Diogo Jota’s early objective was sufficient to safe Liverpool a 1-0 away victory over Crystal Palace within the Premier League and make sure that they go into the worldwide break top of the desk.
The Portuguese ahead netted his first league objective because the opening weekend on simply 9 minutes at Selhurst Park, darting in behind to pick the bottom-left nook.
It might have been a completely different story, although, as Palace attacker Eddie Nketiah had a objective dominated out for offside inside the primary minute.
The Eagles pushed exhausting for an equaliser however couldn't breach Liverpool’s backline regardless of producing a late flurry of probabilities.
A sixth victory from seven matches retains Arne Slot’s males one level forward on the top of the desk earlier than title rivals Arsenal and Manchester City play afterward Saturday, whereas Palace stay with out a win in 18th.
How the match unfolded
Just 22 seconds had been on the clock when Palace had the ball within the web after Nketiah latched onto Ismaila Sarr’s low cross to dink Alisson, however he had strayed offside.
And they quickly discovered themselves behind, as Jota darted in entrance of Trevoh Chalobah to poke Cody Gakpo’s cross previous Dean Henderson, marking his one centesimal Liverpool begin with a objective.
Henderson then tipped Trent Alexander-Arnold’s low drive large earlier than Palace virtually equalised on the stroke of half-time, Alisson getting down sharply to push Sarr’s low drive away.
Mohamed Salah regarded set to get a customary away objective this season, peeling off his marker to chest down Virgil van Dijk’s floated cross, however Henderson rushed off his line to smother his close-range effort.
Palace quickly asserted themselves into the match although, with Alisson having to make a trio of saves in fast succession to maintain out Nketiah, Eberechi Eze and Chalobah to guard the clear sheet.
The Brazilian was pressured off by way of damage within the remaining quarter-hour, however Will Hughes and Eze couldn't beat alternative Vitezslav Jaros, on for his debut, with their long-range efforts.
The wait goes on
It was at all times going to be a powerful process for Palace in the event that they needed to get their first win of the Premier League season against high-flying Liverpool, although you would not fault the followers for having hope after beating the Reds at Anfield in direction of the tip of final season.
The celebrations could have been lower brief after Nketiah’s very early disallowed objective, however the second confirmed Palace had been able to inflicting their in-form guests issues.
However, as Liverpool dominated possession within the first half, the hosts had been stifled, struggling to make any kind of influence within the final- third.
But Palace regarded extra settled after a double change within the second half noticed them swap formation, with the introduction of Jean-Philippe Mateta additionally offering them with one other focus up top.
It isn't any shock that their finest probabilities got here after Oliver Glasner’s tactical swap, however even with the small enhance given by Alisson’s departure, they nonetheless couldn't discover a well past Jaros, who had a calm presence after his surprising introduction.
Palace stay within the relegation zone heading into the worldwide break, however their supervisor will already be considering forward to a pivotal journey to Nottingham Forest as they await their first three factors.
A gentle presence
Seven video games into the Premier League season and it appears like Slot has seamlessly settled into life on Merseyside, having solely had one minor blip up to now in a defeat to Forest at Anfield.
Despite the early scare from Nketiah, Liverpool confirmed their trademark calm below the Dutchman as they quickly took management of the competition.
Van Dijk was assured, simply studying Palace’s makes an attempt to play in behind to brush the hazard away, whereas Ibrahima Konate took the extra proactive method on the press as a part of a formidable defence that has nonetheless solely conceded two objectives.
It was Ryan Gravenberch who as soon as once more dictated play for the Reds although, orchestrating assaults from midfield and giving Palace a headache as he linked every part collectively.
With massive matches forward, one fear for Slot would be the muscle damage to Alisson, who lower a pissed off determine when he threw his gloves to the ground as he was pressured off late within the sport.
Slot could not consider his group are able to be included among the many title contenders simply but, however they've laid down some spectacular groundwork to enter the worldwide break top of the league.
When top-flight soccer resumes, the Reds have an infinite double-header against Chelsea and Arsenal which might present a sign as to how a lot endurance they're more likely to have.
Club experiences
Palace report | Liverpool report
What managers stated
Oliver Glasner: “I feel we deserved extra on the finish. In the primary half we might see how good Liverpool are, how shortly they moved the ball.”
“We had a nice begin with the offside objective, after which we had issues and so they had the lead. They deserved the lead at half-time.
But the second-half offers me a lot of confidence for the remainder of the season. We created probabilities and in addition we had been good in defending.”
Arne Slot: “Really satisfied with how we started the season. It is a good start not only the results, but I liked our performance today.”
Next Premier League fixtures
Key details
Arne Slot is the primary Liverpool supervisor to win as many as 9 of his first 10 video games answerable for the membership (L1), whereas Liverpool have completed so to start a season for the third time after 1961/62 and 1990/91.
Liverpool have received every of their first 4 away league video games to start a season for simply the third time after 1990-91 and 2019-20.
Crystal Palace have did not win any of their opening seven league video games (D3 L4); it’s the fifth time they’ve completed so within the Premier League after 1992/93 (D4 L3), 1994/95 (D4 L3), 2004-05 (D2 L5) and 2017/18 (L7).
Liverpool are unbeaten in every of their final 10 Premier League journeys to Crystal Palace (W9 D1), solely failing to win in a goalless attract February 2023.
