- Crystal Palace face Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday, 25 April
- Oliver Glasner and Co. have already beaten the Reds thrice this season
- The Eagles manager also provided team news ahead of the visit
Oliver Glasner has made an honest admission, as Crystal Palace set eyes on an incredible feat when they visit Liverpool on Saturday, 25 April.
The Eagles will lock horns with the defending champions Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League this weekend.
It is set to be a special occasion for Glasner’s side, as they look to beat the Reds for the fourth time this season.
Crystal Palace beat Liverpool in the Community Shield at the start of the season before registering victories over them in the Premier League and the Carabao Cup.
Having beaten a largely changed Reds side at Anfield in the EFL Cup, the London-based club have the opportunity to become the first club since Arsenal in 2006-07 to beat them twice at home in a single season.
Speaking ahead of the game, Glasner admitted that it is “massive” that Palace have already beaten Saturday’s hosts thrice this term.
He feels this weekend’s fixture is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for his players.
Glasner said in his pre-match press conference: “I think when you talk before a season and say: ‘OK, we win once against Liverpool’, you would say ‘yeah, it’s good’. And if you say we’d win twice against Liverpool, you would say, ‘well, it would be very good’. And you say we win three times against Liverpool, it’s amazing.
“And now we have the opportunity to win four times against Liverpool in one season. I think that’s something unique. First of all, you don’t play a team like Liverpool four times a year very often.
“And on the other side, then having already three wins, that’s massive for us, and that’s why we’re really highly motivated, because maybe this will never happen again, and it’s a massive chance. That’s why we are really looking forward to this game at Anfield.”
Glasner excited for Anfield trip
The Selhurst Park outfit have always been a bogey team for the six-time European champions, as evidenced by the infamous 3-3 draw that made Luis Suarez cry in the 2013-14 season.
However, losing four times to the Eagles in the same campaign would be unprecedented, and it is certain to reflect poorly on Arne Slot, who will be keen to avoid such a disappointment.
Meanwhile, Glasner made no secret of his excitement about playing at Anfield on Saturday.
He said: “Anfield is such an amazing stadium, the atmosphere is great. And, of course, it’s playing still the reigning Premier League champion.
“It’s always a big challenge, and we always want to have the challenges against the best teams in the world. They went up to the quarter-finals in the Champions League, so that’s why it’s a big challenge.”
Crystal Palace team news v Liverpool
Glasner also provided an update on his squad availability ahead of the trip to Merseyside revealing that Eddie Nketiah and Evann Guessand remain sidelined. Cheick Doucoure is another player who remains on the treatment table.
However, Palace will be boosted by the return of Adam Wharton, who did not feature in their 1-1 draw with West Ham United on Monday, 20 April.
Glasner explained that the midfielder, who is on the Liverpool transfer wishlist ahead of the summer, is fit to play on Saturday after training normally on Thursday, 23 April.
However, there are doubts over Nathaniel Clyne’s availability, as he was ill on Thursday.
Glasner disclosed that the former Reds right-back is being assessed, although all signs point towards him being available.
Therefore, the defender could make his 250th club appearance while also playing at one of his former hunting grounds.
ReadLiverpoolfc Verdict
The stakes for Saturday’s clash at Anfield could not be higher, representing a fascinating collision between Crystal Palace’s momentum and Liverpool’s desperate need for redemption.
For Oliver Glasner, the match is a shot at footballing immortality securing a fourth win over the Reds in a single campaign would transform an already impressive season into a legendary one.
The return of Adam Wharton provides a vital tactical boost for the Eagles, though the absence of key attackers like Eddie Nketiah means the squad’s depth will be tested under the bright lights of Anfield.
On the other side, Arne Slot finds himself in a precarious position. To avoid an unprecedented fourth loss to Palace, his side must silence the “bogey team” narrative and prove why they are the reigning champions.
