The lowdown on Crystal Palace 0 Liverpool 1 – Eagles continue winless Premier League start as Munoz’s injury is cause for concern heading into international break

Oliver Glasner’s wait for a Premier League win in the 2024-25 season continued on Saturday afternoon as his Crystal Palace side suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Liverpool in the early kick off.

Diogo Jota’s ninth-minute strike was the difference as the Eagles recorded their worst start to a Premier League campaign since the beginning of the 2017-18 season under Frank de Boer and Roy Hodgson.

Here is Edmund Brack’s lowdown from Selhurst Park:

THE LINE-UPS

Palace: Henderson, Munoz [Clyne 16], Chalobah [Kamada 88], Lacroix, Guehi, Mitchell [Mateta], Wharton [Hughes], Lerma, Eze, Sarr, Nketiah.

Subs not used: Turner, Ward, Schlupp, Umeh, Kporha.

Liverpool: Alisson [Jaros 77], Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas [Robertson 77]; Gravenberch, Mac Allister [Szoboszlai 45], Jones [Endo 88]; Salah [Diaz 71], Jota, Gakpo.

Subs not used: Nunez, Quansah, Bradley.

SNAPSHOT OF THE GAME

The Eagles had the ball in the back of the net after 30 seconds when Eddie Nketiah finished off Ismaila Sarr’s low cross. However, the former Arsenal striker, who was leading the line for the first time, was offside.

Trevoh Chalobah was making his first start since joining from Chelsea and the defender was beaten to a cross from Cody Gakpo in the ninth minute, which allowed Diogo Jota to put the Reds ahead.

Liverpool stayed in control of the game until Jean-Philippe Mateta and Will Hughes were introduced in the 59th minute for Tyrick Mitchell and Adam Wharton.

Mateta’s presence gave Palace an outlet at the top end of the pitch and he instantly created two chances for Eze and Nketiah.

The best chance came in the 84th minute when Mateta played through Eze, who shot straight at Liverpool substitute stopper Vitezslav Jaros.

Despite Palace’s second half being much better than the first 45, they stayed winless at the start of the 2024-25 Premier League season.

TACTICAL APPROACH

Oliver Glasner decided to change Palace’s attacking force, with Jean-Philippe Metata dropping out in place of Ismaila Sarr.

This meant Lewisham-born Nketiah was playing through the middle, with Sarr and Eberechi Eze in support.

Chalobah played on the right side of a three-man defence, with Jefferson Lerma moving into the middle to support Adam Wharton.

Glasner tweaked the system in the 59th minute following the introduction of Mateta. Sarr moved to right wing-back, with Clyne switching to the left after Mitchell was subbed off.

BEST MOMENT

The double substitution on the hour mark. Taking Tyrick Mitchell and Adam Wharton off for Jean-Philippe Mateta and Will Hughes completely changed the game for Palace.

Left wing-back Mitchell was struggling to get his crossing game to impact Palace’s fortunes of getting back into the contest and Wharton is clearly not at the level which earned him a spot in Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 England squad.

The midfielder gave away possession in the first half on a handful of occasions and was struggling up against Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones.

Will Hughes’ substitution in the 59th minute brought a bit of bite and drive to the middle of the pitch. He immediately won the ball back for Mateta to set up Nketiah, who saw his shot saved by Alisson Becker.

Hughes then drove forward with the ball in the 68th minute to set up another chance between Mateta and Eze.

The former Watford man created Palace’s best chance in the 84th minute, winning the ball back in his own half and setting away Mateta. The French striker found Eze, who wasted the opportunity by shooting straight at substitute goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros.

STAR MAN

Trevoh Chalobah. Despite being at fault for the early goal – not stepping up and allowing Diogo Jota to get ahead to score Gakpo’s cross – the Chelsea loanee was flawless after.

A TALKING POINT DOWN THE PUB

Mateta has to start. Despite getting up to speed with Premier League life again after a hectic summer of carrying France to an Olympic Silver medal, Mateta’s introduction showed just how much he sets the tone for Palace’s attacking play.

Nketiah is a shrewd striker inside the box and can link the play well, but former Mainz forward Mateta presses from the front and looks to force the opposition defence into mistakes.

Mateta was Palace’s focal point as they searched for an equaliser. He created three big chances for the Eagles to get back into the game, playing through Eze twice and Nketiah.

WHAT THE BOSS HAD TO SAY

“We have to and we will build on the performance in the second half,” said Glasner.

“We had a great start in the first half with the offside goal, but then we could see the quality of Liverpool – how quick they play and how they move.

“This is why they’re maybe the best team in England. We struggled and they deserved the lead.

“But the reaction and how we played in the second half encouraged all of us. We created chances and we had enough chances to score.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD