Crystal Palace-Liverpool is a match valid for the twenty-fifth day of the Premier League and is played on Saturday at 20:45: TV, formations, predictions.
It rarely happens to see a Liverpool side almost completely at the mercy of their opponents: last Tuesday was one of those times. Real Madrid – him again – inflicted a momentous humiliation on the Reds in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16. A record-breaking 2-5, moreover in what is normally their fortress, Anfield Road.
The Merengues, thanks to a Vinicius in a state of grace – the Brazilian striker had already castigated Liverpool in the Paris final last May, preventing them from lifting the cup – started one of the most sensational comebacks of recent years with a brace. In fact, the evening had started in the best of ways for Jurgen Klopp’s team, leading by two goals already after a quarter of an hour with a quick one-two signed by Darwin Nunez and Salah. It looked like the prelude to a night of celebration for the Reds fans, but from minute 20 a nightmare began, the kind you don’t easily forget. Carlo Ancelotti’s men brought to the surface all the problems that the German coach is trying to remedy and Liverpool sank, suffering one of the worst defeats in their history. The defence treaded water again, the midfield fell apart, the attack was no longer in a position to sting.
Liverpool, all that’s left is the Premier
A debacle that effectively puts an end – as Klopp himself admitted – to the European adventure of Salah and his team-mates, who will now have to bet everything on the Premier League.
Crystal Palace players
The aim is to finish in the top four to return to the Champions League next year but achieving that is by no means a foregone conclusion. Liverpool had, however, lifted their heads in the last two days, in which they got the better of Everton and Newcastle, bringing them to within -7 of fourth-placed Tottenham, who have played two games more than the Reds. No more breaks are allowed, starting with the away match in London against Crystal Palace. The Eagles are not having a good moment, as evidenced by the fact that they have yet to win a game in 2023. They are coming off two draws with Brighton and Brentford that have allowed them to remain in the usual mid-table ‘limbo’.
The Prediction
Liverpool will be desperate to redeem their European humiliation and on the back of their two wins over Everton and Newcastle they should be able to come back from Selhurst Park with three points. However, it cannot be ruled out that they will concede at least one goal in light of their recent defensive frailties.
Crystal Palace-Liverpool’s likely line-up
- CRYSTAL PALACE (4-4-2): Guaita; Clyne, Andersen, Guéhi, Mitchell; Olise, Doucouré, Hughes, Eze; Ayew, Edouard.
- LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Keita; Salah, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2
