Liverpool will aim to temporarily take over the top spot in the Premier League when they take on Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Crystal Palace are winless in their last four league matches, and they have picked up just one win from their last six Premier League outings ahead of their meeting with Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are in impressive form right now, and they are second in the league table. A win here could send them to the top of the table if the other results go their way. The away side are currently unbeaten in their last six league matches, and they will be the favourites heading into this game.
Liverpool have done well against Crystal Palace in recent seasons, and will fancy their chances of extending their fine run of form with a win here. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News and Tactics
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace will be without the services of key players like Eberechi Eze and Cheick Doucoure due to their respective injuries. In addition, Dean Henderson and Rob Holding are sidelined as well.
The home side are likely to shape up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Sam Johnstone in goal. Joel Ward and Tyrick Mitchell will be deployed as the full-backs, and the two players will look to help out in the attack and protect the central defenders. Joachim Andersen and Marc Guéhi will pair up in the heart of the defence.
In the middle of the park, Chris Richards will start alongside Jefferson Lerma. Michael Olise and Jordan Ayew will be deployed as the wide attackers on Saturday, with Odsonne Edouard leading the line for the hosts. Finally, Jeffrey Schlupp will start as the central attacking midfielder here in the absence of Eze.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Johnstone; Ward, Andersen, Guéhi, Mitchell; Richards, Lerma; Olise, Schlupp, Ayew; Edouard
Liverpool
The visitors have a number of injury problems heading into this contest as well. Diogo Jota and Alisson Becker remain sidelined, and they are expected to return later this month after picking up blows against Manchester City.
Thiago Alcantara, Andrew Robertson and Stefan Bajcetic remain long-term absentees. Meanwhile Joel Matip is the latest absentee after rupturing his ACL a few days ago. The veteran defender will be out for the season.
The Reds are likely to shape up in their usual 4-3-3 formation, with Caoimhin Kelleher in goal. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez will be deployed as the full-backs. Ibrahima Konate will start in central defence alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Wataru Endo produced an impressive cameo in the last game, and he will start here as the defensive midfielder. The Japanese international will look to break up the opposition attacks. Dominik Szoboszlai will start alongside Alexis Mac Allister in the middle of the park. Darwin Nunez will lead the line for Liverpool here with Mohamed Salah on his right and Luis Diaz on the left.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Gomez; Szoboszlai, Endo, Mac Allister; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
Key Stats
- Liverpool have kept a clean sheet in six of their last eight matches against Crystal Palace in all competitions.
- Liverpool are undefeated in their last 14 matches against Crystal Palace in all competitions.
- Liverpool are undefeated in their last eight matches in the Premier League.
- 13 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between these two sides.
Player to Watch
Trent Alexander-Arnold
The 25-year-old has been in phenomenal form recently, and he has contributed with a goal or an assist in each of his last four outings. Alexander-Arnold will look to help create goalscoring opportunities with his vision and creativity in the final third. He will also look to help out defensively.
Prediction
Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
The away side are certainly the favourites getting into this contest, and they have the quality to grind out all three points here. Crystal Palace are lacking in confidence and form right now, and their miserable run of form should continue. The London outfit have failed to win their last 14 matches against Liverpool and are likely to succumb to yet another defeat here. A narrow away win is on the cards.
