Liverpool face Crystal Palace in the Premier League
Liverpool won their second Champions League match of the season as they beat Bologna 2-0 at Anfield on Wednesday, courtesy of Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah. The Reds are on a winning streak of five matches in all competitions and visit a daunting venue as they hope to continue their good form under Arne Slot.
The table toppers will need to work hard in south London on Saturday, 5th October, as they had to come from behind and needed a stoppage time winner from Harvey Elliott to beat a spirited Crystal Palace side. The Eagles, on the other hand, have won just one out of their last five matches in all competitions, which also came in the EFL Cup against Crystal Palace.
Given the gulf in form between the two sides, Liverpool will be heavy favourites to defeat their opponents and should still be able to pick up all three points against Oliver Glasner’s side despite the challenge posed in front of them.
Team News
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace are expected to enter the matchday with four players expected to miss the clash against Liverpool. Chadi Riad, Cheick Doucoure and Chris Richards will definitely miss the game, while Matheus France is also doubtful as his recovery from a broken rib continues. There are no suspensions in the home side’s camp.
Palace, in spite of having Marc Guehi at the back, are a pretty weak side defensively. They have conceded nine times in the Premier League in six outings, averaging 1.5 goals against per game, and are yet to win a single game so far this season. They did, however, earn a draw at Old Trafford against Manchester United a couple of weeks back.
There is also good quality in Palace’s attack as they hope to spring a surprise. Their top-scorer of the season with two goals, Jean-Philippe Mateta, is expected to be available, while Eberechi Eze will also be hoping to make his mark against a side that is monitoring developments over his future. Former Arsenal star Eddie Nketiah is also a formidable attacker.
PREDICTED CRYSTAL PALACE XI (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Lerma, Guehi, Lacroix; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Eze, Nketiah; Mateta
Liverpool
Harvey Elliott, Liverpool’s match-winner from last time out at Crystal Palace, is expected to miss this game with a fractured foot. Federico Chiesa could also be sidelined as he was not even on the bench against Bologna following a knock in training and is unlikely to be risked, keeping in mind the busy calendar of matches including the impeding international break.
Having shipped only two goals so far in the season, Arne Slot’s men remain rock-solid at the back and the manager is unlikely to make any changes in defence. He managed to withdraw Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold prior to full-time in the Champions League to give them a slight, but well-deserved rest.
Mohamed Salah has now struck in two successive matches. His goals against Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend and versus Bologna in the European Cup saw him break a mini drought in the final third. The Egyptian will also start against Palace and will once more have to be the difference maker if the Reds are to win.
PREDICTED LIVERPOOL XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Diaz, Szoboszlai, Salah; Nunez
Match-deciding duel
Marc Guehi vs Darwin Nunez
Darwin Nunez is expected to get the nod as the lone striker for Liverpool against Crystal Palace. He is in better form than Diogo Jota and will have an opportunity to justify his selection against the Eagles on Saturday.
He will be up against one of the Premier League’s most stubborn and physically adept central defenders in Marc Guehi. The Uruguayan international’s performance against the Englishman will be pivotal in deciding the course of things for Liverpool.
Prediction
Crystal Palace 0-3 Liverpool
Liverpool’s superb defence will be too hard for Crystal Palace to breach. The home side on Saturday’s game is neither too effective in the final third, nor in the defensive third.
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Therefore, a quality team should be able to exploit them and Arne Slot will earn a positive result to head into the international break as the Premier League’s outright leader.
