The Premier League were forced to release statement after Federico Chiesa equalised for Liverpool against Crystal Palace

Liverpool thought they had been saved at the very last moments in South London, but football can be cruel. Federico Chiesa came off the bench and scored what looked like a dramatic equaliser against Crystal Palace, yet minutes later the night turned dark again for the Premier League champions. The Reds were left heartbroken as Eddie Nketiah stole all three points in stoppage time, and the VAR controversy over Chiesa’s goal only made the story even more heated.

This was not just another football match. It was a storm of emotions, a test of Arne Slot’s Liverpool project, and a night where the Premier League itself was dragged into the headlines after being forced to release a statement about the goal that nearly saved Liverpool.

From Salah’s controversial touch to Chiesa’s ruthless strike, from Palace’s fury to Liverpool’s collapse in the 97th minute, the match was soaked in drama from beginning to end. And in the middle of all this chaos, questions now hang over Liverpool’s title defence, their manager Arne Slot, and the role of VAR in English footbal

Liverpool entered Selhurst Park as the Premier League leaders, three points clear at the top, carrying the aura of champions and the confidence of a side unbeaten so far this season. Arne Slot’s men were not only winning games, they were playing with style. The signings of Federico Chiesa and others had given Liverpool fresh energy, and the mood around Anfield was bright.

But in football, nothing comes easy. Selhurst Park has always been one of those grounds that can shake the giants. Under the lights, the noise of Palace fans becomes a weapon. The Eagles had started the season strongly, surprising many by sitting second in the table, and manager Oliver Glasner had promised before kickoff that his team would “fight for every blade of grass.”

From the very first whistle, Liverpool knew they were in a battle. Palace pressed high, chased every ball, and forced the champions onto the back foot.

It was no surprise when Palace drew first blood. In the 27th minute, Liverpool’s defence hesitated for just a moment, and that was enough for Ismaila Sarr to punish them. The Senegalese forward, always dangerous with his pace, darted in behind and finished calmly past Alisson. The roar around Selhurst Park was deafening.

Liverpool looked stunned. For the rest of the first half, Palace were the better team. The Reds were lucky to reach the break only 1-0 down. Arne Slot admitted it himself after the match: “Very difficult first half. They did really well and deserved to be 1-0 up. We were lucky it was only 1-0.”

After halftime, Liverpool finally began to look like champions again. They pushed Palace deeper, controlled possession, and started creating chances. Mohamed Salah, Darwin Núñez, and Luis Díaz all had moments where they could have changed the game, but Palace’s defence stood tall. Dean Henderson in goal was sharp, and Chris Richards blocked everything that came near him.

Still, Liverpool kept pushing. The clock was ticking, the tension growing, and it felt like the Reds would need a miracle to find their way back.

Federico Chiesa had been brought on by Slot to change the game, and that’s exactly what he did. The ball was whipped into the Palace box, chaos followed, and suddenly it was in the net. Chiesa swivelled brilliantly and smashed the ball home. The Italian’s celebration was pure passion as he ran towards the travelling Liverpool fans.

But almost instantly, controversy filled the air. Replays showed that in the build-up, Mohamed Salah appeared to have handled the ball before it dropped to Richards, whose clearance went straight to Chiesa. The Palace players surrounded referee Chris Kavanagh, screaming for the goal to be ruled out.

The referee pointed to the centre circle, but the drama was not over. VAR official Matt Donohue and his assistant Constantine Hatzidakis reviewed the incident carefully. The replay was shown again and again inside the stadium, each time making Palace fans more furious. Did Salah use his hand? Was it deliberate? Should the goal be disallowed?

After a long delay, the decision came: **goal stands**. VAR decided there was “no conclusive evidence” that Salah had handled the ball. The Premier League later released a statement confirming this, saying: *“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.”*

Palace were furious. Liverpool celebrated. For a moment, it looked like Slot’s men had escaped defeat.

But football, as always, writes its own scripts. Liverpool thought they had saved themselves, but Selhurst Park had one last shock to deliver.

In the 97th minute, Palace won a corner. The ball was whipped in, half-cleared, and fell kindly to Eddie Nketiah. The striker pounced, smashing it into the net. Selhurst Park erupted again, even louder than before. Liverpool’s players fell to the ground in disbelief.

The champions had been beaten. Their unbeaten run was over.

After the match, Arne Slot tried to keep calm, but his frustration was clear. “It took a while before we scored and we did with a few minutes left. But from a second set piece they won the game. If you want to compete you need a very positive balance with set pieces and even more in this league,” he said.

He was right. Liverpool, who had been so strong at defending set pieces last season, have suddenly looked vulnerable. Two goals conceded from set pieces against Newcastle, and now another two against Palace. For a title defence, that is dangerous.

The VAR decision over Chiesa’s goal will be talked about for days. Palace fans are convinced they were robbed, Liverpool fans argue it was the correct call. The Premier League statement did little to calm the debate. Once again, VAR is at the centre of English football’s storm.

The argument is simple: if Salah touched the ball with his hand, why wasn’t the goal disallowed? But the officials insist the evidence was not “conclusive.” It is another reminder of how much power VAR has, and how much anger it can cause

For Liverpool, this defeat is a warning. Yes, they are still top of the table. Yes, they still look like one of the strongest teams in the league. But this match showed cracks. They struggled against Palace’s energy, they conceded sloppy goals from set pieces, and they looked frustrated for long periods.

Arne Slot has made a bright start at Anfield, but he now faces his first real test. Can he fix the defensive problems? Can he make Liverpool stronger against set pieces? And most importantly, can he keep the team calm after such a painful defeat?

For Palace, this was a night to remember. To beat the champions, to show such fight, and to climb level on points with them at the top of the table – it was a statement. Players like Sarr and Nketiah are proving they can hurt even the best, and Selhurst Park is becoming a fortress once again.

In the end, Liverpool’s unbeaten start is gone. The champions are still favourites for the title, but rivals will be watching closely. Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, and others will sense an opportunity. If Palace can beat Liverpool, so can they.

And for fans, this match was a reminder of why we love football. Drama, controversy, passion, heartbreak – it had everything.