Preview: Crystal Palace vs. Liverpool – Predictions, Team News, Lineups.

Liverpool’s walking wounded return to the Premier League with grim faces as they prepare to take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday night.

The Reds were beaten 5-2 by Real Madrid in mid-week in the first leg of their Champions League final-16 tie, while Patrick Vieira’s men were fiercely held down in a 1-1 draw with Brentford.

Brentford were unable to pull victory out of the jaws of defeat when Palace came to town last weekend, but the Bees denied Vieira’s men their first win of 2023 in any competition near death at Gtech Community Stadium. In a match with few clear chances, Eberechi Eze connected with Michael Olise’s cross in the 69th minute to head Palace forwards, but in the sixth minute of second half stoppage time, Vitaly Janelt headed in. part of the loot.

Now winless in eight successive games since the turn of the year, Palace are not entirely sleepwalking into danger – still 12th in the table with a healthy six-point lead over the drop zone – but will continue to watch their backs as long as they remain in the furrow.

However, four draws from the last five have shown the Eagles to be more resilient, whose only defeat at the time had been a narrow defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford, and have also denied Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United to take all three points recently.

Each of Palace’s last three top-flight games at Selhurst Park have ended in a draw and Vieira’s men haven’t won a top-flight match at home since October, but a lively atmosphere can be expected as the Eagles look to prolonging Liverpool’s woes.

After witnessing Jurgen Klopp’s side return to form in the Premier League with successive wins over Everton and Newcastle United, optimism reigned around a tough Anfield for a reunion with Champions League holders Real Madrid, and Liverpool fans they could pinch each other as Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah gave the Reds a two-goal lead inside the first 15 minutes. Unfortunately for those home fans, that dream start would turn into a nightmare as braces for Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema either side of Eder Militao’s header condemned Liverpool to their worst ever home defeat in Europe , and few have hopes of a defeated peerless house. comeback at the Bernabeu in three weeks.

Jurgen Klopp obviously refused to wave the white flag, but Carlo Ancelotti’s champions tore Liverpool apart at will, exposing the Reds’ continued failures in midfield and defense – problems which will not be resolved in the course of a single summer transfer window.

Ahead of the trip to the Spanish capital, Liverpool will be looking to keep pressure on their top four pursuers as they sit eighth in the table, but Tottenham Hotspur are just seven points clear after playing two more games, and Klopp’s men they could move back up to sixth if the results hold up here.

However, victory at Newcastle meant just a third Premier League win from 11 away games for Liverpool this season – and even then the 10-man Magpies were consistently threatening – and Palace ended a 10-game losing streak against the Reds with a 1 – 1 draw. at Anfield earlier this season.

Crystal Palace lost left-back Tyrick Mitchell to an ankle late in their draw with Brentford, but the matter is not serious and the Englishman’s place in the starting eleven is not in danger here. Wilfried Zaha, Sam Johnstone and Nathan Ferguson can’t fight for the hosts, who must also assess the fitness of Joel Ward (Wade), but James Tomkins could be back after missing Brentford’s draw with a personal issue .

Eze’s goal from the bench last weekend left Vieira in a selection dilemma with Jeffrey Schlupp potentially in danger of getting the axe, while Jean-Philippe Mateta and Arsenal loanee Albert Sambi Lokonga also fear potentially for their places.

As for Liverpool, Klopp managed to salvage Nunez from a shoulder injury for the loss to Real Madrid where Thiago Alcantara, Calvin Ramsay, Luis Diaz, Arthur and Ibrahima Konate were all out with their respective injuries.

The Reds didn’t have serious injury problems on Tuesday but changes are certainly on the cards after such a humiliating night as both Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino are keen to return in the final third.

A first-leg disaster for Joe Gomez could see the England international also give up his place in defense to Joel Matip – especially after he appeared to have a problem late on – while Naby Keita and Harvey Elliott are candidates to freshen up the midfield. ground. Possible starting lineup at Crystal Palace:
Yelp; Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Olise, Doucoure, Hughes, Eze; Yes, Edward

Probable starting line-up for Liverpool:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Keita; Salah, Nunez, Jota

Let’s say: Crystal Palace – Liverpool 0-1

Luckily for Liverpool, they won’t be facing a prolific Real Madrid side every week, facing a Crystal Palace side who can’t seem to get over the line, hoping for an immediate return to victory.

Vieira’s men have recently proved resilient against some respected sides, but the lack of a true goalscorer in Zaha’s absence is still a problem for them, and we are counting on Liverpool to correct Wednesday’s mistakes and extend the streak at the top levels. with the narrowest margins.

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