Premier League release statement on Crystal Palace vs Liverpool controversy
Liverpool’s perfect start to the new season is over after losing in a dramatic game against Crystal Palace.
Liverpool were seven wins out of seven to start the season after a 2-1 victory against Southampton, but couldn’t make it eight in a row as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace, as they failed to avenge their Community Shield defeat.
Federico Chiesa looked to have rescued a point late on for the Reds after Ismaila Sarr opened the scoring, but Eddie Nketiah scored in the 98th minute to give Palace a deserved victory.
Liverpool were terrible at Selhurst Park and deservedly ended up with zero points, although in agonising fashion to concede so late on.
However, there was more VAR controversy around the Liverpool equaliser.
Premier League explain decision to award Federico Chiesa goal
In a late scramble to find an equaliser, Ryan Gravenberch launched a cross that evaded Mohamed Salah and hit Cody Gakpo, before Chiesa rushed in to slam home the rebound.
Salah’s arm was up and camera footage did give Reds fans a scare as one angle appeared to show the ball grazed the fingertips of the Egyptian.
VAR checked the goal, but it was cleared after a lengthy check to give Liverpool hope of grabbing an undeserved result from South London.
The Premier League Match Centre X account has confirmed the explanation for the goal being allowed to stand, saying there was no evidence of handball.
They said via X: “The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed there was no conclusive evidence that Salah handled the ball in the build-up.”
Liverpool were lucky to not lose by more
Ultimately, the decision didn’t mean much in the end, as Palace got their deserved winner to take all three points.
However, if the match had finished 1-1, then the Eagles would’ve felt aggrieved in more ways than one, as there is an argument to say that Salah did handle the ball.
| Crystal Palace | Stats | Liverpool |
| 28% | Possession | 72% |
| 2.45 | Expected goals | 2.25 |
| 7 | Big chances | 6 |
| 16 | Shots | 20 |
They would’ve been more annoyed, however, at their finishing, as Alisson Becker delivered another masterclass to keep Liverpool in the game, particularly in the first half.
The best team won on the day, and this needs to be a wake-up call for the Reds now, who have played poorly for large parts of the season so far, and face tricky trips to Galatasaray and Chelsea in the coming days.
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