Between the most sensational results of the first round of the Premier League, Liverpool’s misstep in London at home to Fulham cannot fail to stand out immediately. Jurgen Klopp’s Reds made their debut with a pyrotechnic 2-2 draw, twice forcing the newly-promoted Cottagers to concede, first through Salah and then through new striker Nunez. A day to forget especially for the defence and mainly for Virgil van Dijk. For once, the statuesque Dutch centre-back was unable to find the counter-measures to a scintillating Mitrovic: the Serbian, on a day of grace, made the visitors’ rearguard go berserk.
Klopp was far from satisfied with his side’s performance at the end of the match, and on his face you could see the concern for an infirmary that has filled up again. The coach lost Thiago Alcantara in last Saturday’s match: for the former Barça and Bayern Munich player there is talk of a months’ suspension and in the meantime the club has already moved to find a replacement.
The Reds will try to conquer their first three points of the championship in the Anfield fortress. In front of their home crowd, Liverpool have not lost for 17 games and in the last 14 matches they have won 13. They will be visited by Crystal Palace, who had to surrender to an excellent Arsenal side in the derby derby, which ended 2-0 to the Gunners. Patrick Vieira is not making dramas, also because his team built several chances but was excessively wasteful under the goal. Now the Eagles will try to limit the damage against a team that has always been synonymous with defeat for them in their last ten clashes.
Jordan Ayew against Arsenal ©️Ansafoto
The Prediction
Despite the absences Liverpool’s first league win should come on time after the opening setback against Fulham. Crystal Palace will be a tough sell, but there is little they can do against the infinite quality of Klopp’s team and the intensity with which Salah and his team-mates play. The total goals on the night at Anfield Road should be more than two with both teams scoring.
Liverpool-Crystal Palace
probable line-ups.
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Keita; Salah, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz.
CRYSTAL PALACE (4-3-3): Guaita; Clyne, Andersen, Guéhi, Mitchell; Schlupp, Doucouré, Eze; Ayew, Mateta, Zaha.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-1
