Crystal Palace vs Liverpool: Match Preview and predictions

Liverpool will aim to maintain their record-breaking start under new manager Arne Slot when they visit Crystal Palace on Saturday in the first game of the Premier League weekend.

The Reds picked up their eighth win in nine games under the Dutchman on Wednesday as they saw off Bologna in the Champions League and can extend their lead at the top of England’s top flight with victory at Selhurst Park.

Palace were magnificent in Oliver Glasner’s first six months in charge but his side’s only successes of the new campaign have come in the Carabao Cup, failing to secure any victories in their six league matches so far.

Crystal Palace team news

Palace need Eze on form on Saturday / Harriet Lander/GettyImages

Palace boss Glasner is still searching for the winning formula this season but has been hamstrung by a few significant absentees so far in 2024/25. Chadi Riad, Chris Richards, Cheick Doucoure, Matheus Franca and Rob Holding are unavailable to the 50-year-old.

Eberechi Eze scored the only goal of Palace’s last meeting at Anfield as they won 1-0 at Anfield in April. The Croydon club need their talisman firing if they are to break Liverpool’s recent winning run, with Eze only contributing one goal in six league games so far.

Liverpool team news

Nunez could be dropped / Alex Livesey – Danehouse/GettyImages

Liverpool have had a few fitness issues of late with Alisson missing a couple of games and Federico Chiesa not featuring in the victory over Bologna. The Brazilian goalkeeper returned against Wolves but the Italian winger is still a major doubt to feature at Selhurst Park.

Darwin Nunez was given the nod up front in midweek but couldn’t make a significant impact and is likely to be replaced in the starting XI by Diogo Jota. There could also be some rotation at left-back with Kostas Tsimikas replacing Andy Robertson.

Liverpool have the chance to head into the October international break having retained their spot at the top of the Premier League table and the Reds are favourites to secure the win that would help them do that.

Slot’s side had a few iffy moments against Bologna and there is some hope for Palace if they can make good on their chances, but only Southampton have scored fewer league goals than the Eagles so far.

The Merseysiders should claim all the points on Saturday but it could be another slender margin of victory away from home.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool

Credit: 90Min