Liverpool retained their first place at Crystal Palace (1-0) before the October international break on Saturday, a sixth victory in seven matches which allows them 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) and a new “clean sheet” from their defense, the best this season with only 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, was too timid to worry Arne Slot’s team, except at the end of the second half, after the entry of French striker 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, including Chelsea, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Manchester City.
“It’s up to us to show ourselves in the big matches,” Slot projected.
Direct pursuers Liverpool survived a difficult Saturday when they were trailing 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 port 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 the team. 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.
They are closely followed in the standings by Newcastle (6th, 12 pts), unable to win on Saturday at Everton (0-0), where Anhony Gordon missed a penalty against Jordan Pickford.
Earlier, 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” did not score in the first minute, unlike in their previous three matches, but they did in the second! “We’re getting slow,” laughed the London club on 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.
