Crystal Palace Stuns Liverpool; Major Clubs Advance in Cup

Crystal Palace delivered a shocking performance, defeating Liverpool 3-0 in the fourth round of the domestic cup at Anfield. This result marks Liverpool’s sixth loss in their last seven matches across all competitions, raising concerns about the team’s current form. Meanwhile, other Premier League heavyweights, including Newcastle United, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Chelsea, advanced to the quarterfinals with solid victories.

Liverpool’s struggles continued as they faced Crystal Palace, who capitalized on defensive errors. The first goal came in the 41st minute when Liverpool defender Joe Gomez misplayed a clearance, setting up a powerful shot from Palace’s Ismaïla Sarr. Sarr doubled the lead just before halftime, connecting with a clever pass from Yeremy Pino. Liverpool’s woes deepened when Amara Nallo received a red card in the 79th minute, marking his second dismissal in as many appearances. Pino sealed the win for Palace with a third goal in the 88th minute.

“It’s not of Liverpool standards to lose six out of seven,” Liverpool manager Slot stated after the match. When asked about the upcoming Premier League fixture against Aston Villa, he emphasized, “Every Liverpool game is a must-win.” The defeat was notable as it was the first time Liverpool had lost a domestic cup match at Anfield by three goals without scoring since February 1934.

Newcastle and Arsenal Secure Victories

In other matches, holders Newcastle United dispatched Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 at St James’ Park. Goals from Fabian Schar and Nick Woltemade propelled Newcastle into the quarterfinals. Manager Eddie Howe expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, stating, “It’s most important the attitude is right from minute one, and we had that.”

Arsenal also advanced, defeating Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0. The breakthrough came from 18-year-old Ethan Nwaneri in the 57th minute, followed by a second goal from Bukayo Saka in the 76th minute. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta celebrated the win, mentioning the importance of integrating younger players into the squad, highlighting the debuts of Max Dowman and Andre Harriman-Annous.

Meanwhile, Manchester City overcame a challenge from second-tier Swansea City, winning 3-1. Swansea took an early lead with a goal from Goncalo Franco, but City responded with goals from Jeremy Doku, Omar Marmoush, and Rayan Cherki to secure their spot in the next round.

Chelsea faced a tense match against Wolverhampton Wanderers, edging past them with a score of 4-3. Chelsea established a commanding 3-0 lead, but Wolves fought back, creating a thrilling finish. A late red card for Chelsea’s Liam Delap added to the drama, though the Blues managed to hold on for the win.

Quarterfinal Matchups Set

The draw for the quarterfinals has set exciting matchups. Arsenal will host Crystal Palace, while third-tier Cardiff City, the only non-Premier League team left in the competition, will take on Chelsea. Newcastle United will face Fulham at home, and Manchester City will play against Brentford. These matches are scheduled for the week of December 15, 2023.

Notably, four of the quarterfinalists—Brentford, Fulham, Cardiff City, and Crystal Palace—are yet to win the League Cup, setting the stage for a dramatic knockout phase. As teams prepare for these crucial encounters, fans are eager to see which club can claim the coveted trophy this season.