Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has defended the controversial goal scored by Daniel Munoz in their 3-1 Premier League defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, while admitting there were discussions about allowing the Reds to equalise.
Ryan Paton Entertainment and celebrity reporter
11:33, 26 Apr 2026
Oliver Glasner reacts during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace (Image: Oliver Glasner reacts during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield on April 25, 2026)
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has delivered his assessment of his side’s contentious goal at Anfield on Saturday.
Liverpool fought off a late rally from the Eagles to claim a crucial 3-1 triumph in the Premier League.
Daniel Munoz’s strike in the 71st minute provoked outrage amongst the home crowd as he fired the ball into the net while Reds goalkeeper Freddie Woodman was lying injured on the turf. The Liverpool players were spotted protesting against the decision to allow the goal to stand but Glasner supported it. He said: “I think the referee has to stop immediately if he believes it is a serious injury.
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“But you could see the keeper could end the game. In these situations, to demand the referee has to stop is dangerous for the future because we see in every set-play the keeper is involved in a duel.”
“If he clears the ball with his arm, he stays on the ground and you never get a second phase.”
Glasner added: “This wouldn’t be the best for football. It was not so clear, but I think it was the right decision.”
Munoz faced severe criticism from the home supporters inside Anfield for what they considered unsporting conduct, but Glasner defended his goalscorer. He said: “The keeper saved the ball with his leg.”
Freddie Woodman stayed down as Crystal Palace scored against Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
“Then the ball goes to Munoz, [Woodman] tries to stand up. In this moment, Munoz takes the finish. The keeper raises his arm, he didn’t really see it. It was more or less the same time as the goal.”
While Glasner believes the right call was made, he admitted there were “discussions” to allow Liverpool to score a goal to restore their two-goal lead.
However, this was dependent on whether Woodman had to be substituted.
He said: “We were discussing it to be honest. I always said it was clear if the keeper was to be subbed I would definitely score an own goal. Because then it was a serious injury and it would have been wrong. But in this situation he felt pain in this moment.”
“As keepers often do, they feel pain when they get hit from four-five yards.”