Liverpool will end the weekend top of the Premier League table following their 1-0 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The Reds had plenty of chances but the only goal of the game came courtesy of Diogo Jota in the ninth minute.
Jota found the net with a low finish from 10 yards after being picked out by Cody Gakpo’s cross.
It was not all plane sailing for the Reds though, as Palace drew five saves out of Alisson Becker and his replacement Vitezslav Jaros.
LEWIS STEELE was at Selhurst Park for Mail Sport. Read on for his player ratings.
Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 1-0 at Selhurst Park in Saturday’s early Premier League game
Diogo Jota (centre) scored the only goal of the game as Liverpool won to stay top of the table
CRYSTAL PALACE (3-4-2-1)
Dean Henderson – 7
Could do little about the goal due to the power Jota generated with his poked finish. Made a good save to deny Alexander-Arnold from distance after 29 minutes. Great stop to deny Salah after 56 minutes, too, from point-blank range.
Maxence Lacroix – 6
Had his hands full with Jota and Gakpo combining, especially in the second half when Szoboszlai started to make late runs into the box.
Marc Guehi – 6.5
Defended his penalty area well with plenty of vital interceptions and clearances. Perhaps the only member of Palace’s back three to leave the game with credit in the bank.
Trevoh Chalobah – 4.5
Beaten far too easily for Jota’s goal. The defender was too static and allowed his marker to ghost across him to score.
Daniel Munoz – 5
Asleep for Jota’s goal as Gakpo was slid in on his blindside. Substituted midway through the first half with an injury.
Trevoh Chalobah (right) pictured tussling for the ball with Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah
Chalobah did not have a good game for Palace and he was too static just before Jota scored
Daniel Munoz (centre) was subbed off inside the opening 20 minutes after sustaining an injury
Adam Wharton – 5
Has not reproduced the levels he set for himself last season since his move from Blackburn – but he has not been bad by any stretch. Liverpool won the midfield battle here, though.
Jefferson Lerma – 5 (Booked)
Slightly overran by the likes of Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Jones in midfield. Felt like Palace’s midfield lacked energy.
Tyrick Mitchell – 6
Put in a solid shift against Salah and enjoyed his battle, using physicality to thwart the Egyptian several times. A tough afternoon, though, when Alexander-Arnold also joined attacks on the overlap.
Ismaila Sarr – 6 (Booked)
Ineffective overall but had Palace’s best chance of the first half when he tested Alisson with a well-hit, low shot, their first shot of the match.
No 3 Tyrick Mitchell had a tough afternoon, although he put in a solid shift against Salah (left)
Ismaila Sarr (centre) made the first start of his Crystal Palace career during Saturday’s game
Eberechi Eze – 6.5
Did not contribute enough at all in the first 60 minutes as the home team did little to get the Selhurst Park crowd rocking. But then came to life in the closing stages, forcing two big saves from Alisson. Missed a huge chance when through on goal on 84 minutes.
Eddie Nketiah – 5 (Booked)
Thought he had scored with less than a minute on the clock when he tapped in a nice finish – but he was offside. Like the other attackers, service was at a premium.
Substitutes
Nathaniel Clyne (for Munoz, 17) – 6
Jean-Philippe Mateta (for Mitchell, 60) – 6
Will Hughes (for Wharton, 60) – 6 (Booked)
Daichi Kamada (for Chalobah, 80)
Not used: Matt Turner, Caleb Kporha, Jeffrey Schlupp, Franco Umeh, Joel Ward.
LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1)
Alisson – 7
Did not have a save to make until the second minute of first-half stoppage time when he got down well to deny Sarr.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6.5
Made some incisive runs inside wing back Mitchell when Salah stayed wide and nearly got on the scoresheet with a long-range effort on 29 minutes, which was well saved by Henderson.
Ibrahima Konate – 7.5
Growing as a real commanding presence in Liverpool’s back line. Penny for the thoughts of Jarell Quansah, who started the first game of the season but has barely had a sniff since. Made several decisive clearances as Liverpool were under pressure at the end.
Virgil van Dijk – 6.5
Led his team’s attacks with punchy passes through the lines and also sprayed it wide to Salah with diagonals. Did not have much to do defensively.
No 56 Vitezslav Jaros made his Liverpool debut off the bench after Alisson went off injured
Virgil van Dijk (left) and Ibrahima Konate (right) both played the full 90 minutes for Liverpool
Liverpool captain Van Dijk pictured celebrating his team’s victory following the final whistle
Kostas Tsimikas – 7 (Booked)
Beautiful disguised pass to set Gakpo free for Jota’s early goal. Offers something different to Andy Robertson and the Greek full back is clearly liked by Liverpool’s new coaches.
Curtis Jones – 6.5
A first Premier League start of the season for Jones, who came into the campaign with a small injury. Got on the ball in some dangerous areas and was an energetic presence off it.
Ryan Gravenberch – 7
Making a case to be Liverpool’s player of the season so far. Although today was a bit quieter than Wednesday’s win over Bologna, Gravenberch still played well. Highlight was a one-two with Salah before he nearly set up Jota for a second.
Mohamed Salah – 6.5
Caused Palace problems all afternoon. Had a big chance to score on 56 minutes as he took the ball in his stride and tried to poke past Henderson only to see his shot well saved.
Alexis Mac Allister – 6 (Booked)
A quieter afternoon for Mac Allister but did not put a foot wrong. Retains an element of calmness in Liverpool’s midfield. Taken off at half-time, though.
Dutch midfielder Ryan Gravenberch is making a case to be Liverpool’s player of the season
Curtis Jones (left) and Alexis Mac Allister pictured having a discussion during the first half
Salah (left) touched the ball 33 times before he was taken off by manager Arne Slot (right)
Cody Gakpo – 7 (Booked)
Took his chance in the starting XI – as he did against Milan in the San Siro and in the Carabao Cup against West Ham. Beautiful assist for Jota’s goal and Gakpo also tracked back well.
Diogo Jota – 7.5 (MOTM)
A tidy strike to open the scoring after a lovely run off the ball then clinical finish. But he could have easily ended up with a hat-trick, miscuing one shot in the first half then failing to connect with a header just after the hour mark.
Substitutes
Dominik Szoboszlai (for Mac Allister, 46) – 6
Luis Diaz (for Salah, 72) – 6
Vitezslav Jaros (for Alisson, 79)
Andy Robertson (for Tsimikas, 79)
Wataru Endo (for Jones, 88)
Not used: Joe Gomez, Darwin Nunez, Jarell Quansah, Conor Bradley.
