Liverpool retain their grip on top spot in the Premier League after Diogo Jota’s strike earned Arne Slot’s side a narrow 1-0 win over Crystal Palace… but victory is soured by Alisson’s injury

Win at all costs. But at what price? Liverpool maintained their place at the top of the Premier League here with a hard-fought win over Crystal Palace.

But the sight of their brilliant goalkeeper Alisson Becker limping off with a suspected hamstring injury took the shine off what was ultimately a successful trip to the Big Smoke.

The severity of the ailment will become clear and with their international breakthrough just around the corner, Liverpool have time to play along.

But if the haunted look on the Brazilian’s face was anything to go by, Liverpool boss Arne Slot should fear the worst, especially with games against Chelsea and Arsenal looming.

Still, a win is a win, and Liverpool have discovered the knack of adding up the wins.

Alisson suffered a hamstring injury late in the second half and had to be taken off

Jota scored the only goal of the match when he slotted past Henderson in the ninth minute

The Portuguese striker’s strike in the first half helped Liverpool to their sixth league victory

But due to the home deflection against Nottingham Forest, the Reds have recorded nine wins in Slot’s 10 games in charge so far.

They enter the second set of international matches of the season as the team to topple.

Is Liverpool’s title chase real? The evidence suggests so, although we may be better served to reserve judgment until after the tests against London’s elite.

But while the Merseysiders can’t stop winning, their opponents are at the opposite end of the spectrum.

Zero is winning the Premier League for Palace this season. The optimism of their breathtaking end to last season is a distant memory.

If Oliver Glasner can’t stop this slide, it’s going to be a bleak winter for the Eagles.

Palace has no complaints here either. In reality, they didn’t do a good job of keeping the deficit at one.

A first half almost entirely dominated by Liverpool ironically started with the ball in the back of Alisson’s net just 24 seconds into the game.

Eagles boss Glasner is under pressure as his side’s winless run into the campaign continues

Eddie Nketiah’s deft finish over the Anfield keeper from Ismaila Sarr’s pass was excellent. However, his point was slightly mistimed, with the goal correctly disallowed for offside.

The combination would have encouraged Glasner, who handed Sarr his first Palace start since arriving from Marseille in the summer and, after dropping Jean-Philippe Mateta, brought in Nketiah. His preferred central striker position, which has been used in a deeper role since his £30m arrival from Arsenal.

But Palace’s early optimism was short-lived. Not only did they have to deal with an early injury to key defender Daniel Munoz, who was replaced by Nathaniel Clyne in the 17th minute, but, more importantly, with Liverpool quickly shifting into gear.

Slot’s men scored their winner in the ninth minute; Diogo Jota narrowly edged Trevoh Chalobah on his debut after recovering from an injury that has hampered his progress since joining from Chelsea, tapping in Cody Gakpo’s low cross.

But while Jota accepted the adulation for his fourth of the season, the Portuguese is indebted to Kostas Tsimikas, whose incisive pass opened a gap in Palace’s defense, allowing Gakpo to put the ball on the board for the goalscorer.

The Greek left-back’s contribution provided some justification for Slot’s team selection as the Dutchman rotated and made four changes from the team that defeated Bologna in the Champions League on Wednesday night; Tsimikas in place of Andy Robertson, one of the Liverpool boss’ changes.

Not that it looked like the visitors were in any way underpowered as they flicked the ball around effortlessly and chased Palace for shadows.

Tsimikas played a key role in the build-up to Jota’s match-winning goal in the first half

Gakpo fired over the bar in the 28th minute before Dean Henderson produced a good save to deny Trent Alexander-Arnold’s sweetly struck half-volley moments later.

Jota then missed a brilliant chance to double the lead and his afternoon score in the 34th minute, failing to make a decent purchase on Ryan Gravenberch’s cuts after the Dutchman – along with Mohamed Salah – crossed the left side of Palace in tatters.

Virgil van Dijk might as well have had an orchestra baton in his hand, given the way he directed his side from centre-back.

Gravenberch impressed again, while Curtis Jones’ energy in central midfield caused Palace problems.

The only negative for Slot was that his team was not at home and was hosed down. The fact that Alisson did everything he could to deny Sarr two minutes into first-half stoppage time would have served as a cautionary tale for Liverpool’s head coach.

Liverpool’s win ensured they would remain in first place going into the international break

Once again, Glasner is said to have been concerned about Palace’s lack of control in midfield. After leaving Daichi Kamada on the bench in place of veteran Premier League campaigner Jefferson Lerma in the summer, the Austrian coach had hoped for more.

It is a problem that Glasner must also find a solution for quickly. The fact that Adam Wharton, who was substituted in the 60th minute, is asked to continue playing with a groin injury does not help.

But with Palace winless in the Premier League after seven games, Glasner needs an answer.

The fact that Slot was able to replace Alexis Mac Allister at half-time with Dominic Szoboszlai in the heart of Liverpool will not have made his counterpart feel any better about his own engine room conundrums.

Glasner threw on Mateta and Will Hughes on the hour mark hoping to change the course of proceedings before Jota missed another Guild chance in the 62nd minute, horribly mistimeing his free header from Alexander-Arnold’s stunning free-kick .

Glasner is in desperate need of answers to kick-start Palace’s season after the loss to Liverpool

Nketiah and Eberechi Eze both tested Alisson as Liverpool suddenly lost control.

Credit to Glasner, the introduction of Hughes and Mateta led to the most encouraging period of the match for his side.

The home support, which was largely subdued, responded in kind. This is exactly what Slot would have worried about.

The sight of Alisson slumping to the ground clutching his right hamstring will not have allayed Liverpool’s concerns. Their number 1 eventually replaced Vitezslav Jaros, who was making his Liverpool debut.

And the Czech rookie was eternally grateful that Eze in particular put his lines in front of the goal in the 84th minute, before the VAR denied the home team a penalty. Palace claimed Van Dijk’s challenge on Marc Guehi warranted a penalty.

But on reflection, Palace did not deserve the equalizer. Liverpool felt comfortable here without setting the world on fire. Alisson, however, less so.