Liverpool boss Arne Slot was left furious after Crystal Palace scored while goalkeeper Freddie Woodman was down injured, but Oliver Glasner has defended his team's actions
18:20, 25 Apr 2026Updated 18:37, 25 Apr 2026
Crystal Palace's Austrian manager Oliver Glasner applauds the fans following the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on April 25, 2026
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has defended his side's controversial goal against Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has insisted the right decision was made to play on and allow his side’s goal against Liverpool, despite the controversy after Freddie Woodman went down injured.
The Reds were 2-0 up thanks to goals from Alexander Isak and Andy Robertson when Daniel Munoz pulled one back for the visitors during the second half. The Palace right-back placed the ball into an empty net as Woodman lay on the floor injured.
The Liverpool goalkeeper had gone down after seemingly getting his studs caught in the turf, with Palace’s decision to play on and score leaving Arne Slot furious, despite Glasner’s insistence that his team did nothing wrong.
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"It was a difficult situation because he made a big save but the ball goes to Munoz,” Glasner told Sky Sports.
“Everything goes so quickly. He could continue the game until the end and that's why we think it was the right decision. I think that is was OK.
"When you watch it on TV. It's on the edge, to be honest. He makes the save, then tries to get up then he raises his arm but Munoz is already taking the finish.
Liverpool's English goalkeeper #28 Freddie Woodman receives medical treatment during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on April 25, 2026
Freddie Woodman stayed down as Crystal Palace scored against Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
“If he hits his head then the game has to be stopped. It was the right decision I think."
Liverpool boss Slot was far from happy as he pinned the blame on referee Andy Madley for failing to stop the game.
"The number of times I've played against a team and then a player is on the floor and the referee blows the whistle. It happened against Man Utd when Mac Allister was on the floor, they played on and Macca needed five stitches afterwards. I don't blame them, by the way, the referee should stop the game.
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"It's going to become a tactic to pretend you're injured so the referee stops the play. He did it about four times today. Munoz, I think it's 50-50 because some players wouldn't have taken the shot. Some players would stop and some would score. I don't blame him as much as I blame the referee."
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Giving his overall thoughts on his side’s performance, Glasner added: "I told them that I think it was our best performance here against Liverpool.
“We were very competitive here today. I showed them the stats. 2-0 down at half-time, you could say we rest our power for the Conference League semi-final and maybe lose 4-0 or something. This performance will give us a lot of confidence for the rest of the season."