Liverpool make the travels to Crystal Palace on Saturday in league action as Jurgen Klopp’s side hope to bounce back from their Champions League horror earlier in the week.
Real Madrid, visitors to Anfield on Tuesday night, came from two goals behind to stage a thumping 5-2 win over the Reds who now have a three goal deficit to overcome ahead of the trip to the Spanish champions for the second leg Last 16 tie next month.
A return to Premier League action, meanwhile, this weekend at Selhurst Park provides Jordan Henderson and Co. the chance to move up the league table and fight for a top four finish after picking up two wins on the bounce.
Victories over Everton and Newcastle United has seen Klopp’s men play at their brilliant best with some of the key players finding their form once again as a few others return from lengthy injury troubles in a twin boost for the Liverpool manager.
Top four challengers Tottenham Hotspur are only seven points clear of Liverpool, with the former having played two games more, and the Merseysiders could rise up to sixth in the standings on the back of a positive result against their upcoming opponents.
Crystal Palace, however, have endured a shaky run of form in recent times with the Eagles winless in eight consecutive matches in the new calender year but remaining a healthy six points adrift of the drop zone.
Patrick Vieira’s men were held to a 1-1 stalemate against city rivals Brentford last time out, fourth draw in five games for Palace whose last defeat came to the high flying Manchester United.
WHEN AND WHERE
Date: Saturday 25 February 2023
Time: 8 PM GMT
Venue: Selhurst Park
TEAM NEWS
One big change to the Liverpool XI could be Diogo Jota’s return with the fit again Portugal international expected to push for a recall at the expense of new boy Cody Gakpo.
England international Joe Gomez was at fault for three of Real’s five goals at Anfield on Tuesday and the centre-back is likely to give way for Joel Matip to play alongside Virgil van Dijk in the heart of the Reds backline.
The 18-year-old Stefan Bajcetic could be dropping down to the bench for Naby Keita’s expected return to the team sheet as Klopp looks to freshen things up in the engine room for his side.
Ibrahima Konate, Thiago Alcantara and Calvin Ramsay remain long-term injury concerns for Liverpool with the latter set to miss the remainder of the season after undergoing knee surgery.
KEY BATTLE
Joel Matip vs Odsonne Édouard
Matip’s presence in the Liverpool defence could make the Anfield faithful hope for a composed showing at the back from the Cameroon centre-back who has struggled for consistency in form this season.
Replacing Joe Gomez, who endured a miserable outing against Real in the Champions League game, Matip will be looking to put out a solid display to keep the Palace front line at bay from troubling Alisson’s goal.
Palace will be without Wilfried Zaha for the home contest against Liverpool and the Ivorian’s absence will mean that Odsonne Édouard has the responsibility of making things click in the final third.
MATCH PREDICTION
Liverpool finding their feet again in domestic football makes them the strong favourites to secure the win against a struggling Palace.
Crystal Palace 0-3 Liverpool
