Liverpool will hope to take the newfound confidence they found in the breathless 2-1 win in the Merseyside Derby and beat Crystal Palace when Premier League action returns to Anfield this Saturday.
Indeed, Arne Slot‘s men left it until the 100th minute to beat their city rivals Everton 2-1 last time out in the Premier League, with Virgil Van Dijk popping up with a perfect header to overcome David Moyes’ stern hosts, right at the end at the end.
Now, it’s a return to Anfield for Arne Slot side. with their last taste of top-flight action on their own patch falling all the way back in the middle of April, when the Reds comfortably got the better of Fulham 2-0.
Liverpool can essentially lock in Champions League football this Saturday. With five games left, a win over Crystal Palace would solidify their place in the top five and cap off their pursuit of elite European competition for next season.
Here is everything you need to know, ahead of Liverpool vs Crystal Palace at Anfield.
Recent form
Liverpool
While Liverpool’s dented confidence has been boosted somewhat by the drama that unfolded at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, their recent form doesn’t make for the best reading, heading into Saturday’s clash.
The wins picked up against the Cottagers and the Toffees are as good as it has got for Slot’s men, in recent matches, with defeats to Manchester City in the Emirates FA Cup and Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League and both at the quarter final stage souring the mood.
Slot will be hopeful that his team will be able to pick up back-to-back wins against Palace, though, having not lost on their own turf in the Premier League since the start of February.
Securing a win against the South London side will demand a far more clinical edge in the final third, especially following a frustrating scoreless outing against PSG under the Anfield lights over a fortnight ago.
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace will be no pushovers, either, making the lengthy journey up to Liverpool from the capital.
Across their last five matches in all competitions, Glasner’s away side have only lost once, as they lost 2-1 in their second leg Conference League quarter-final showdown to Fiorentina.
Away from this blip, Palace have confidently won three of their last five matches, as they look to right the wrongs of their 0-0 draw with West Ham United last time out, with a more daring display on the road at the Reds.
After all, the Eagles certainly know how to beat Slot’s team, based on recent meetings…
Head-to-head results
It’s fair to say at this point that Palace have become a bogey team for Liverpool.
Indeed, already this season, Slot and Co. have been on the receiving end of three losses when facing Glasner’s assured outfit, with the Community Shield defeat right at the start of the campaign, then followed up by equally bruising losses in the Premier League and EFL Cup.
If Palace were to win at Anfield on Saturday afternoon, too, they’d be the first team since Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal to complete a double over Liverpool on their own patch, in a single season, which is a record that has stayed solid since the 2006-07 season.
All-Time Head-to-Head Record:
| Statistic | Liverpool | Crystal Palace |
| Wins | 37 | 18 |
| Draws | 14 | 14 |
| Losses | 18 | 37 |
While recent history dictates that Liverpool hate facing the South London club, overall, the Reds do have 37 wins under their belt against Palace, from 69 total meetings.
Hopefully, the 70th meeting between the two sides swings in the home team’s favour, who will feel embarrassed, no doubt, if the Eagles manage another masterclass at their expense.
Team news
Liverpool: Hugo Ekitike (out), Wataru Endo (out), Conor Bradley (out), Giovanni Leoni (out), Jayden Danns (out), Stefan Bajcetic (out), Alisson (out), Giorgi Mamardashvili (out)
Crystal Palace: Eddie Nketiah (out), Evann Guessand (out), and Cheick Doucoure (out)
Predicted lineups
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Woodman; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak
Palace (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Canvot, Richards, Lacroix; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Johnson; Strand Larsen
What has been said
Arne Slot (Liverpool):
The Dutchman will want to ensure he continues being in Liverpool supporters good books, after the win over Everton, with another three points collected against Palace.
He has spoken at length of Palace’s strengths, with the clash ahead not going to be a walk in the park, by any stretch of the imagination.
He said, when discussing the mid-table Eagles: “What makes it difficult are the players we face. Guehi, Eze and Olise have left, Olise at Bayern Munich making a good career for himself, but they have a good manager who has created good discipline in that team.
Really hard to create chances against them. No matter what games I watch of them you watch 60 minutes and the other team haven’t created a chance.
At other end they are very direct with good attackers going quite fast. I think they have conceded after Arsenal the least goals and there’s a reason for that.”
Slot also spoke briefly on the planned fan protests that will happen during Saturday’s match, as the Anfield masses take a stand at proposed ticket price surges.
He further stated: “As long as I’m in football there are disagreements and as they are alwasy about people with best interests of the club.
“Two weeks ago there was a protest and we had felt we had the full support of the fans.We will need the support of the fans.
Freddie Woodman if he has to start a player like him will need a lot of support from our fans.”
Oliver Glasner (Palace):
The Austrian, in the opposing dug-out, addressed the media on Friday afternoon, ahead of his side travelling to Merseyside.
He will be boosted, ahead of this mammoth journey, by having Adam Wharton back in his first team ranks for the clash at Anfield, with Wharton actually appearing on many of Liverpool’s reporting shopping lists, ahead of a summer of potential frenzied activity on the transfer front.
He said, when confirming Wharton’s injury status: “Adam [Wharton] is good. He is fit and trained yesterday without any issues. So he’ll be available for Liverpool.”
He is also predicting a raucous atmosphere at Anfield, on Palace’s travels, but he believes his determined outfit will be able to pull off a result, having become the Reds’ notable bogey team.
Glasner concluded: “Like always, (I expect) a great atmosphere at Anfield, great stadium, and they are fighting for the Champions League.
“We’re also in a good position in the league, and we want to show a great performance there.”
