The league-leaders Liverpool will make travel to Selhurst Park for the Saturday lunch-time clash against Crystal Palace. The Eagles are struggling at this stage with just one win out of the last five league games, while Liverpool upstaged the Spurs in a last-minute thriller to take the top spot back.
Match Timings: Dec 19, 6 PM IST
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After a clinical victory against the previous leaders, Spurs at Anfield, Liverpool will now face Crystal Palace on the road to strengthen its position on top. In the previous high-voltage clash at home, Liverpool started with the early strike from Mohammed Salah, and Spurs replied back with Son’s equaliser in the 33rd minute. The Reds survived the great chances from the Spurs midfield and end the game with Roberto Firmino's header in stoppage-time. Klopp’s side maintained its incredible winning run at home, but now they need to change the downfall in away matches. Liverpool are winless from the previous five away-matches in England’s top-flight.
They can inspire themselves with a better record at Selhurst Park, winning the previous five matches. FIFA rewarded Klopp with the best coach award last night, and the Liverpool manager would try to see his side to find its first away victory of the season on Saturday. If the Eagles managed to hold them for a draw, it would be the sixth successive draw for the Reds since 2011. They have played a draw against Everton, Manchester City, Brighton, and Fulham this season, and its only defeat was also recorded in an away game against Aston Villa. Liverpool is now sitting at the top with 28 points, 3 points ahead of 2nd placed Spurs. Leicester City’s defeat to Everton also worked for them, and if Palace split the points with them, they would still take the top spot.
Thiago Alcantara is back on the field, but he will not be available for this match. The Reds will be without Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Diogo Jota, Kostas Tsimikas, Xherdan Shaqiri, and James Milne due to injury. Joel Matip, who suffered an injury against Fulham last and missed out against Spurs, will be back in the lineup. Klopp would not make any big change for this game.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace has two wins, two draws, and two defeats at home, and they recently played a draw with West Ham, following the hard-fought 1-1 draw with Spurs. Roy Hodgson’s men sit at 12th spot with 18 points, 5 points behind Europa League qualification. Palace are slightly better than the previous edition because, at this stage, they had just 15 points. They have kept just one clean sheet in the previous 12 matches in top-flight, but Hodgen believes his side has improved its last season's error.
Palace will be without the service of Benteke due to the one-match suspension following his red card against West Ham. Martin Kelly and Mamadou Sakho are the other absentees through injury. Connor Wickham, Wayne Hennessy, and Nathan Ferguson would also be sidelined for the Eagles.
Possible Lineups & Current Form
Crystal Palace
Lineup: Guaita; Clyne, Kouyate, Cahill, Van Aanholt; Schlupp, Milivojevic, McArthur, Eze; Zaha, Ayew
Premier League Form: W L L W D D
Previous match: 1-1 draw with West Ham
Liverpool
Lineup: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Keita; Salah, Firmino, Mane
Premier League Form: D W D W D W
Previous match: 2-1 victory over Tottenham
Key Players
Liverpool
Mohammed Salah
11 goals in Premier League 2020-21
Last goal vs. Spurs
Sadio Mane
4 goals in Premier League 2020-21
Last goal vs. Everton
Crystal Palace
Wilfried Zaha
7 goals in Premier League 2020-21
Last goal vs. West Brom
Jordan Ayew
1 goal in Premier League 2020-21
Last goal vs. Leeds
