A James Milner pently and late Sadio Mane strike gave Liverpool a hard-fought 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, who had Aaron Wan-Bissaka sent off.
Milner slotted home from the spot just before the interval after Mohamed Salah was brought down by Mamadou Sakho, and Mane grabbed a late second on the break as ten-man Palace pushed for an equaliser.
Wan-Bissaka, who had another excellent game, was sent off with 15 minutes left to play for desperately felling Salah as the last man.
It was a good early test for Liverpool's Premier League title ambitions at a lively Selhurst Park against a decent Crystal Palace side who did enough to suggest they won't be involved in any kind of relegation scrap this time around.
Jurgen Klopp's side dominated possession for most of the game but were caused some problems by the pace of Palace on the break, and the clean sheet will delight the Reds manager every bit as much as the two goals at the other end.
Palace unhappy with Salah penalty
Palace were defending for most of the first half, but the hosts had almost taken the lead in the 24th minute when Andros Townsend curled against the crossbar with a shot from midfield.
It was Liverpool who deservedly went in 1-0 in front through from a penalty that Palace will feel was on the soft side.
Sakho, who was stretching and off balance, and was penalised for the clumsy challenge on Salah, when the Egyptian went to ground in the area under minimal contact.
Palace fought well in search of an equaliser but suffered a telling blow with 15 minutes remaining when young full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka was sent off for bringing down Salah on the edge of the box when the forward was through on goal.
Liverpool clinched the match from a similar counter-attack in stoppage time when Salah sent Sadio Mane racing clear and he kept his feet under Patrick van Aanholt's challenge and rounded keeper Wayne Hennessey to make it 2-0.
That was how it finished to make it back-to-back wins for Liverpool to start the season.
Crystal Palace v Liverpool Opta stats
- Liverpool won their 34th Premier League game played on a Monday – only Man Utd (43) and Arsenal (36) have more victories.
- Liverpool have lost only one of their last 10 Premier League games, winning six and drawing three.
- Crystal Palace have won just two of their previous 20 Premier League games played against ‘big six’ sides at Selhurst Park (D2 L16).
- Roy Hodgson suffered his 100th defeat in the Premier League as a manager (W87 D65 L100).
- Aaron Wan-Bissaka is the youngest Crystal Palace player to be shown a red card in the Premier League (20 years, 267 days).
- Sadio Mané has scored six goals in his eight Premier League appearances against Crystal Palace, more than he has against any other side.
- James Milner extended his current record for the most Premier League games scored in without losing any of them (48 Games: W38 D10 L0).
- James Milner has scored 13 of the 15 penalties that he has taken in the Premier League, including 9 of his 10 for Liverpool in the competition. Milner is the first player to score eight consecutive Premier League goals from penalties.