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Liverpool's center-backs might want to take note: winning the Premier League can be a perilous business for those at the heart of the defense.
Reds fans will recall the 2020-21 season when, following Jurgen Klopp's side's title triumph the previous campaign, they lost Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Joel Matip to season-ending injuries. But the curse doesn't stop there. The club's last title before that, clinched in 1990, saw Alan Hansen play in the decisive 2-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers, only to never feature for the Reds again due to injury.
And Liverpool were well on their way to lifting the 1987-88 championship when Mark Lawrenson, after an earlier spell on the sidelines, was forced off during a crucial win over Arsenal and had to retire a few months later.
Fast forward to this season. Highly-touted 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni was brought to Anfield to bolster the current squad and lead the next generation of center-backs, only to sustain a season-ending knee injury on his debut in the League Cup victory over Southampton last Tuesday.
The most pressing worry, however, is Ibrahima Konate. After a string of poor performances at the start of the season, the French international seemed to have found his form again. Saturday's match saw Konate, in the first half especially, have a bit of a nightmare, being at fault for handing Crystal Palace two golden opportunities and causing unease within Liverpool's defence.
To be fair, he wasn't the only one having a tough time. However, with ongoing rumors linking Konate to a free transfer to Real Madrid at the end of the season - and contract negotiations seemingly at a standstill - the spotlight is firmly on the 25-year-old.
But there's a broader context to consider when looking at Liverpool's season. It should come as no surprise that the Reds struggled to find the rhythm and momentum needed to overcome a Palace side that is now unbeaten in 18 games.
If consistency - both in team selection and player performance - was key to the flying start of Arne Slot's tenure last season, this season it's the lack of such consistency that's hindering the team's performances from reaching full potential.
This is why the maximum points gained from the first five matches - notably against Newcastle and Arsenal at home - were so vital, regardless of how well Liverpool played.
Slot is well aware of this. He anticipates a few more performances akin to the one at Selhurst Park before the Reds find their rhythm, settling on a preferred formation and line-up. Remember, that was only the fifth loss in 44 Premier League matches under the Dutchman's guidance, two of which occurred after last season's title victory.
However, where there was certainty last season, doubt now lingers. It will take time for Milos Kerkez to fully assume the role of Andy Robertson's long-term successor at left-back, while neither Conor Bradley nor Jeremie Frimpong has yet proven themselves at right-back.
It's understandable that Liverpool is struggling to find a suitable replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold. Mohamed Salah is feeling the impact, having spent much of his Anfield career with the England international supporting him from behind. Meanwhile, Florian Wirtz - the player Slot believes can emulate Alexander-Arnold's creativity but from a different part of the pitch - is still some distance from fully adapting to a new club, league, and country.
Add to this Alexander Isak's fitness catch-up and integration into a restructured attack, now devoid of Luis Diaz's pace and direct running, and it's clear that it's impossible for so many new elements to immediately fall into place.
Hugo Ekitike has been the standout recruit from the summer signings, but even he learned a tough lesson this weekend about the importance of availability, especially when the absence was so foolishly self-inflicted.
With a match against Chelsea on Saturday, followed by a return after the international break with a home game against Manchester United and a challenging trip to Brentford, Liverpool's task remains difficult. The Reds also have to face Manchester City in their upcoming fixtures.
Those who made outrageous claims that the title race was over as recently as last week, with 33 games still to play, are now hastily revising their predictions. Slot, however, will not have been swept up in such hyperbole.
Saturday served as a reminder that this Liverpool side is very much a work in progress and more growing pains should be expected - they are indeed an inevitable result of such squad evolution.
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