Liverpool

Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool will go into the international break top of the table after Diogo Jota's goal at Crystal Palace kept their hugely impressive start to the season under Arne Slot going.

They have won six of their seven games in the Premier League and, while goals win games, it is their defence that is proving particularly impressive under their new manager.

They have the best defensive record in the top flight so far, conceding just two goals, meaning when they do take the lead it is very hard for the opposition side to get something from the game.

But a crucial part of that impressive defence has been goalkeeper Alisson. He made two big saves in the second half against Crystal Palace to help secure the win, but he suffered an injury while making a clearance, and Slot fears he will be out "for a few weeks".

How they cope without their first-choice goalkeeper will arguably be Liverpool's first big test under Slot.

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Arne Slot is the first Liverpool manager to win nine of his first 10 games in charge of the club (L1), while the Reds have done so to begin a season for the third time after 1961-62 and 1990-91.

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Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, speaking to TNT Sports: "It is hard to come here. The results over the years are tight and close.

"I think obviously we scored a fantastic goal. We could have done better in the second half, but we knew they'd come out with a bit of pressure on the ball.

"It ends our run on a high before the internationals."

On having the best defensive record in the Premier League this season: "We keep going and we keep working. We are never satisfied. We needed Alli [Alisson] twice, but that is what we try to avoid. Everyone is contributing to clean sheets.

"I think there is always expectations towards different teams - whatever the outside world thinks of us we don't really care.

"We want to try challenge, compete, win and be successful."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Palace's performance, external

What did you make of Liverpool’s display?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Follow reaction and read the match report

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

It has been a hectic start to the Premier League season with some clubs making a fast start while others are yet to get going.

But whose boots are made for walking the most so far?

Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa has walked the most after six games, just 0.1 km more than Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.

Interestingly, Haaland and Bournemouth striker Antoine Semenyo walk a lot despite being forwards.

Maybe the reason why Haaland has been able to establish himself as one of the fastest players and why Semenyo has made so many sprints is that they conserve their energy for the biggest moments where they can make the most impact.

Meanwhile, it is not just distance walked that we have tracked.

Wolves’ Matheus Cunha has spent more of his time on the pitch walking than any other player in the Premier League so far.

It is also interesting that both of Tottenham’s centre-backs spend so much of their time walking, given Spurs' high possession, high pressing, style of play.

This might mean Cristiano Romero and Micky van de Ven can conserve energy for when things get a bit chaotic (or they fancy a marauding run)?

This could especially be true for van de Ven who has been the fastest player in the competition so far.

Seven matches make up Saturday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

• Crystal Palace v Liverpool - 12:30

• Arsenal v Southampton

• Brentford v Wolves

• Leicester v Bournemouth

• Man City v Fulham (listen live on BBC Radio 5 Live)

• West Ham v Ipswich

• Everton v Newcastle - 17:30 (listen live on BBC Radio 5 Live)

Kick-off 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

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Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week seven, he takes on Will Champion and Jonny Buckland from Coldplay, whose latest album, Moon Music, came out on Friday.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

I've got a big coin here and I am just tossing it up. That's how hard it is to call this one.

Newcastle produced their best performance of the season against Manchester City last week, but can they back it up here? I am not convinced they will.

Everton will be buoyed after getting their first win, over Crystal Palace. Iliman Ndiaye looks sharp in attack and they have Jarrad Branthwaite back fit in defence, which I think is big.

I really don't know what to expect, so I am going to sit firmly on the fence and go for a draw.

Will and Jonny's prediction: 1-2

Read the rest of their predictions, and have your own say here

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week seven, he takes on Will Champion and Jonny Buckland from Coldplay, whose latest album, Moon Music, came out on Friday.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

It is always a balancing act for clubs in the Champions League and the Premier League, but especially so for Liverpool here, away from home and with the early kick-off.

For Arne Slot's side it is just about getting a win, however they do it, going into the international break.

They got over the line against Bologna on Wednesday without being at their best and, while I expect this to be close, I do see them getting the job done against a Crystal Palace team who are in a bit of bother really.

Along with Wolves, Southampton, Leicester and Ipswich, the Eagles are one of five teams without a league win so far.

Oliver Glasner got some great results when he took charge last season but he has got to be careful - at this rate, Roy Hodgson will be back in charge by Christmas.

Will and Jonny's prediction: Palace have got so much ability going forward, but they are not scoring - they have only managed five goals in their first six games. Liverpool will be too strong. 0-2

Read the rest of their predictions, and have your own say here

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

There can often be a lot of focus on distances covered and sprints made by teams, but how much of a difference does it really make to their success?

When it comes to distance covered by teams it is the 'battle of the B's' with Bournemouth, Brighton and Brentford having covered the most ground in the Premier League so far this season.

At the other end of the scale, bottom side Wolves have run the least so far - 5km fewer than any other side.

Initially, I thought this could be due to how difficult their start has been (i.e. sitting deep and not rushing out against top opponents), but they actually rank mid-table in pressing stats (with no players missing via red cards either).

But, it is worth noting that running a lot does not necessarily equal success.

Nottingham Forest, Fulham, Chelsea and Aston Villa have also been the 'laziest' teams so far yet have started the season well.

It is a similar story when it comes to sprints too - some good teams sprint a lot, some good teams sprint little.

Tottenham have made the most sprints in the Premier League this campaign, followed by fellow high-pressers Liverpool and Bournemouth.

But defending champions Manchester City have made the least – 60 fewer than any other team – and yet they have been pretty good so far too.

