Sadio Mané became the first player to score in nine consecutive Premier League appearances against one opponent, to help guide Liverpool to a scintillating 3-0 victory with the imperious Mohamed Salah and substitute Naby Keïta also getting on the scoresheet.
Crystal Palace were playing their first league match this season outside of London and the visitors started the game superbly. With just three minutes played, the ‘Eagles’ had their first chance of the encounter when Wilfried Zaha lifted the ball over Alisson Becker who was caught out of position, but the Brazilian recovered brilliantly to claw the ball onto the post. Jordan Henderson scored the vital winner against AC Milan midweek, and the Liverpool captain nearly scored again, after making a sweet connection with Mané’s floated cross but Vicente Guaita smartly saved to keep the contest level.
Diogo Jota then missed a gilt-edged opportunity, blazing over from just inside the six-yard box, but Mané ensured the hosts went into half-time with a precious lead. The Senegalese international reacted quickest to a Guaita parry, and calmly dispatched the ball into the net from close range to collect his 100th Liverpool goal.
In the second period, Liverpool looked to extend their lead, and Guaita was forced into action once again, making an important double save, first denying Mané and then Salah’s close-range attempt. Despite, Crystal Palace's best efforts, Liverpool did inevitably make it 2-0, when the ball fell to Salah from a corner, the Egyptian powerfully volleying the ball into the net. Naby Keïta wrapped up the superb win, with a thunderous volley to make it three.
Courtesy of the impressive victory, Liverpool go top of the Premier League and have now gone 15 league games without defeat - the longest current unbeaten run in the top four divisions in England. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace will now turn their attention to what promises to be a hostile encounter against rivals Brighton & Hove Albion next time out.
