 79th minute left Liverpool with 10 men.
Glasner, though, was quick to stress that the result should not be framed as Liverpool underperforming due to inexperience.
“We saw Arne Slot’s decision and it is disrespectful to all their players [to say it was a weak team],” Glasner said. “I have seen Joe Gomez win the Champions League and the Premier League with them; I have seen Wataru Endo play a lot of games for Japan.
I have seen Alexis Mac Allister, he won the World Cup with Argentina; I have seen [Milos] Kerkez, who cost £40m; I have seen [Federico] Chiesa, who has played for Italy. I think it would be disrespectful if we say that. Everyone who wears this [Liverpool] badge has quality.”
Liverpool’s October form, however, tells a stark story. The Reds have now lost six of their last seven games across all competitions, a dramatic downturn for a team that lifted the Premier League last season. Their only bright spot in recent weeks was a 5-1 demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt in Europe, highlighting flashes of attacking brilliance that have otherwise been absent in domestic matches.
Slot’s choice to rotate heavily was tactical and pragmatic. With a Premier League clash against Aston Villa and a Champions League showdown with Real Madrid looming, the Dutchman had to manage fatigue and protect his first-choice players from injury. Yet the risk of fielding such an inexperienced side was obvious. Palace, though not in the best run of form themselves, were clinical, composed, and took advantage of every defensive lapse from Liverpool’s youth-laden backline.
Slot’s team selection would inevitably be divided. In a month where wins have been scarce, the decision to prioritise player development over immediate results was bold.
Ultimately, Slot made the right call in sacrificing the Carabao Cup for more important commitments, had he played some of his big guns against Palace and they had picked up an injury or become fatigued, he would have been criticised for showing the competition too much respect.
For Glasner, the win was a statement of Palace’s capabilities rather than a reflection of Liverpool’s squad composition. Even without framing it as a triumph over a “weakened” side, the victory showcased Palace’s tactical efficiency, defensive organisation, and attacking ruthlessness.
Liverpool now face a critical period. Saturday’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa is pivotal, not only for points but for confidence. The Reds then face Real Madrid in the Champions League, a game that will test their mental and physical resilience. Slot must find a balance between integrating youth and securing results, ensuring that exposure for young players does not compound an already difficult season.
The match at Anfield will linger in the memory of Liverpool’s academy prospects. Morrison, Nyoni, and Ramsay gained experience under intense pressure, but the result underscores that in top-flight football, mistakes are punished mercilessly. Glasner’s insistence on respecting Liverpool’s quality serves as a reminder that even rotated squads carry the weight of pedigree and history.
For Palace, it was a night of confidence and clinical execution. For Liverpool, it was a lesson in the perils of rotation, inexperience, and timing. Glasner’s comments ensure that the narrative does not diminish his side’s achievement, but for Slot and the Reds, the focus now must shift back to domestic recovery and European challenges.
The Carabao Cup exit, while painful, may ultimately prove to be a necessary sacrifice but the pressure on Slot to restore form and stability has never been higher. The coming fixtures will test his squad management, tactical nous, and ability to motivate a team under mounting scrutiny.
