Crystal Palace
vs
Liverpool
Selhurst Park
14th February, 17:30 GMT
Liverpool travel to Selhurst Park in the 5th Round of the FA Cup a completely different side since their last visit to South London. The Reds lost their 4th consecutive game in all competitions that day getting outplayed 3-1, but have turned things around completely with their season back on track. They face a rejuvenated Crystal Palace who have excelled under new manager Alan Pardew since he took over a little over one month ago.
Crystal Palace
Palace have had a fine start to life under their new manager losing just once in their seven games since Pardew took over. They have risen to 13th in the table having flirted with the relegation zone and are now five points clear. Palace overcame Southampton at the St. Mary’s in the previous round with Yaya Sanogo and a Marouane Chamakh brace providing the goals in a 3-2 win, and they will be looking to claim the scalp of another team fighting for the top four in the Premier League this season.
Fraizer Campbell and Yannick Bolasie are set to be handed starts against Liverpool after playing a hand in the 1-1 draw against Newcastle.
Yaya Sanogo, Lee Chung-yong and Scott Dann are all serious doubts, while Shola Ameobi will be unavailable along with Jerome Thomas and Mile Jedinak.
Wayne Hennessey is the keeper who comes in for the cup competitions and it remains to be seen whether the first choice keeper Julian Speroni who played well in the 3-1 league win over Liverpool starts or not.
Probable starting line-up: 4-3-3 Hennessey; Ward, Hangeland, Delaney, Kelly; Puncheon, McArthur, Ledley; Bolasie; Chamakh, Campbell
Liverpool
Liverpool are on the back of a fine run with Tuesday’s 3-2 win over Spurs boosting their chances of a Champions League place for next season.
They will be without Steven Gerrard who suffered a muscle strain in that game and had to be replaced mid way through the second half. The captain will be hoping his side continues to keep his dream of reaching the FA Cup final on his 35th birthday which will be his last game for the Reds if they reach Wembley at the end of May.
England’s most prestigious cup competition also represents Liverpool’s best hope of winning a trophy this season, although they are in the Round of 32 of the Europa League.
Daniel Sturridge was handed his first start in five months against Spurs though it is unlikely that he will start again. Dejan Lovren was brought into defence as Emre Can moved up into midfield, and that is how Liverpool should line-up on Saturday.
John Flanagan, Brad Jones, Lucas Leiva through injury, and the ineligible Jordon Ibe are the players that will miss out. Raheem Sterling is a doubt as he is carrying a foot injury.
Probable starting line-up: 3-4-2-1 Mignolet; Lovren, Skrtel, Sakho; Markovic, Can, Henderson, Moreno; Coutinho, Lallana, Balotelli
Stats
Under Alan Pardew, Palace have won five of their seven games losing just once having won just one in 14 games prior to that.
The Reds have fared poorly at Selhurst Park in the past having failed to win any of their last 6 visits to Palace.
Alan Pardew was the manager of West Ham in the last FA Cup final that Liverpool won.
Since their league defeat to Crystal Palace, Liverpool have lost just once in their 13 league games
Prediction
Selhurst Park is not an easy ground to visit and the Reds will have to be at their best to avoid getting knocked out. A score draw seems a likely option.
