The State of Play
Liverpool need a response. They went out in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup last month against Manchester United and dropped points to the Red Devils in the Premier League last weekend, knocking them off top spot ahead of this match day. Now they head into this weekend’s clash with Crystal Palace on the back of losing 3-0 at home to Atalanta in the first-leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final tie on Thursday.
The appointment of former Eintracht Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner, replacing Roy Hodgson, was expected to see Crystal Palace move away from the bottom three and the relegation places as they slowly adapted to a more intense style of football in a different system. However, after winning his first game at home to Burnley in February, the Eagles are now winless in their last five matches.
Read our other football news stories here:
Richarlison still out for Spurs
Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool players should struggle to sleep after Atalanta rout
Guehi injury absence could end v Man United, says Glasner
Team News
Liverpool made six changes to the side that drew with Manchester United last weekend to the team that were beaten 3-0 by Atalanta. Both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota returned to the bench after fairly long injury absences.
Oliver Glasner welcomed Michael Olise back into the Palace squad last weekend and the Frenchman could well start at Anfield. They are still without the likes of Sam Johnstone and Cheick Doucoure, though.
Expected Line-ups
Liverpool: Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Quansah, Robertson; Jones, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz
Crystal Palace: Henderson; Ward, Andersen, Lerma; Munoz, Hughes, Wharton, Mitchell; Olise, Eze; Mateta
What they Said
Jurgen Klopp was left extremely angry in his post-Atalanta press conference on Thursday evening, saying that his Liverpool side ‘lost the plot’ on the night.
Oliver Glasner said that he saw some progress in Crystal Palace’s 4-2 defeat to Manchester City last weekend, saying that ‘we’re starting to build the walls’.
When and How to Watch
This match will be played at Anfield at 14:00 on Saturday April 13th and will be televised live on Sky Sports in the UK. It will also be able to be streamed live via the Sky Go app.
Prediction
Liverpool are under pressure on Sunday afternoon. Even when they have managed to win in this recent dodgy run of form, they had to come from behind at home to Brighton and were also pegged back to 1-1 by bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United at Anfield before going on to win. Fortunately, they are up against a Palace side that are not playing well but also trying to transition from one style to another which could take time. Liverpool should get a much-needed comfortable win.
