Liverpool solidified their position at the top of the Premier League table with a narrow 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday, courtesy of a quick early strike from Diogo Jota.
The Portuguese forward netted in the ninth minute, capitalizing on Cody Gakpo’s well-placed cross from the left.
Jota, lurking in the penalty area, managed to stab the ball past Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson from close range, giving the visitors a decisive advantage.
The win extended Liverpool’s lead to four points ahead of second-place Manchester City, who were scheduled to face Fulham later that day.
The victory also marked the Reds’ ninth triumph in 10 matches across all competitions under new manager Arne Slot, who took over at Anfield during the summer following Jurgen Klopp’s departure.
However, the result wasn’t without its setbacks. Liverpool’s first-choice goalkeeper, Alisson Becker, was forced off the pitch in the second half after sustaining an apparent injury.
The Brazilian, who had recently recovered from a muscle issue, appeared to pull up while holding the back of his right leg, a worrying sign for Slot as the season progresses.
Alisson’s premature exit led to the introduction of young Czech goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros.
Despite Palace’s best efforts to find an equalizer, they were thwarted by key saves from both Alisson and Jaros. Palace created a number of scoring opportunities but were unable to break down Liverpool’s defense.
In the end, Jota’s goal proved enough to secure all three points and maintain Liverpool’s unbeaten run under Slot, though the manager will likely be concerned about Alisson’s fitness heading into the next round of fixtures.
