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Liverpool logo
Premier League | Gameweek 5
Sep 18, 2021 at 3pm UK
Anfield
Crystal Palace logo

Liverpool
3 - 0
Crystal Palace

Mane (43'), Salah (78'), Keita (89')
Henderson (40'), Tsimikas (75'), Salah (79')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Ward (83')

Preview: Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Premier League clash between Liverpool and Crystal Palace, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Fresh from an enthralling 3-2 success over AC Milan in the Champions League, Liverpool return to Premier League action with Saturday's visit of Crystal Palace at Anfield.

Meanwhile, the Eagles travel to Merseyside aiming to keep the momentum going from their hugely impressive 3-0 triumph over Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.


Match preview

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp pictured on August 28, 2021© Reuters

If the two previous meetings between the pair were anything to go by, Liverpool vs. AC Milan was set to serve up a treat for the Anfield faithful on Wednesday night, and both sides delivered during a magnificent European spectacle.

After Fikayo Tomori's own goal opened the scoring and Mohamed Salah's penalty was kept out by an inspired Mike Maignan, AC Milan went into half time 2-1 up thanks to strikes from Ante Rebic and Brahim Diaz, but Salah and Jordan Henderson would propel the Reds to a 3-2 success in front of a jubilant group of supporters.

Starting as they mean to go on in the Champions League, Liverpool also enter this weekend's game having hit three goals without reply against Leeds United last weekend, although that clash at Elland Road was marred by the horrific injury to breakthrough star Harvey Elliott.

Nevertheless, Liverpool's tally of 10 points from a possible 12 - as well as a goal difference of +8 - sees them sit level with Chelsea and Manchester United atop the rankings at this early stage, with Merseyside rivals Everton only behind on goal difference.

Jurgen Klopp's Anfield struggles were well-documented during their torrid spell last term, but victory over Milan stretched their unbeaten streak at home to nine games in all tournaments and they have amassed a 14-game run without defeat in the Premier League - winning five of their last six with five clean sheets to boot.

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira on August 28, 2021© Reuters

After enjoying remarkable success against Tottenham Hotspur as a player, new Palace boss Patrick Vieira could hardly have dreamed of a better day at the office last weekend, with his Eagles side running out 3-0 winners over their London rivals.

Japhet Tanganga's 58th-minute sending off did not help Spurs whatsoever, and Palace took advantage, with Wilfried Zaha opening the scoring from the penalty spot after Ben Davies's handball before Odsonne Edouard's 10-minute debut saw him bag a brace at Selhurst Park.

The former Celtic man's dream start to life as an Eagle was one of many success stories on the day, as Zaha's Tottenham duck was broken at the 13th attempt and Vieira claimed his first Premier League win in charge of Palace, who have risen to 11th in the fledgling standings.

However, Palace travel to Anfield having lost three and drawn one of their last four Premier League away matches - conceding 10 goals over that span - with that run including a 2-0 defeat in this fixture on the final day of the 2020-21 season.

The Eagles' 2-1 win at Anfield in 2017 was the final home defeat that Liverpool had suffered in the league before embarking on that unparalleled 68-game unbeaten run, and Palace are seeking to avoid a ninth consecutive league defeat to the Reds, with the less said about last year's 7-0 Selhurst Park humiliation the better.

Liverpool Premier League form:
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W

Liverpool form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • W

Crystal Palace Premier League form:
  • L
  • D
  • D
  • W

Crystal Palace form (all competitions):
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • W



Team News

Liverpool's Harvey Elliott reacts as he receives medical attention after sustaining an injury© Reuters

Liverpool have confirmed that Elliott has undergone successful surgery on the ankle injury he suffered at Leeds, and the 18-year-old joins Roberto Firmino and Neco Williams in the treatment room.

Divock Origi - a surprise starter against Milan - was forced off with cramp on Wednesday, but the Belgian striker was always expected to drop out for Sadio Mane here.

Virgil van Dijk and Thiago Alcantara should also earn recalls over Joe Gomez and Naby Keita respectively, while Ibrahima Konate is still waiting patiently for his opportunity to impress.

As for the visitors, Michael Olise was fit enough to be involved as a substitute against Spurs and is now pushing for a starting role, but Eberechi Eze and Nathan Ferguson continue to recover from long-term issues.

Jeffrey Schlupp is also nursing a hamstring issue and has been ruled out of the contest, while Edouard has surely done enough to displace ex-Liverpool man Christian Benteke up top.

Luka Milivojevic is also back in contention for a spot in the engine room, but it would be a surprise to see Vieira make any alterations for this game, barring the expected inclusion of Edouard.

Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Matip, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Jota, Mane

Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Guaita; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; McArthur, Kouyate, Gallagher; Ayew, Edouard, Zaha


SM words green background

We say: Liverpool 2-0 Crystal Palace

Palace should certainly have a more clinical edge on the attacking front going forwards, with Edouard, Zaha and Conor Gallagher all proving themselves as worthy sources of goals under the Vieira revolution.

As impressive as their win over Spurs was, facing an 11-man Liverpool side could prove a step too far for a team who have historically struggled in this fixture, and we expect the Reds to nullify their opponents' attacking forces during a straightforward success.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 2.5:data



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Written by
Ben Knapton

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Liverpool win with a probability of 68.38%. A draw had a probability of 19.7% and a win for Crystal Palace had a probability of 11.93%.

The most likely scoreline for a Liverpool win was 2-0 with a probability of 13.34%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-0 (13.14%) and 2-1 (9.44%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (9.29%), while for a Crystal Palace win it was 0-1 (4.58%). The actual scoreline of 3-0 was predicted with a 9% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Liverpool would win this match.


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Game History

How you voted: Liverpool vs Crystal Palace

Liverpool
78.2%
Draw
8.8%
Crystal Palace
13.0%
308
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


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