MX23RW : Tuesday, March 19 11:21:42| >> :120:32857:32857:
[monks data]
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



ID:463867:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect13492:

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.


Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Liverpool vs Crystal Palace

Liverpool
78.2%
Draw
8.8%
Crystal Palace
13.0%
308
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Nat Phillips warms up for Liverpool in October 2020
Read Next:
Liverpool to cash in on Divock Origi, Nat Phillips?
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014

Subscribe to our newsletter


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!