Looking at which teams have made the most sprints – Spurs, Liverpool, Chelsea – and which the fewest – City, Arsenal, Villa – it suggests that playing style plays a part in how much a team sprints as well as just work rate.

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Earlier, we asked you for the five players who have scored more than 50 Premier League goals for Everton.

Romelu Lukaku leads the way with 68 Premier League goals for Everton, while Duncan Ferguson, Tim Cahill and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have all passed a half-century for the Toffees.

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Everton Women are set to play back-to-back home fixtures at Goodison Park for the first time in November.

The Blues will play against Chelsea at Goodison on 3 November before hosting the Merseyside Derby against Liverpool two weeks later on 16 November.

Everton were watched on by 9,457 fans when they last played in the stadium in an uneventful 0-0 draw against Liverpool in March.

This is Everton's last season at Goodison Park, with the club set to move into a new 52,888-capacity ground at Bramley-Moore Dock for the start of the 2025-26 campaign.

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Six games down and players are racking up the mileage in the Premier League. But who has been hitting the top marks so far?

Southampton’s Flynn Downes has put in the biggest shift, covering almost five kilometres more distance than any other player in the Premier League so far.

It is also notable too that striker Kai Havertz is working hard for the Arsenal cause as they challenge for the title once again, while Dwight McNeil is backing up his early goalscoring with some serious work rate.

Already the fastest player in Premier League history after clocking 37.8km/h against Brentford last campaign, it is no real surprise to find that Tottenham centre-back Micky van de Ven has been the fastest over the first six games.

However, it is also notable to see Manchester City's ruthless forward Erling Haaland up there too. Speed just one part of the monstrous physicality that gets him so many chances and goals.

Finally, what about the most sprints?

That goes to Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon who has made the most sprints in the Premier League so far this term.

He is 'running' away with it too, having clocked up 13 more than any other player.

Mandeep Sanghera
BBC Sport journalist

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If there is one thing Liverpool boss Arne Slot will not miss during the international break, it's questions about the contracts of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.

The players' deals run out next summer and Slot laughed off being asked about the subject again, giving no indication of any developments.

He also played down his side facing a trip to Crystal Palace in the 12:30 BST kick-off on Saturday, following a Champions League outing on Wednesday night.

Liverpool are top of the Premier League after six games, but Slot knows the fixture list has been on the kinder side so far and, with tougher tests to come, he added that no-one at Anfield will be getting carried away.

"No, we are Liverpool," said the Dutchman. "The players here are used to being top of the table. It would be very weird if a player at Liverpool is with his head in the clouds.

"If we don't play well tomorrow, then people will probably come up with that instead of saying that Palace played well or maybe we did other things wrong.

"These players are experienced enough to understand the league table of six games with the schedule we had, compared to some other teams.

"Also, Virgil, Alisson, Trent, Robbo, Mo - they won the Premier League and Champions League here. So, for them, it is a nice thing, but I'm not expecting them to watch their mobile phones every second of the day to see if they are top of the table."

Liverpool boss Arne Slot believes his side "playing in the best possible way as a team" has enabled the likes of Mohamed Salah and Ryan Gravenberch to showcase their "quality" and "do special things" already this season.

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Everton defender James Tarkowski says he may have struggled to cope with the pressures of playing for the club if he had joined when he was younger.

The 31-year-old has endured relegation battles, points deductions and more since arriving at Goodison Park in 2022.

“I could go on for a few pages worth here [about his time at Everton]," Tarkowski told the official club website, external. "But one thing I will say is I love playing here, I really do.

"It's been the most testing time of my career in terms of issues in and around the football club, and it feels like it's been one after another for a while, but the matchdays are always very special.

"If I was younger I think I would have struggled [with the pressure], because I know that can be difficult. It's really not easy to deal with it and play under it.

"I enjoy the pressure - I want it. I like having the pressure of going out every week and being expected to perform to a certain level. I want that from myself; I expect it from myself.

"You want to thrive under that. The expectations at this football club, rightly, are high. The history of what Everton is there for everyone to see and success is what people expect.

"I am very understanding of how the past few years must have been for people who have followed this club their whole lives. This is probably one of the worst positions the club has been in for a while.

"Hopefully now now we're coming out the other side and we can look forward again."

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has brushed aside any potential issues with his side playing at 12:30 on a Saturday in the Premier League.

The Reds beat Bologna 2-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday and return to league action with a lunchtime trip to Crystal Palace.

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp had a particular disdain for the early game and even went as far as referring to it as a "crime".

"I don't think it has so much to do with the 12:30 kick-off. For me, it is to do with every away game being difficult," Slot said.

"Ten out of 18 away games last season didn't lead to a win, so you can argue if it's 12:30 or if it's just difficult to play an away game."

Liverpool had the most 12:30 kick-offs last season (six) as they finished third in the league.

They had the joint-most amount of early kick-offs in the 2022-23 season (six) along with Manchester City.

Klopp's 63% win percentage in league competition decreased to 49% for matches played in the lunchtime slot.

Under Slot, the Reds are currently top of the league, a point clear of defending champions City.

This weekend's fixture against Crystal Palace is their second early kick-off this campaign after they played at Ipswich in their season opener.

Unlike his predecessor, Slot seems unperturbed by the timing: "If 12:30 is a difficult time to perform then I'm a really stupid manager because we train every day at 12.

"I don't see the idea behind it being that difficult performing at that time."

Having enjoyed a successful start under new boss Arne Slot, Liverpool have a tricky run of fixtures coming up, so just how will they cope?

Former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown tells The Football News Show why he believes they can flourish in the next two months and gives his verdict on some of Slot's reported tweaks to the Reds' match preparations.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer