For the second home game in succession, Palace host the Saturday prime time slot on BT Sport hosting Jurgen Klopp’s in form Liverpool side.
Fresh from their midweek win over Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup to make their way into the last eight of the competition, the Reds travel to Selhurst Park in an always much anticipated fixture. Their ominous form will be a concern to a Palace side who are currently experiencing a dip in form after a five game unbeaten run.
Games between the two sides are more than not entertaining for one set of fans or the other. This match up is likely to prove no different, hence why the television companies select the fixture to be beamed live around the world.
TEAM NEWS (courtesy of Physio Room)
CRYSTAL PALACE – Scott Dann (hamstring) is expected to return along with Jason Puncheon (calf) while Pape Souare (leg), Loic Remy (thigh) and Jonathan Benteke (knee) all continue to miss out.
LIVERPOOL – Sheyi Ojo (back) and Joe Gomez (calf) are the only two absentees from what is an otherwise fully fit squad.
ACTION REPLAY
The last time the two sides met was at Selhurst Park back in March in which was another hotly contested match. Welsh midfielder Joe Ledley gave the hosts the lead just after the break and it looked even better for the Eagles when James Milner received his second yellow card with a little under half an hour to go. However, the sending off worked in favour of the visitors who battled back to level Brazilian Roberto Firmino after a horrendous mistake from goalkeeper Alex McCarthy. The Reds took the points courtesy of a Christian Benteke penalty in injury time after a foul on the Belgian by Damien Delaney.
FORM GUIDE
Last FIVE meetings between the two sides;
- 06/03/2016: Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
- 08/11/2015: Liverpool 1-2 Crystal Palace
- 16/05/2015: Liverpool 1-3 Crystal Palace
- 14/02/2015: Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
- 23/11/2014: Crystal Palace 3-1 Liverpool
Last FIVE results for Palace;
- 22/10/2016: Leicester City 3-1 Crystal Palace
- 15/10/2016: Crystal Palace 0-1 West Ham United
- 30/09/2016: Everton 1-1 Crystal Palace
- 24/09/2016: Sunderland 2-3 Crystal Palace
- 21/09/2016: Southampton 2-0 Crystal Palace
Last FIVE results for [opposition];
- 25/10/2016: Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
- 22/10/2016: Liverpool 2-1 West Bromwich Albion
- 17/10/2016: Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United
- 01/10/2016: Swansea City 1-2 Liverpool
- 24/09/2016: Liverpool 5-1 Hull City
FORM PLAYERS (courtesy of Who Scored)
Top two rated players from each team so far this season;
- Philippe Coutinho 7.83
- Sadio Mane 7.75
- Jason Puncheon 7.53
- Christian Benteke 7.51
PODCAST
Listen to the Sun Football podcast as well as the popular Liverpool podcast The Kop Table, both of which I joined to talk Palace and preview the game.
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY
‘Clean sheets are a concern for all managers. We need a little more concentration to get us over the line. Liverpool play high intensity and they’re quick to the ball, and that’s driven by the manager, but Brendan Rodgers’ team wasn’t too dissimilar. They will be looking for consistency now and if you catch them on the wrong day they can be very difficult. The way the league is panning out, you have to put Liverpool in contention for the title.’ – ALAN PARDEW courtesy of BBC Sport.
‘In Spain at the moment it is really close but it is a specific thing for England to have several teams involved in the title race. Usually, in most of the Premier League seasons, I think at a lot of times it was tight. We have not to think about it, we only have to collect points and think about your own situation, the rest is not important. You always have a difficult opponent to play, you need your full concentration and that is what we try to do.’ – JURGEN KLOPP courtesy of the official Liverpool FC website.
ONE TO WATCH
SADIO MANE
Born in Sedhiou, Senegal, Mane began his career Dakar club Generation Foot before moving to France and signing for Metz. After only twenty-two appearances, the winger moved to Red Bull Salzburg which is where is form alerted the talents of Southampton who shelled out £11.8million for his services. Thirty-one goals in sixty-three appearances was a terrific return for the now twenty-four year old and he continued in similar fashion on the South Coast. A £34million bid from Liverpool was too much for the Saints to turn down so Mane made the move to Anfield by signing a five year deal. The pacy player has thirty-six international caps to date, scoring ten goals and has become an integral part of the Reds formation under Klopp.
PREDICTION
Final league position – 2nd
Much has been said about the lack of European competition this season for Liverpool and that could end up being a blessing come the end of the season. There is a real feeling that Jurgen Klopp has started something special at Anfield and they could go close to the title this season if their early season form is anything to go by. Their achilles heel may end up being their defence but they are certianly not lacking in attacking talent.
- TEB prediction – DRAW
- Nick Truss prediction (see link below) – AWAY WIN
- Who Scored prediction – AWAY WIN
BETTING ODDS (courtesy of Paddy Power)
- Home 4/1
- Draw 5/2
- Away 8/11
- Both teams to score 8/13
FIND OUR WHAT REDS FAN NICK TRUSS TOLD TEB THIS WEEK IN THE LIVERPOOL VIEW
