Liverpool continued their impressive start to the season by securing a sixth successive victory in all competitions with victory at Crystal Palace – but it came at a cost as goalkeeper Alisson went off with an injury.
The early Premier League pacesetters took the three points thanks to Diogo Jota’s first-half strike as the Portugal forward capitalised on some poor defending to turn in Cody Gakpo’s cross.
But as they closed in on the three points Alisson appeared to suffer a hamstring injury when making a clearance and was replaced by Vitezslav Jaros for the final 10 minutes, with the Czech goalkeeper making his debut.
Liverpool have lost just once in the Premier League so far but Crystal Palace are winless, with this their fourth defeat in seven games.
They had an early Eddie Nketiah strike disallowed for offside, while Ismaila Sarr forced a good save out of Alisson just before the break.
Liverpool’s inability to find a second meant that Palace – having been a distant second best for large periods – were always in with a chance of taking something.
Alisson was twice called upon in the second half to make saves, first keeping out Nketiah’s shot after the visitors had been caught in possession, and then denying Eberechi Eze.
While the late change in goal was a blow for Liverpool, Palace were unable to truly test Jaros before the final whistle, with Eze firing straight at the goalkeeper after a good break.
The win meant Liverpool moved four points clear at the top of the table before the 15:00 BST games got under way. Palace, meanwhile, remain in the bottom three with three points from seven games.