Palace Knock Liverpool Out 3-0; Red Card, Injuries

Liverpool were eliminated from the Carabao (EFL) Cup after a 3-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace, with Ismaila Sarr scoring a late brace and Yeremy Pino adding a third. Liverpool were reduced to 10 men after a red card, and manager Arne Slot made 10 changes to a heavily rotated side. Slot defended the selection, saying the club uses the competition to blood youngsters, that only around 15 players were available, and that he had "no regrets." Critics said the gamble backfired, calling it the heaviest defeat of Slot’s tenure amid a run of six losses in seven that has intensified scrutiny of his rotation policy and the squad's depth. Injuries have compounded Liverpool’s problems: Ryan Gravenberch missed recent matches with an ankle issue but could return for the upcoming Aston Villa game, Jeremie Frimpong has a hamstring problem that will keep him sidelined for weeks, and Alexander Isak, Alisson and Curtis Jones were also unavailable.