Crystal Palace were left red-faced at the start of the new Premier League season after a 3-0 home defeat to newly-promoted Huddersfield.

Joel Ward’s own goal and another two from Steve Mounie dealt the damage, but in truth it could have been more.

Here are five things News Shopper, and Frank de Boer, will have learned from the loss…

Three at the back is not a given

Since Antonio Conte made three at the back the most fashionable formation in the top flight, just about every manager has given it a go.

But with Scott Dann barking out orders to a lost-looking Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Jairo Reidewald, Palace will need time to make their system work.

The young debutants demonstrated they have the speed and passing to succeed alongside an experienced Dann, but Mounie was able to drift in between the defenders unmarked to score twice – and De Boer will need to spend time on the training ground with them.

The lonely target man

Christian Benteke’s strength in the air is unrivalled, as Sam Allardyce proved with Palace’s direct approach in the second half of last season.

But for De Boer, brought up on ‘total football’ in the Netherlands, Benteke will need to do more with his feet.

Palace looked to pass the ball out from the back at every opportunity, but the more attractive brand of football may not have such immediate results – as Benteke was left underused at the top.

Palace need a goalkeeper

Wayne Hennessey was not directly at fault for any of Huddersfield’s three goals, but the stopper struggled to make a confident mark on the game.

While Steve Mandanda failed to earn Palace’s No 1 spot outright, Hennessey flapped at a couple of early crosses and set a nervous tone for the rest of the game.

Hennessey was asked to always pass the ball out from goal kicks, but seems uncomfortable with the ball at his feet and may not be the man for De Boer.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek has potential

The Chelsea loanee showed glimpses of a neat touch and a powerful drive playing behind Benteke in the No 10 role.

The youngster did not dictate the game, but linked up well with Wilfried Zaha at times, and with substitute Andros Townsend in the second half.

With Yohan Cabaye and Jason Puncheon moving into deeper roles in the latter part of their careers, Loftus-Cheek has a big hole to fill.

Zaha will be targeted

The winger was, as usual, Palace’s most dangerous threat, but with De Boer’s shorter-passing game the Huddersfield defence had more time to stick close to him.

While Allardyce’s system allowed Zaha to stretch defences on the break, Zaha was having to pick up the ball from deeper and work his way forward – with a host of markers around him.

Palace looked more effective when Townsend came on, with two flying wingers down each flank.