Liverpool's strong start to the 2025-2026 Premier League season hit a snag after a 2-1 defeat against Crystal Palace, with Arne Slot pointing to poor defending as the main culprit. The loss at Selhurst Park brought an end to Liverpool's 17-game unbeaten run.

Crystal Palace capitalized on Liverpool's defensive errors, with Ismaila Sarr scoring early in the game. Although Federico Chiesa equalized late in the match, Eddie Nketiah's stoppage-time goal sealed the victory for Palace. Slot lamented the nature of the winning goal, which came from a long throw-in where Jeremie Frimpong momentarily lost focus, leaving Nketiah unmarked. Slot stated that Liverpool only had themselves to blame for the defeat, particularly criticizing the lapse in concentration during the final moments of the game. He pointed out that one of the players became too focused on a potential counter-attack despite the clock winding down, which left the team vulnerable defensively.

Slot acknowledged Crystal Palace's effective tactics, highlighting their organized defensive structure and quick counter-attacking players. He admitted that Liverpool struggled to cope with Palace's approach, especially in the first half. He also noted that set-pieces, usually a strength for Liverpool, became a weakness in the game, as they conceded from a corner and a long throw.

Concerns about Liverpool's defense have been raised earlier in the season. Despite starting the Premier League season with two wins, the team has conceded goals in each game, including two in the Community Shield and two in each of their first two Premier League matches. This defensive instability is unsustainable and needs to be addressed to maintain a title challenge. Individual errors, such as those from Ibrahima Konaté, and adaptation struggles from new signings like Milos Kerkez have also contributed to the defensive issues. Slot faces the challenge of quickly finding the right balance and structure to improve Liverpool's defensive solidity.

One of the issues is Liverpool's vulnerability on the counter-attack. When Liverpool loses possession, too many players are caught ahead of the ball, leaving the defense exposed. Last season, Liverpool was strong defensively, conceding only twice on the counter-attack in the Premier League. Slot needs to find solutions to prevent easy transitions and protect the defense.

Despite the defeat, Slot remains focused on addressing the defensive issues and learning from the experience. With Liverpool set to play Galatasaray in the Champions League, he will be aiming for a swift response and a return to winning ways.