Crystal Palace 0-1 Liverpool (Jota 9′)
SELHURST PARK — In a largely forgettable match where Liverpool ensured they would head into another international break top of the Premier League, it was a pleasure to simply watch a master at work.
Virgil van Dijk is quietly having a superb start to the season. Quiet, because he isn’t receiving the same level of fanfare as Arsenal duo Gabriel and William Saliba. Quiet, because this is the level we have come to expect from the Dutchman.
This is not a groundbreaking observation, but Van Dijk is just such a commanding presence, forever talking, gesturing, advising and dishing out instructions.
On Saturday, it was mainly Kostas Tsimikas on the receiving end of this, and that only served to benefit the left-back and Liverpool as a whole, as they kept a sixth clean sheet of the season.
It wasn’t routine. Only 1-0 thanks to Diogo Jota’s early goal, the introduction of Jean-Philippe Mateta stretching Liverpool, while the loss of Alisson to injury was a late blow as well.
But both Van Dijk and centre-back partner Ibrahima Konate were crucial in keeping the hosts at bay – and they would have been grateful when Palace’s best chance, late on, was spurned by Eberechi Eze.
That was a tad fortunate for Liverpool, as was perhaps the decision to not penalise Van Dijk for pulling back Marc Guehi inside the area, but that is a – to use a vogue phrase – dark art that many a defender looks to, and often does, get away with.
Should this Virgil Van Dijk pull on Marc Guehi have resulted in a penalty for Crystal Palace?
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It is no coincidence therefore that Liverpool have begun the campaign with the best Premier League record at a time when Van Dijk, now 33, is playing like the pre-ACL Van Dijk.
That was the case for parts of last season, too, as he returned to the PFA Team of the Year for 2023-24, but there remained a defensive frailty within Liverpool as they conceded more chances – and goals – than Manchester City and Arsenal above them.
Now, City and Arsenal are currently lurking below, and while both are expected to eventually overtake Liverpool in the table, that will not happen this weekend, nor will it happen for at least another fortnight.
And with head coach Arne Slot seemingly having resolved their defensive deficiencies, there is every reason to suggest Liverpool can be title contenders.
How long that lasts will depend on how the league’s current best defence fare against sterner opposition, which is on the horizon, with Chelsea and their attacking riches visiting Anfield on 20 October before Liverpool head to Arsenal a week later.
It will also depend on whether this squad can stay away from the physio room.
Liverpool had the luxury of rotating in Tsimikas, Cody Gakpo and Curtis Jones against Crystal Palace, but their bench is undoubtedly a level below Arsenal’s or City’s – while Alisson limping off against Palace with 15 minutes remaining was not a good sign.
The goalkeeper appeared to suffer a hamstring injury, and on came Vitezslav Jaros, the 23-year-old Liverpool academy graduate who was thrown in at the deep end for his Premier League debut after four seasons away on loan.
Jaros’ stint in goal may be short-lived with usual No 2 Caoimhin Kelleher only missing against Palace due to illness, but either way, managing the potential absence of Alisson looks to be Slot’s first real challenge at Liverpool.
Slot can though at least rely on the experience of his captain to preach calm in that regard, and for the good of this campaign and beyond, sorting this contract extension – Van Dijk, like Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold is into his final year – should be Liverpool’s top priority of the three.
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