Crystal Palace will aim to upset Liverpool in the Premier League when they play hosts to Jurgen Klopp’s side at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Eagles are in a bad run of form of late, winning just once in their last five league games. This has seen Patrick Vieira’s side drop to the bottom half of the table, with their last game ending in a 1-1 draw with Brighton at the Amex Stadium.
However, the south Londoners will be a tricky opponent for Liverpool, who will be buoyed after reaching the EFL Cup final on Thursday. The Reds defeated Arsenal 2-0 in the semi-finals second leg at the Emirates Stadium to set up a showdown with Chelsea in the final next month.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are 12 points adrift of league leaders Manchester City, although they have two games in hand.
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool – Team News
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace trio Jordan Ayew, Wilfried Zaha and Cheikhou Kouyate have been participating at the AFCON, but Ayew may have a chance to be in Vieira’s squad on Sunday after Ghana suffered an early elimination. Meanwhile, James Tomkins and James McArthur remain side-lined.
Divock Origi, Thiago Alcantara, Harvey Elliot and Nat Phillips all remain out injured, while Naby Keita, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are away at the AFCON.
Good vibes 😁#CPFC pic.twitter.com/mWg0N1AFlB
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) January 22, 2022
Jack Butland produced a strong display between the sticks against Brighton last weekend and will be rewarded with another start. Joel Ward, Joachim Andersen, Marc Guehi and Tyrick Mitchell should feature in the Eagles’ back four, trying to stop the Reds from scoring past Butland.
Will Hughes will have a lot of responsibility of protecting the backline as well as providing the platform for Palace’s two 8s—Conor Gallagher and Jeffrey Schlupp—to move forward and create opportunities for the forwards.
Michael Olise is expected to start on the right flank again, with Eberechi Eze keeping his position off the left in the Eagles attack intact. The two dynamic attackers will support Odsonne Edouard up top against Klopp’s side.
Liverpool
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be available to face Crystal Palace after rolling his ankle in last weekend’s 3-0 win over Brentford. Joel Matip, however, was forced off at halftime against Arsenal in the semi-finals second leg on Thursday and remains doubtful for Sunday’s trip to Selhurst Park.
Alisson Becker will be reinstated in goal after being an unused substitute in Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Arsenal in the League Cup semi-finals at the Emirates Stadium. Trent Alexander-Arnold; Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson are certain starters at the back for the Reds.
⭐ 𝑭𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 ⭐
McManaman, Mane and more stunning strikes from previous trips to Selhurst Park 👌 pic.twitter.com/oenQCV8302
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 22, 2022
Fabinho will anchor Liverpool’s midfield as he usually does, with Jordan Henderson and Curtis Jones providing support and energy as two 8s.
Diogo Jota lit up the Emirates Stadium with his brace on Thursday, thereby, making him an undoubted starter against Crystal Palace. The Portuguese will be joined by Roberto Firmino and Takumi Minamino in the Liverpool attack that Klopp will hope can make life difficult for the home side at the weekend.
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool – Predicted Lineups
Crystal Palace Predicted Lineup (4-3-3): Jack Butland; Joel Ward, Joachim Andersen, Marc Guehi, Tyrick Mitchell; Jeffrey Schlupp, Will Hughes, Conor Gallagher; Michail Olise, Odsonne Edouard, Eberechi Eze
Liverpool Predicted Lineup (4-3-3): Alisson Becker; Trent Alexander-Arnold; Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson; Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Curtis Jones; Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino, Takumi Minamino
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool – Key Players
Crystal Palace—Conor Gallagher
Conor Gallagher, on loan from Chelsea, has been Crystal Palace’s best player this season. With seven goals and three assists in the Premier League so far, the English midfielder has been central to how Vieira’s side have played and he will undoubtedly be a pivotal figure for the hosts on Sunday.
Liverpool—Diogo Jota
In Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane’s absence, Diogo Jota has duly shouldered the responsibility of scoring goals and creating opportunities. The Portuguese forward is one of the division’s in-form players and has proven to be a match-winner time and again for the Reds. After his brace against Arsenal, he will be raring to get on the score sheet at Selhurst Park.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-3 Liverpool