Report: Liverpool survive late Palace fight-back

Palace were narrowly beaten by league leaders Liverpool at Selhurst Park as Diogo Jota’s early goal was enough for all three points, despite intense late pressure from Oliver Glasner’s side.

Palace were mere inches from the perfect start, flying forwards from kick-off as Adam Wharton found Ismailia Sarr, who crossed for Eddie Nketiah to flick over the onrushing Alisson and into the back of the net inside 30 seconds – but the flag was up for offside.

The Eagles continued to apply the pressure in the opening exchanges, with Muñoz able to chest the ball down in the penalty area and round Tsimikas, before Virgil Van Dijk blocked his cutback towards the red and blue shirts queueing up to smash home.

Liverpool showed why they are the Premier League’s in-form side with their response to the early Palace dominance, and took the lead with their first real foray forwards. It happened in a flash: an incisive pass driven into the path of Cody Gakpo in the left channel, who had the space to cross first time into the six-yard box, where Diogo Jota was on hand to stab home.

Palace were unfortunate to lose Muñoz after just 17 minutes through injury, with Nathaniel Clyne coming to replace him on the right of the back five.

Liverpool could have doubled their advantage in almost the same fashion, with Jota unable to turn home from the same distance he had scored from not long ago.

This time, Gravenberch got in behind and drilled across to where Jota was waiting; all he had to do was sweep home from right in front of goal, but he instead mishit the ball spectacularly, and it tricked out towards the touchline rather than nestling in the back of the net.

Despite Liverpool’s domination, with just one goal in the game it remained a tense affair, and the visitors were almost made to pay for their profligacy just before half-time, as Sarr’s low, driven effort forced Alisson into a spectacular save, dropping down and thrusting out a strong right hand.

At the start of the second-half it was Henderson who was called into action, rushing out to close the angle after Van Dijk’s delightful little chip into Mohamed Salah, preventing the Egyptian from poking home from close range.

Jota – who by now could have had a hat-trick – was picked out in behind by Alexander-Arnold’s curling free-kick delivery, but headed wide from six yards out despite being completely unmarked and onside.

Palace created their own chances, with the newly introduced Will Hughes and Jean-Philippe Mateta combining to win the ball back high upfield and feed Nketiah, who forced Alisson into a smart save.

Hughes transformed the Eagles’ intensity, and drove forwards from midfield once again. This time it was worked to Ebere Eze, whose deflected effort was flicked over the top by Alisson. From the resulting corner, the ‘keeper was forced to intervene once again, getting a firm first to the ball as it came loose in the six yard box.

Alisson had to withdraw through injury with 10 minutes remaining, however, setting up a grandstand finale. Hughes was the first to try his luck from distance, volleying narrowly wide.

Mateta slid through for Eze with five minutes remaining, racing onto the ball on the edge of the penalty area after a rapid counter attack but firing tamely into the arms of Jaros.

For all Palace’s second-half effort, the Liverpool defence held firm and Arne Slot’s side could come away with all three points. For the Eagles, a trip to Nottingham Forest awaits after the international break.

Palace: Henderson (GK), Muñoz (Clyne, 17), Lacroix, Guéhi, Chalobah (Kamada, 88), Mitchell (Mateta, 60), Lerma, Wharton (Hughes, 60), Sarr, Eze, Nketiah.

Subs not used: Turner (GK), Ward, Kporha, Schlupp, , Umeh.

Liverpool: Alisson (GK), (Jaros, 79) Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Konate, Tsimikas (Robertson, 79), Gravenberch, Jones (Endo, 88), Mac Allister (Szoboszlai, HT), Gakpo, Jota, Salah (Diaz, 72).

Subs not used: Gomez, Quansah, Bradley, Nunez.