Archive September 27, 2025

As Selhurst Park’s “Holmesdale Fanatics” watched as the flaws Liverpool have shown this season are brutally exposed, Crystal Palace’s ascendancy grew to become a fixture.

When the club’s famous backfield reached a decision, the Eagles had torn the visitors apart for 34 minutes, with only an Ismaila Sarr goal to support their victory.

This magnificent, historic stadium echoed the phrase “We’re going to win the league,” a clear indication of how talented this Palace side is.

Liverpool have endured a precarious start to the season, despite winning five straight Premier League titles and making numerous acquisitions that failed to conceal defensive flaws that were first discovered at Wembley in August when Palace defeated them to win the Community Shield on penalties.

As has often happened with other opponents this term, Oliver Glasner’s side’s side did their best when they only went in 1-0 lead at half-time when it could have been 6-0. However, they did their best when they did so.

Sarr scored the only goal of the game in the ninth minute after pulsating Palace, and Liverpool’s Alisson, who had only one player to have the most credit, saved superbly from Yeremy Pino, Daniel Munoz, and Jean-Philippe Mateta, who also had a goal.

After Federico Chiesa’s 87th-minute equalizer, it appeared as though an outstanding performance would only give Liverpool a point. However, when substitute Eddie Nketiah netted a deserved winner with almost the final kick of the game in the 97th minute, the game was almost over.

In 17 meetings, it was only their second win at home since 2014, a record they had already held.

With the historic FA Cup win against Manchester City back in May, Palace have now won 18 games without losing in all competitions, breaking the club record set in 1969.

After a strong start, they moved up three points, three points clear of Liverpool, who are currently reigning champions.

A team that is deserving of its lofty position on the table right now receives its animated touchline energy with class in every way.

When asked to play, keeper Dean Henderson excelled, turning Ryan Gravenberch’s shot on the post in the first half, and captain and key defender Marc Guehi demonstrated just why Liverpool fans were so disappointed when a proposed £35 million move to Anfield failed on transfer deadline day.

What a contrast Guehi’s calmness was to Liverpool’s chaos, where Ibrahim Konate struggled and captain Virgil van Dijk was ultimately found guilty of disobedience.

Guehi even had an assist in the build-up to Nketiah’s winner when a long throw-in caused defensive jitters, just like a corner did for Palace’s first, adding insult to injury to the frightened visitors.

Adam Wharton has undoubtedly become a regular England player, with his loping socks-down approach not masking an elite midfielder’s elite. Daichi Kamada had a similar amount of determination and effectiveness.

The charismatic Glasner, a transformative figure at Palace, and Steve Parish, the chairman of Selhurst Park, are the backbone of it all.

With eight victories and ten draws, Palace is currently on a 18-game unbeaten run as a club. Liverpool has also played three games in that unbeaten streak.

With three victories and three draws in their first six games, the Eagles are the only Premier League team without a win.

Palace finished third overall in the standings when they last did so in 1990 and 1991.

We had a fantastic opening half and deserved lead, Glasner exclaimed to BBC Match of the Day. The victory was due to us.

I’m pleased with our team’s response despite the fact that Liverpool deserved an equaliser to put them under the pressure.

We discuss personality,” he said. We always strive for victory. Everyone who lives close to Crystal Palace received a reward here.

The players displayed a lot of confidence. The quality of the passes and runs into the box was outstanding.

We’ll evaluate the game and absorb the positivity. You must take pleasure in these situations, or you must wonder why you do it.

In some ways, this day was coming for Liverpool.

In their victory over Bournemouth, Newcastle United, Burnley, and Arsenal, they have traded a lot of late goals this season. They almost did it before Chiesa’s effort, but it was unsustainable until Nketiah caused Liverpool to go through the same heartache.

Despite their seven successive victories in all competitions, this is still a work in progress with numerous acquisitions.

After scoring the midweek winner against Southampton in the Carabao Cup, Slot’s description of the in-form striker Hugo Ekitike receiving a one-game ban, a second yellow card, and dismissal for taking his shirt off was highlighted here.

The Frenchman, who has five goals in seven games, could have changed the Liverpool attack.

Alexander Isak, the club’s record £125 million buy, made his first league start but looks far from fully fit, drawing the disapproval of Palace’s supporters with his expected chants of “what a waste of money” when he was withdrawn after missing a clear chance he had at least created for himself.

At £116 million, Florian Wirtz is still trying to fit into a side and system that dominated the league last year. With the exception of one chance, which he steered straight into Henderson’s hands from six yards, the German was unidentified.

Although Liverpool are still in the lead, Selhurst Park finally saw the light of day with the issues that had troubled them.

However, an enthusiastic Palace and their supporters won’t have any issues.

Can they win the Premier League, as the “Holmesdale Fanatics” alleged?

Women’s Rugby World Cup Final

Canada (8) 13

Hogan-Rochester 2 Pen: De Goede

England (21) 33

The Women’s Rugby World Cup was won by England for the third time after a strong performance against Canada at Twickenham.

The Red Roses, who had lost their previous two finals to New Zealand, dissected that ghost with an assured display built on their strength up front and ferocious defense in front of a record-breaking crowd of 81, 885 women’s rugby players.

England’s final defeat came in the previous World Cup final three years ago, extending their 33-game winning streak.

