Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to four points with a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace, thanks to Diogo Jota’s decisive goal on Saturday. Despite the win, Liverpool manager Arne Slot expressed frustration as his team invited late pressure from the winless Eagles.
Slot, who has now won nine of his first 10 games since succeeding Jurgen Klopp, noted, “We should have finished it off with such a dominant performance. If you score the second, you break them mentally, but at 1-0, the fans kept believing in a result.”
The victory came at a cost for Liverpool, as goalkeeper Alisson Becker limped off late in the game, raising concerns about his availability for upcoming crucial fixtures. Liverpool will face a tougher run of games after the international break, including matches against Chelsea, Arsenal, Aston Villa, and Manchester City.
Slot acknowledged the challenges ahead, saying, “It’s very good we’ve won these games, but now we need to prove ourselves in the big games. Unfortunately, Ali will likely not be with us if I saw the way he walked off the pitch.”
Despite missing chances to extend their lead in the first half, Liverpool held on for a fifth clean sheet in seven league games. Meanwhile, the defeat leaves Crystal Palace struggling near the bottom of the table with just three points from seven matches.