Liverpool may have been handed a significant boost ahead of their next weekend’s trip to Crystal Palace, after Wilfried Zaha withdrew from international duty through injury, reports the Liverpool Echo. The winger suffered the injury in last Saturday’s win at Huddersfield Town and has now returned to Palace after being assessed by the Ivory Coast medical team.

Zaha has been due to feature for Ivory Coast in the international friendlies against Togo and Moldova in Beauvais over the coming days. However, the 25-year-old will continue to battle to regain fitness ahead of the mouthwatering clash against Liverpool at Selhurst Park.

Zaha has been Palace’s best player this season, with the club losing every single Premier League game in which the nippy Ivorian has not featured this campaign, tasting defeat in 10 games out of 10 and scoring just 3 goals. He returned from the knee injury after being out since the beginning of February and his entry into the team saw Palace achieve their first win in eight games, against Huddersfield.

The Ivory Coast international has been an indispensable figure for this Palace side and manager Roy Hodgson knows the importance of having his talismanic forward fit before the game against Liverpool. If Zaha fails to attain full fitness, it would come as a huge boost to Liverpool, who are fighting tooth and nail to secure a top-four finish this season.

The Reds will be on a high when they travel to Selhurst Park, after their 5-0 demolition of Watford last weekend. Let’s hope we keep up the good work and return home with all three points next week.