Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League with a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Diogo Jota’s ninth-minute goal saw the Merseyside club move four points clear of second-place Manchester City, which beat Fulham 3-2.

But it wasn’t all good news for Liverpool manager Arne Slot after goalkeeper Alisson sustained an injury and was substituted in the second half. Alisson, who has only recently returned from a muscle injury, was holding the back of his right leg after limping off the field at Selhurst Park.

Jota stabbed a shot past Palace keeper Dean Henderson from close range from Cody Gakpo’s cross fromthe left.

It was Liverpool’s ninth win from 10 games in all competitions under Slot since he replaced Jurgen Klopp at Anfield in the offseason. The Dutchman has had the best beginning for any boss in the club’s history.

Slot allowed himself a smile at his record-breaking start to life at Liverpool, but insisted it was far too early to draw conclusions about his tenure. Asked about his record start, Slot told reporters it was satisfying “and it’s also quite special if you know – and you know – how many great managers Liverpool had”.

He added: “I also said last week that I hope they don’t only remember me in one, two, three, four, five years only for this. We are hoping to do more special things than this and it also says the luck I had that I inherited a very good squad.”

Saturday’s slightly nervy victory ensured the Reds go into the international break top of the Premier League.

Liverpool’s early fixture list has been relatively kind, though they face sterner tests after the break with Chelsea at home followed by trips to RB Leipzig and Arsenal.

They will likely have to manage without Alisson, whom Slot hailed as “the best goalkeeper in the world”.

Slot told reporters: “If a player walks off like he does that normally means that he’s not in the Brazil squad and I don’t expect him to be in the team in the first game we play afterwards, but we have to wait and see.”

Saka shines

Arsenal bounced back from conceding a goal to lowly Southampton to win 3-1 after a pulsating second half at the Emirates Stadium withwinger Bukayo Saka beinginstrumental in the Gunners’ victory.

After a dull first half, the visiting Saints, who came into the game in the 19th place in the league with a single point to their name, took a surprising lead through Cameron Archer in the 55th minute. But it was short-lived as Saka teed up Kai Havertz to equalise less than four minutes later.

Substitute Gabriel Martinelli gave Arsenal the lead in the 69th minute with a brilliant first-time finish from close range after Saka picked him out at the back post with a superb cross, and Saka got on the scoresheet himself in the 88th minute to put the game out of reach.

The win means Arsenal head into the international break in third spot in the table.

City prevail

Mateo Kovacic scored on either side of the halftime to fire Manchester City to an entertaining 3-2 victory over Fulham at a sun-drenched Etihad Stadium, as the hosts kept their grip on second place in the league standings.

Pep Guardiola’s men have 17 points after seven games, a point behind leaders Liverpool, while Marco Silva’s Fulham are sixth with 11 points.

While City dominated possession early on, Fulham grew into the game and were first on the scoresheet when Andreas Pereira stabbed it home in the 26th minute after a crafty back heel from Mexican Raul Jimenez.

City equalised six minutes later when Fulham struggled to clear a corner and the ball fell to Kovacic, who took one touch before firing it in. The midfielder grabbed his second in the 47th minute when he latched onto a pass from Jack Grealish and rifled home another terrific finish from the edge of the area.

Jeremy Doku gave City a two-goal lead in the 82nd minute with a rocket into the top corner for the Belgian’s first goal of the season. Rodrigo Muniz pulled one back for the visitors in the 88th minute but City held on to win.