The hosts and tournament favorites responded by scoring a stunning solo by Ellie Kildunne after giving an early score to flying Canada winger Asia Hogan-Rochester.

As John Mitchell’s men took control of the final, hooker Amy Cokayne and eighth-ranked Alex Matthews crossed after Sophie de Goede kicked a penalty to keep Canada within two scores.

Before Hogan-Rochester scored her second try, Abbie Ward scored the opener.

The Red Roses won the game, however, with Matthews’ second try from close range, which came just after the brave defense had defeated Canada.

Canada defeated New Zealand in the semi-finals and had arguably played the best rugby in the tournament, coming in the final 95% of the way to its million-dollar fundraising goal, which was established to help them compete with the world’s best-funded teams.

However, Mitchell’s team outperformed the world’s top two-ranked team to win the title for the first time since 2014 when they also defeated Canada on the biggest stage when it was most important.

After some skillful handling, Hogan-Rochester went over in the corner to give his side another impressive start as their semi-final against Canada, which defeated New Zealand in the first half.

However, Kildunne ensured that the mood was immediately changed as the stunning full-back passed defender after defender to add another wonder try to her collection.

Mitchell’s side refused to let go of the momentum that England’s star player and outgoing World Rugby Player of the Year had brought.

This week, Mitchell made it clear that winning the World Cup is all about good rugby. Copayne’s touchdown off a driving maul was not only important, but it was also the opposite of the first try’s star quality.

Matthews crossed after more scrum dominance as simple and effective rugby continued to succeed as the home crowd cheered England on.

The hosts’ defense, which was exemplified by Zoe Aldcroft’s stealth of the ball back on her own tryline, was equally effective in the opening period.

When the Red Roses’ previous 30-game winning streak in the previous World Cup final was most important, the game came to an end.

Hogan-Rochester’s second-sharp finish undoubtedly would have reminded England if they had been reminded that pre-tournament dominance does not guarantee a World Cup victory.

However, Mitchell, a former men’s New Zealand head coach, was hired two years ago to bring a winning mindset to finals rugby.

His team performed well at times during the tournament, but they did so on the day of the match, delivering what was lacking.

Matthews’ World Cup-winning attempt came following a vicious defense that forced Canada to reclaim control of the field, demonstrating just that winning mindset.

In the most recent World Cup final, captain Zoe Aldcroft recalls hugging center Tatyana Heard and crying at full-time.

Replacements: Rowland, Clifford, Bern, Galligan, Feaunati, L Packer, Aitchison, and Atkin-Davies.

Canada: Hogan-Rochester, Perry, Pelletier, Hunt, Tuttosi, Menin, De Goede, O’Donnell, Crossley, Paquin, Forteza, Corrigan, Symonds, Corrigan, Corrigan, Symonds, Corrigan, and Symonds.

Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa) and Clara Munarini (Italy) serve as assistant referees.

South Africa 67 (25)

Cons: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 8 Pens: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 2 Du Toit 2, Marx, Van den Berg, Libbok Tries:

Argentina 30 (23)

In a bonus-point victory over Argentina in the rugby championship, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu scored 37 points, breaking the South African record for points scored in a test.

After New Zealand defeated Australia earlier on Saturday to briefly take the lead, the Springboks moved one point clear of Durban.

In their final game following New Zealand’s Perth encounter with Australia, the Springboks take on Argentina at Twickenham on October 4.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu, the flyhalf, broke Percy Montgomery’s previous record of 35 points against Namibia in 2007 by scoring three tries, converted eight of the country’s nine, and kicked two penalties.

Put the work we’ve done in training into the game, we simply wanted to play good rugby.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu scored two tries in the opening period, but the hosts held a two-point lead at half-time.

Chile responded with a score from Santiago Chocobares, who walked the ball between the posts after making an illogical mistake from winger Cheslin Kolbe, and a penalty try, but South Africa only managed one try in the first half.

Argentina was in contention thanks to fly-half Santiago Carreras’ conversion and three penalties.

However, in front of a raucous crowd of 45, 000, South Africa won the second half as Kolbe, Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Morne van den Berg, and Manie Libbok went over.

South Africa 67 (25)

Cons: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 8 Pens: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 2 Du Toit 2, Marx, Van den Berg, Libbok Tries:

Argentina 30 (23)

In a bonus-point victory over Argentina in the rugby championship, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu scored 37 points, breaking the South African record for points scored in a test.

After New Zealand defeated Australia earlier on Saturday to briefly take the lead, the Springboks moved one point clear of Durban.

In their final game following New Zealand’s Perth encounter with Australia, the Springboks take on Argentina at Twickenham on October 4.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu, the flyhalf, broke Percy Montgomery’s previous record of 35 points against Namibia in 2007 by scoring three tries, converted eight of the country’s nine, and kicked two penalties.

Put the work we’ve done in training into the game, we simply wanted to play good rugby.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu scored two tries in the opening period, but the hosts held a two-point lead at half-time.

Chile responded with a score from Santiago Chocobares, who walked the ball between the posts after making an illogical mistake from winger Cheslin Kolbe, and a penalty try, but South Africa only managed one try in the first half.

Argentina was in contention thanks to fly-half Santiago Carreras’ conversion and three penalties.

However, in front of a raucous crowd of 45, 000, South Africa won the second half as Kolbe, Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Morne van den Berg, and Manie Libbok went over.