Liverpool vs Crystal Palace: Match Preview

Liverpool

Liverpool will expect to get into the Champions League spots again this year. They have showed early signs of ambition by signing Mohamed Salah for a hefty fee of £34 million from AS Roma, as well as young left-back Andrew Robertson from Hull and Dominic Solanke from Chelsea.

Liverpool have a range of different players who could cause a problem for Palace, including forwards Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino, as well as the new boy Salah. The back line has been a cause for concern in the past, but the Eagles will still have to break down a solid unit containing the likes of Joël Matip and Dejan Lovren.

On the team news front, it is highly unlikely that Mamadou Sakho, who had a successful spell at Palace last season and is still very much a favourable figure amongst fans, will feature as he is out of sorts with Jürgen Klopp. In addition, Phillipe Coutinho may not feature due to his on-running transfer saga. Adam Lallana and ex-Palace defender Natahniel Clyne have also been ruled out through injury.

Crystal Palace

It is still early days for Frank De Boer, but he has already made several big changes. He has transformed the tactics and structure of the team as he looks to shape the team into his own image, which is very much in line with the traditional Dutch way. At the moment, it is too soon to judge whether these changes have been a success.

Palace have made a small number of signings so far, with prospects Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Timothy Fosu-Mensah both signing on loan from their respective clubs. 20-year-old defender Jairo Riedewald has also joined the ranks.

Despite their poor start, Liverpool should not underestimate the visitors at the weekend. Christian Benteke has come into his own at Palace and can be a real threat against any team in the Premier League, and midfielders Luka Milivojevic and Andros Townsend are great assets to the team.

Despite this, however, Wilfried Zaha is unlikely to be available for the game this week, which is undoubtedly a huge blow for the Eagles, as will Connor Wickham, Bakary Sako and Pape Souaré. It is unlikely that Yohan Cabaye will play, too, as he is still recovering from an injury.

In the past, this fixture has put on some great showings which both clubs will remember for both good and bad reasons. In fact, Crystal Palace have formed into somewhat of a ‘bogey team’ for Liverpool in the last few years. They will be looking to continue the trend of making life difficult for the Reds.