Diogo Jota’s decisive goal ensured Liverpool stayed at the top of the Premier League for another week, securing a hard-fought 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The Portuguese forward capitalized on defensive errors to earn his team a third consecutive league win, continuing Liverpool’s strong start to the season under manager Arne Slot.
The victory not only kept Liverpool’s title ambitions on track but also sent the Reds into the international break brimming with confidence, with a home clash against Chelsea looming on the horizon.
Palace, however, were quick to show their intent. They had the ball in the net within the first minute when Eddie Nketiah lifted a clever finish over Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson. Unfortunately for the hosts, the goal was ruled out after Nketiah was found to be offside, following a promising run from Jefferson Lerma and Ismaila Sarr down the right flank.
Liverpool responded swiftly, and it wasn’t long before they exposed Palace’s frailties at the back. In a fluid attacking move, Kostas Tsimikas slid a precise pass to Cody Gakpo down the left wing. Gakpo’s low ball into the box caught loanee Trevoh Chalobah off guard, allowing Jota to pounce and slot home from close range. It was a moment emblematic of Palace’s season so far—moments of defensive indecision undoing their solid play going forward.
From then on, Liverpool began to assert their dominance, with the team’s high press forcing errors from Palace, including a rare loose pass from the usually composed Adam Wharton. As the second half progressed, the home side found themselves increasingly on the back foot.
Desperate for a way back into the game, Palace manager Oliver Glasner made a tactical switch, bringing on target man Jean-Philippe Mateta. The Frenchman’s introduction gave Palace a much-needed boost, as he linked up well with Nketiah and Eberechi Eze, eventually forcing Alisson into a save.
As the match approached its closing stages, Palace threw caution to the wind, especially after Alisson had to leave the field with an injury. Replacement keeper Vitezslav Jaros was immediately tested, dealing with a dangerous cross from Nathaniel Clyne, and narrowly escaping punishment when Will Hughes fired a rebound over the bar.
Palace’s best opportunity to snatch a point came in the dying moments. Hughes intercepted a pass in midfield and sparked a quick counter-attack. Mateta slid a perfectly timed pass to Eze, who found himself one-on-one with Jaros. However, the young keeper held his ground, denying Eze’s effort and securing the three points for Liverpool.
Liverpool’s victory demonstrated their title credentials, showing resilience against a tough opponent. As they head into the international break, the Reds will be feeling optimistic ahead of their next test against Chelsea at Anfield later this month. Crystal Palace, meanwhile, will be left to reflect on missed chances and errors that continue to haunt their campaign.
