In Matchweek 33 of the Premier League, Liverpool hosts a dejected Crystal Palace at Anfield on Sunday to reclaim first place on the table as the title race heats up.
The Reds will be back in action after suffering a shocking 3-0 defeat at home to Serie A side Atalanta in the UEFA Europa League quarter-final on Thursday evening. This loss ended their 60-week undefeated streak at their fortress, Anfield across all competition. They are currently sitting second on the Premier League table.
Last weekend, Jurgen Klopp’s side’s trip to Old Trafford ended in a 2-2 draw, courtesy of Mohamed Salah’s 84th-minute spot-kick conversion, which salvaged a point for the Merseyside outfit. However, this result allowed Arsenal to take the top spot on the Premier League summit, despite having 71 points—equal to Liverpool—but with a better goal difference.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace’s campaign continues to struggle under the management of Austrian tactician Oliver Glasner, who is still seeking his maiden away win and only his second Premier League victory since February. They have managed to pick up only two points from their last five league games, with two draws and three defeats.
The Eagles’ recent defeat came against Manchester City, who beat the Londoners 4-2 at the Etihad, placing them in 14th position on the points table. This upcoming match will be an intimidating test for the visitors, as the hosts look to bounce back from two consecutive disappointing results in their chase for the title.
When and Where?
Date: Sunday, 6th April, 2024.
Time: 2:00 pm BST
Venue: Anfield stadium
Match Officials
Referee: Chris Kavanagh.
Assistants: Simon Bennett, Dan Robathan.
Fourth official: Keith Stroud.
VAR: Michael Oliver.
Assistant VAR: Stuart Burt.
Team news
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Liverpool are grappling with injuries, with long-term absentees Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic, and Ben Doak. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alisson Becker could return, having shown positive developments in their recovery. Diogo Jota will be returning following a substitute cameo on Thursday after months of absence due to a knee injury.
On the other hand, the visitors will also be missing several key players for their trip to Anfield. Sam Johnstone, Marc Guehi, Rob Holding, Chris Richards, Cheick Doucoure, Matheus França, and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi all remain sidelined.
Pre-Match Tactical Analysis
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This clash is critically important for Jurgen Klopp’s side, who are in a tight title race with Arsenal and the current champions, Manchester City. Having held the top spot for an extended period, they are determined not to drop any points, especially as Klopp aims to secure his second English Premier League title before his departure at the end of the season.
The German manager is likely to stick with their 4-3-3 attacking setup for the home clash against Palace, despite recent poor performances in the European knockout tie. A few changes are expected in the starting eleven: Caoimhín Kelleher will take his place in goal, with a center-back pairing of Ibrahim Konate and Virgil Van Dijk.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson could return to complete the back-line as full-backs. The midfield engine will feature Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo, and Dominik Szoboszlai, all returning to the lineup. The attacking front three will see Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah joining striker Darwin Nunez.
Visiting boss Oliver Glasner is expected to deploy a 3-4-3 formation, likely retaining the same starting eleven from their previous match against City. Dean Henderson will serve as goalkeeper, supported by a back three of Jefferson Lerma, Joel Ward, and Joachim Andersen. The midfield features a four-man setup with Tyrick Mitchell and Daniel Muñoz on the wide fullbacks, and Will Hughes and Adam Wharton operating in the center of the park. Up front, Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze will flank Jean-Philippe Mateta, who will lead the line as the number nine.
Key Players
Mohamed Salah
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The Egyptian talisman, Mohamed Salah is widely regarded as the league’s best attacker despite a series of injuries that disrupted his season earlier this year in January, which forced him to the sidelines. Nevertheless, he has bounced back in style. The 31-year-old has become a key player for Liverpool again, contributing to 36 goals in this 2023/24 campaign.
Currently, Salah is the league’s third top-scorer with a tally of 17 goals, trailing only behind Ollie Watkins and Erling Haaland. The winger could potentially be the difference-maker for his team against the Eagles, boasting a stunning record of 13 goals against this opposition. He notably scored and assisted in the 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture at Selhurst Park in December.
Jean-Philippe Mateta
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The 26-year-old striker has been one of the standout performers for Crystal Palace. Leading the club’s goal-scoring charts, the Frenchman has bagged 10 goals and provided 4 assists in 32 appearances this season. He has managed to score three goals in his last four league outings, boasting a 36% goal conversion rate and a 75% shot accuracy, which could prove to be handy for the visiting side.
Predicted Lineups
Liverpool predicted lineup vs Crystal Palace: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Endo, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Diaz.
Crystal Palace predicted lineup vs Liverpool: Henderson; Ward, Andersen, Lerma; Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Olise, Mateta, Eze.
