Crystal Palace in Premier League dreamland as Liverpool frailties exposed

And behind it all is the charismatic Glasner, a transformative figure at Palace and one chairman Steve Parish will be desperate to keep at Selhurst Park.

Palace, with eight wins and 10 draws, are enjoying their joint-longest unbeaten run as a club, also 18 from February to August 1969. Three matches in that unbeaten run have been against Liverpool too.

The Eagles are now the only unbeaten Premier League side, having won three and drawn three of their opening six games.

When they last achieved such a feat in 1990-91, Palace went on to finish third for their highest ever top-flight position.

A delighted Glasner told BBC’s Match of the Day: “We played an amazing first half and had a deserved lead. We deserved the win.

“To overcome the pressure of Liverpool – they deserved an equaliser – but I’m delighted at the reaction of our team.

“We talk about our personality. We always go for the win. Everybody who is close to Crystal Palace got their reward here.

“The players showed so much confidence. We made so many runs, the quality of the passes, runs into the box, it was excellent.

“We will analyse the game and take in all this positivity. You have to enjoy these moments otherwise you have to ask why you are doing it.”

Liverpool have, in some respects, had a day like this coming.

They have traded heavily in late goals this season to win against Bournemouth, Newcastle United, Burnley and Arsenal. It was unsustainable, although they almost did it again through Chiesa’s effort until Nketiah made Liverpool experience their own heartbreak.

For all their seven successive victories in all competitions, this is very much a work in progress with so many acquisitions.

The “stupidity” – Slot’s description – of in-form striker Hugo Ekitike landing himself with a one-match ban – a second yellow card and dismissal for taking his shirt off – after scoring the midweek winner against Southampton in the Carabao Cup, was underlined here.

The Frenchman, who has five goals in seven games, might have made a difference to Liverpool’s attack.

Alexander Isak, the club’s record £125m buy, was handed his first league start but looks a long way from full fitness, drawing the scorn of Palace’s fans with the predictable chants of “what a waste of money” when he was withdrawn after missing a clear chance he had at least created for himself.

Florian Wirtz, a little cheaper at £116m, is also still figuring out how best to fit into a side and system that dominated the league last season. The German was anonymous apart from one chance from six yards which he steered straight into Henderson’s hands.

Liverpool are still in pole position, but the issues that have troubled them finally came home to roost at Selhurst Park.

No such problems, though, for an ecstatic Palace and their supporters.

Can they, as the “Holmesdale Fanatics” suggested, win the Premier League?

It seems highly unlikely, but this thrilling, determined side will offer hope, and provide excitement and more joyous moments throughout this campaign.

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