Jamie Redknapp was left stunned by Arne Slot’s team selection as Liverpool crashed out of the Carabao Cup to continue their woeful run of form.
A first-half brace from Ismaila Sarr and a fine late finish from Yeremy Pino saw Crystal Palace run out comfortable 3-0 winners at Anfield to knock out last year’s runners-up and progress to the quarter-finals.
The victory continues Palace’s superb recent record against Liverpool, with Oliver Glasner’s side having already recorded victories against Slot’s side in the Community Shield and the Premier League this season.
But the result also marked another concerning evening for the hosts, who were reduced to ten men in the second half after Amara Nallo’s sending off and have now lost six of their last seven games in all competitions.
Given their busy schedule, Slot was always expected to rotate his lineup for the mixture fixture, but the Dutchman opted to make wholesale changes with only Milos Kerkez retaining his place in the side from Saturday’s defeat to Brentford.
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Perhaps more surprising, though, was the Liverpool boss’s decision not to name any of his experienced first-team players as substitutes and instead fill the bench entirely with academy players aged 21 and under.
And it was a decision that left Redknapp somewhat perplexed before the match, with the former Liverpool midfielder telling Sky Sports: ‘It’s a surprise but I guess he’s the only man who knows when he watches the training.
‘He sees who is right – people like Virgil van Dijk, what is their fitness and confidence. Ekitike, I thought he might start today – it’s a really surprising thing what he’s done tonight.
‘It might pay off, but I thought he would have gone a lot stronger than that to be honest.’
Glasner also made five changes to his Palace side, but the Austrian opted to keep much of his side’s spine in place.
And it was a decision that was vindicated as the Eagles delivered a dominant display to end a four-match winless run in all competitions.
Palace will have their eye on yet more silverware after their FA Cup triumph last year, and are joined in the last eight by Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal, Newcastle United, Brentford, Fulham and Cardiff City.
But Liverpool’s task does not get any easier, with the Reds set to face Aston Villa, Real Madrid and Manchester City in their next 11 days.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live at full-time, former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock said: ‘I think it heaps more pressure on Arne Slot. There are going to be so many more questions asked of Slot.
‘Confidence is huge in football – when you see the way Liverpool players are playing at the moment, they are second guessing everything they do at the moment.
‘They’re questioning every decision they make on the football pitch and almost playing negatively.’
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