The next severe setback for the crisis-plagued Liverpool FC: The English football champions were thrown out of the League Cup against “feared opponents” Crystal Palace with a B-eleven without Florian Wirtz and record purchase Alexander Isak.
The 0:3 (0:2) was the third defeat this season against the FA Cup winners and the sixth defeat in the last seven competitive games.
Meanwhile, the other favorites showed no weakness: Nick Woltemade once again proved his good form and led Newcastle United to the quarter-finals. The national striker scored the preliminary decision in the deserved 2-0 (1-0) win over Tottenham Hotspur in the 50th minute.
Manchester City beat second division team Swansea City 3:1 (1:1) – Chelsea FC beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 4:3 (3:0).
15-year-old makes history
Top talent Max Dowman celebrated a successful and historic debut at Arsenal FC. After the 2-0 (0-0) win against Fabian Hürzeler’s Brighton and Hove Albion, the 15-year-old is now the youngest player to ever start a competitive game for the Gunners.
In Liverpool, coach Arne Slot did without numerous top players despite the recent poor results. In addition to Wirtz, Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Hugo Ekitiké were also not in the squad. Ismaila Sarr (41st/45th) and Yéremy Pino (88th) decided the game with their goals – Liverpool’s Amaro Nallo saw the red card after an emergency stop.
Crystal Palace, Oliver Glasner’s team, had already won against the Reds in the Community Shield and in the Premier League in September.