Liverpool head into the international break top of the Premier League after beating Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
But the Reds’ 1-0 victory came at a cost as goalkeeper Alisson was forced off with a suspected hamstring injury and is now set for a spell on the sidelines.
Diogo Jota’s first-half finish was enough to secure Liverpool’s sixth successive victory in all competitions.
Arne Slot also became the first Liverpool manager to win as many as nine of his first 10 games, with the Dutchman’s only setback to date being the home defeat to Nottingham Forest.
Diogo Jota. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Palace could have been dead and buried by half-time as the visitors dominated.
But the Eagles had an Eddie Nketiah strike disallowed for offside and might have had a penalty when Virgil van Dijk held Marc Guehi’s arm in the box.
“The ball was going to the goalkeeper, [Guehi] would have never got it … for me it’s not a penalty as he will never get the ball,” Slot said.
“In general, I don’t think Palace fans can be unhappy with the referee today because I think it took us 55 minutes before we got our first free kick. It was 15 [fouls against] us and two for them and we had 78% ball possession.”
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Former Liverpool star Joe Cole was adamant Palace were hard done by.
“As Chalobah hits it into the ground that could quite easily have dropped to him. He has grabbed him by the arm and held him back,” he said on TNT Sports.
“I like players reactions. Marc Guehi is not one to claim for something, but he really felt it was a penalty. That tells me it was a nailed-on penalty. I think they have got away with one there.”
The Premier League Match Centre posted on social media to clarify: “The referee’s call of no penalty for the challenge by van Dijk on Guehi is checked and confirmed by VAR – deeming that the challenge was not sustained holding and had no impact on the play.”
Slot does not expect Alisson to be fit for their next EPL game at home to Chelsea on October 20.
“It’s going to take a few weeks, I assume. I think it is his hamstring. Alisson is our clear number one and is the best goalkeeper in the world.
Manchester City and Arsenal trail Liverpool by one point after respective home wins over Fulham and Southampton.
City extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 30 games as Mateo Kovacic scored twice in a 3-2 victory.
Former Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira put Fulham ahead from close range after 26 minutes.
But Kovacic equalised within six minutes through a deflected effort and struck again soon after the restart.
Jeremy Doku gave City breathing space with a fantastic strike to ensure substitute Rodrigo Muniz’s late effort for Fulham was no more than a consolation.
Arsenal also came from behind to beat Southampton 3-1 after Cameron Archer had given the winless Saints a 55th-minute lead.
Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli struck in 10 second-half minutes to turn things around and Bukayo Saka sealed matters two minutes from time.
Brentford beat Wolves 5-3 in a thriller after the Bees again showed their liking for early goals with Nathan Collins heading them into a second-minute lead.
Wolves quickly levelled through Matheus Cunha and, after Bryan Mbeumo’s penalty made it 2-1, Jorgen Strand Larsen poked home another equaliser for the visitors.
Christian Norgaard and Ethan Pinnock gave Brentford breathing space in the first half and Fabio Carvalho added a fifth late on before Rayan Ait-Nouri’s stoppage-time consolation.
West Ham thumped Ipswich 4-1 to ease the the pressure on Julen Lopetegui, who has endured an indifferent start since replacing David Moyes as manager.
Michail Antonio opened the scoring inside the first minute but winless Ipswich were quickly level through Liam Delap’s fourth goal of the season.
The Hammers were not to be denied though and goals from Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta secured their first home win of the season.
Leicester saw off Bournemouth 1-0 at the King Power Stadium for their maiden win of the Premier League campaign.
Argentinian teenager Facundo Buonanotte was the match-winner, sweeping home James Justin’s pass after 16 minutes.
Everton and Newcastle drew 0-0 in the late kick-off at Goodison Park.
Former Everton forward Anthony Gordon had the chance to score against his former club from the penalty spot in the first half after James Tarkowski dragged Sandro Tonali to the floor.
But Gordon was denied by his former team-mate and England colleague Jordan Pickford, who dived to his left to make a fine save.
The Roarhttps://www.theroar.com.au/2024/10/06/injury-sours-liverpools-win-to-seal-top-spot-but-did-they-get-lucky-with-penalty-call/‘They’ve got away with one there’: Did Liverpool get lucky with penalty call as injury sours win to seal top spot
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