Liverpool travel down to London on Sunday afternoon to face Crystal Palace. Selhurst Park hasn’t been kind to Liverpool in the recent past and Jurgen Klopp will be hoping to get a win in his first trip to the atmospheric stadium.
Palace have been in abysmal form; they’re without a Premier League win in 2016 – a run that stretches back to December 19 when they beat Stoke City 2-1. That’s 11 games. They sit 15th and will be hoping for a victory to kick-start their season.
Liverpool dispatched Manchester City on Wednesday night and will be looking to continue their good goalscoring form, which has seen them score nine in their last two games in the league.
The Reds sit ninth and could move up to seventh win three points at Selhurst Park.
Here’s my combined XI:
Goalkeeper: Simon Mignolet
Mignolet isn’t great. At all. However, neither is Palace’s in Wayne Hennessey. Despite all of Mignolet’s faults, I’d pick him in my XI.
Right-back: Nathaniel Clyne
I actually rate Joel Ward very highly and perhaps on another day he’d be in the team. But Clyne is one of the best and most accomplished right-backs in the league and he has been very good for the Reds this season.
Centre-back: Scott Dann
Scott Dann has been strong for Palace over the past few seasons and in my opinion, deserves an England call-up. He’s a real threat from corners as Liverpool found out unfortunately at Anfield in the game earlier this season.
Centre-back: Mamadou Sakho
I’m not sure whether or not the Frenchman is fit enough to start but he definitely gets in my combined side, regardless of how good Dejan Lovren’s been this season. Sakho is the Reds’ most complete centre-back and the one who seems to make the least mistakes.
Left-back: Alberto Moreno
Moreno’s been dire lately but he gets in over Papa Souare, who when I’ve seen him play, hasn’t been great whatsoever.
Central Midfielder: Emre Can
In my opinion, Can’s overtaken Jordan Henderson as Liverpool’s best midfielder with recent performances. His form has been exceptional.
Central Midfielder: Yohan Cabaye
Such a classy player. I’ve wanted Liverpool to sign him for years; when he left Newcastle and when he left Paris Saint-Germain. His set-pieces could be a real danger to Liverpool’s defence who are shaky, at best, dealing with set-pieces.
Central Midfielder: Jordan Henderson
Liverpool’s captain just gets in there. It was extremely close between him and James Milner but Henderson has a tad more to his game than Milner, in my opinion.
Attacking Midfielder: Roberto Firmino
Moved to the Reds in the summer and after taking his time to settle in, looks a real star. His goal tally seems to be increasing rapidly and his chance creation is brilliant.
Attacking Midfielder: Philippe Coutinho
Coutinho is arguably Liverpool’s best player, so this inclusion wasn’t in doubt at all. Coutinho scored Liverpool’s goal in their 2-1 loss earlier in the season to Palace at Anfield.
Striker: Daniel Sturridge
On his day and fit: unstoppable – simple as that. He didn’t feature in midweek and Klopp said it was just a rest. He could be integral to Liverpool’s hopes of getting the points down in London.