Crystal Palace vs Liverpool LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Diogo Jota secures testing win

Alisson Becker remains the king of Selhurst Park, but if he and Virgil van Dijk showed what Liverpool’s title bid will be built on this season, a win at Crystal Palace was perhaps also another indication of why the Reds spent part of this summer looking at the future.

The last time the Eagles won at home against Liverpool was November 2014, long before the Brazilian arrived; on that occasion Mile Jedinak wrapped up the points with a free-kick sent past Simon Mignolet. In the decade since, the Merseyside club’s defence as a whole has gotten considerably better, as has the holder of the No.1 position.

“Really good. He had a good season and he won the league and cup with the team [Sturm Graz] in Austria [last season].

“He wanted to go [back this season] and have playing time. We said at a club like this we need a good third goalkeeper as well.

“It was a nice moment for him to make his debut for Liverpool.”

Liverpool boss Arne Slot said: “Mostly for me it’s special.

“Players go to their national team and they think of the national team, but for me if I lose it is three to four days of being unhappy. I think my wife will be happy as she will have someone home who is happy.

“Really satisfied with how we started the season. It is a good start not only the results, but I liked our performance today.

“There was a period of the game we conceded free-kicks and that was a difficult period. For the last 10 minutes we kept the ball very well.”

Liverpool defeated Crystal Palace in a testing encounter at Selhurst Park but suffered a big injury to their number one goalkeeper Alisson who limped off the pitch in the second half of their 1-0 win.

The Reds dominated the first 45 minutes with Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota impressing as the visitors controlled the tempo of the game before opening the scoring in the ninth minute through Jota’s side-footed finish.

Alisson was brought into the game after the break and denied Ismaila Sarr and Eddie Nketiah with some sharp reactionary saves before pulling up in pain having innocuously cleared a loose ball.

The stats seem to show how Liverpool deserved to win the game but Crystal Palace came out firing after the break and they were the better side towards the end.

Liverpool’s victory keeps them top of the table over the international break.

Possession: Crystal Palace 32%-68% Liverpool

Shots: 9-16

Shots on target: 5-4

Touches in the opposition box: 9-28

Corners: 3-8

“We keep going and we keep working. We are never satisfied. We needed Alli [Alisson] twice, but that is what we try to avoid. Everyone is contributing to clean sheets.

“I think there is always expectations towards different teams - whatever the outside world thinks of us we don’t really care.

“We want to try challenge, compete, win and be successful.”

“It is hard to come here. The results over the years are tight and close.

“I think obviously we scored a fantastic goal. We could have done better in the second half, but we knew they’d come out with a bit of pressure on the ball.

“It ends our run on a high before the internationals.”

Liverpool have won 9 of their 10 games across all competitions under Arne Slot. That’s a record for a new Liverpool manager.

If you’re being critical as well, Liverpool don’t seem to have fully clicked under Slot. They just seem to know how to win.

90+6 mins: There goes the final whistle and Liverpool get themselves over the line. Diogo Jota’s first half strike was enough to earn them the three points.

Arne Slot’s Liverpool win again but they were made to work for it in the second half by the hosts. Alisson’s injury could be a defining moment of the season but the result is the one the Reds wanted.

Crystal Palace will be pleased with their performance but it’s another defeat and their struggles continue.