Diogo Jota scored early and Liverpool overcame an injury to Alisson and a stiff second-half challenge from Crystal Palace to win 1-0 at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
Palace had the ball in the net inside of 60 seconds, but Eddie Nketiah was offside. Jota scored nine minutes later, and Liverpool controlled the match into the second half.
But an apparent hamstring injury to Alisson Becker coincided with Palace finding its footing over the final half-hour. Regular backup goalkeeper Caoiminh Kelleher was ill, so it was Vitezslav Jaros entering the fray to make some important saves.
Liverpool remain top of the table, while Palace remains winless and their three points keep them in 18th place.
Reds have to sweat to keep ‘Slot Machine’ unbeaten
This match spent a good hour as another day, another dollar for Arne Slot’s Liverpool. The Reds had near-complete control of Palace, who could barely get a foot on the ball. Oliver Glasner made changes at the hour mark and both Jean-Philippe Mateta and Will Hughes flipped the script for the hosts. Eberechi Eze will feel he should’ve leveled the score, especially facing a third-string goalkeeper after Alisson was injured in the second half. But Vitezslav Jaros’ Liverpool debut was a winning one, as the 23-year-old Czech’s 88 loan appearances over four seasons away from Anfield proved more than enough experience to handle 40 minutes at Selhurst Park. This isn’t a win that will have the Reds dancing in the team room, but it’s the sort of gritty result that is so valuable in a Premier League title fight.
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool player ratings
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool player ratings (fotmob.com)
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool player ratings (fotmob.com)
What’s next?
The international break, then Palace go to Nottingham Forest at 3pm ET on Monday, October 21, a day after Liverpool host Chelsea at 11:30am October 20.
How to watch Crystal Palace vs Liverpool live, stream link, start time
Kick off time: 7:30am ET Saturday (October 5)
Venue: Selhurst Park, London
TV Channel: USA Network
Streaming: Watch online via NBC.com
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool live updates — By Nick Mendola
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool final score: 0-1
Diogo Jota 9'
Save by Jaros!
Will Hughes has been excellent and he sends Jean-Philippe Mateta central to lead a 3v1 charge.
It ends with an Eze shot that is hard but right to Jaros.
85'.
Alisson injury
Alisson goes down after clearing the ball, and trainers will lead him off the pitch. Czech keeper Vitezslav Jaros enters the frsy for Liverpool, who lead 1-0 with over 10 minutes to play in the 90.
Andy Robertson takes the place of Kostas Tsimikas, who was slowed earlier in the half.
Moments earlier, Liverpool could’ve conceded a penalty when Virgil van Dijk grabbed Marc Guehi’s arm as the Palace defender strode toward goal. Surprising.
Palace subs lead to chances
Alisson Becker’s made three saves since the 60th-minute entry of Jean-Philippe Mateta, who cued up Eberechi Eze for a particularly powerful 69th-minute rip.
He replaced Tyrick Mitchell, while Adam Wharton exited for Will Hughes at the same time.
Liverpool sub, Palace save
Dominik Szoboszlai enters at the break for yellow-carded Alexis Mac Allister, and he’s a part of the best chance of the first 10 minutes of the second frame.
Szoboszlai finds Mohamed Salah, who cues up Trent Alexander-Arnold for a low shot from the right of the box. Dean Henderson plants his leg for a solid block.
Halftime — Crystal Palace 0-1 Liverpool
Shots are 8-1 in favor of the leading visitors, who have held 73% possession and do not look like the team that had midweek duty in Europe.
Palace’s bench options are limited aside from attackers Jean-Philippe Mateta and Daichi Kamada. Perhaps the only way back into this is to get the crowd on your side by attacking and accepting the vulnerability that comes with that.
One-way traffic but here’s a Palace corner
Perhaps this isn’t a surprise as Palace was already without defenders Chris Richards and Chadi Riad before the Munoz injury, and are missing influential midfielder Cheick Doucoure, but this is all Liverpool.
Nketiah’s first-minute offside goal is their only chance through 30 minutes, and the Eagles had 23% possession heading into a 33rd-minute corner. Liverpool handles it well.
1-0 Reds, 34'.
Daniel Munoz injury
The Palace full back is going to have to come off, and ex-Liverpool man Nathaniel Clyne is the man to replace him.
Diogo Jota goal! Crystal Palace 0-1 Liverpool (9th minute)
Cody Gakpo is slid down the left flank and crosses a dangerous low ball through traffic.
Diogo Jota darts in front of Maxence Lacroix to knife the ball past Dean Henderson.
Nketiah first minute goal... but offside!
Liverpool are ripped apart quickly as Adam Wharton drives through the heart of the midfield and defers to his right.
A whipped-in cross is slid over the line by Eddie Nketiah, but the Englishman is offside.
Crystal Palace lineup
Henderson, Guehi, Lacroix, Chalobah, Mitchell, Lerma, Wharton, Munoz, Eze, Sarr, Nketiah.
Liverpool lineup
Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Jones, Gakpo, Jota.
Crystal Palace team news, focus
Chadi Riad, Chris Richards, Rob Holding and Cheick Doucoure remain out as Palace remain light in defense and midfield. Matheus Franca remains out too. Palace will look to sit in and hit Liverpool on the counter and they will whip in plenty of crosses for Mateta.
OUT: Chadi Riad (knee), Rob Holding (undisclosed), Cheick Doucoure (ankle), Chris Richards (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Matheus Franca (chest/abdominal)
Liverpool team news, focus
Harvey Elliott is out, while Diogo Jota and Andy Robertson should be fit. Arne Slot has been rotating his forwards masterfully in recent weeks with the trio of Salah, Diaz and Gakpo likely to start this time.
OUT: Harvey Elliott (foot) | QUESTIONABLE: Federico Chiesa (other)
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool prediction
This feels like a game where Palace will start well, then Liverpool will wake up following their Champions League exploits and grab a goal at the end of the first half. They will then have to manage the atmosphere and Palace’s onslaught in the second half before they probably add a late clincher. Crystal Palace 0-2 Liverpool.
