Liverpool manager Arne Slot has admitted that his side struggled in the first half as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

The Premier League champions saw their unbeaten start to the season come to an end despite a late equalizer.

Palace dominated the opening half and could have been three goals ahead, but Alisson Becker kept Liverpool in the game with a string of top saves. Ismaila Sarr eventually broke the deadlock before the break.

Liverpool pulled level through Federico Chiesa late on, but there was still time for Eddie Nketiah to fire home the winner in the 98th minute.

Speaking after the match, Slot admitted set-piece lapses cost his side again:

“Very difficult first half. They did really well and deserved to be 1-0 up, we were lucky it was only 1-0.

Second half it was the opposite. It took a while before we scored, but we did with a few minutes left. Then 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. Last season it was one of our biggest strengths, now we have conceded two against Newcastle and two here.”

Liverpool will now regroup ahead of their upcoming fixtures as they look to bounce back.