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LONDON – Liverpool retained its first place at Crystal Palace (1-0) before the October international break, a sixth victory in seven games which allows it to stay one point ahead of Manchester City and Arsenal, stunning against Fulham ( 3-2) and Southampton (3-1).
The “Reds” did the job at Selhurst Park thanks to an early goal from Diogo Jota (9th, 1-0) and a new cleanout for their defense, the best since the start of the championship with two goals conceded.
However, they lost their goalkeeper Alisson Becker in the second half, visibly the victim of a hamstring relapse. But in the absence of Caoimhin Kelleher, ill, third goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros held the house for his big debut at 23 years old.
Crystal Palace, relegated, were too timid to worry Arne Slot’s team, except at the end of the second half, after the entry of Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Liverpool (1st, 18 points) continues its almost perfect start to the season under the Dutchman’s orders. Jürgen Klopp’s successor will, however, have to negotiate a dizzying series of summits after the break, with Chelsea, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Manchester City among their next six meetings.
“It’s up to us to show ourselves in the big matches,” the former PSV Eindhoven coach projected.
Direct pursuers Liverpool survived a difficult Saturday where they were trailed at home.
Manchester City (2nd, 17 pts) erased the opener from Andreas Pereira (26th, 0-1) with a double from Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic (32nd, 47th), effective understudy for the long-term injured Rodri.
The four-time reigning champions pushed their advantage thanks to Jérémy Doku (82nd, 3-1) then experienced a final scare when Rodrigo Muniz (89th, 3-2) reduced the gap, without consequence.
“We play every three days and every match is difficult. It’s not easy and we have to adapt to the schedule, that’s how it is. We have to be at the top every day,” Kovacic commented to the BBC.
Saka porte Arsenal
For its part, Arsenal (3rd, 17 pts) took time to break through the Southampton defense. It was even the “Saints” who opened the scoring (55th, 0-1) after a ball lost by Raheem Sterling, starting for the first time with the “Gunners” in the Premier League.
The Londoners, without panicking, however managed to overthrow their visitors thanks to Bukayo Saka, still decisive.
The English right winger, while pressing, recovered a ball which he slipped to Kai Havertz (58th, 1-1), sent a perfect cross to the incoming Gabriel Martinelli (68th, 2-1) then scored a last goal (87th, 3-1).
“The team responded incredibly well. We showed a lot of composure, a lot of confidence, a lot of clarity in what we had to do, and the crowd was exceptional,” summed up coach Mikel Arteta.
Chelsea and Aston Villa, fourth and fifth with 13 points each, will try not to lose sight of the podium on Sunday, facing Nottingham Forest and Manchester United respectively.
On Saturday, West Ham outclassed promoted Ipswich 4-1 at the London Stadium, where new coach Julen Lopetegui had never won before.
The second victory for the “Hammers” this season was started after 48 seconds by a goal from Michail Antonio (1st, 1-0). Ipswich came back to level five minutes later, but then collapsed.
Brentford also opened the scoring very quickly in a spectacular match which won 5-3 against Wolverhampton.
The “Bees” didn’t score in the first minute, unlike their previous three games, but they did in the second! “We’re getting slow,” the London club laughed on the platform X after Nathan Collins’ goal, scored 76 seconds after kick-off.
Leicester won 1-0 against Bournemouth, the first victory for a promoted team this season.
