Liverpool F.C. vs Crystal Palace F.C. – Match Preview
Liverpool welcome south London’s finest Crystal Palace to Anfield tomorrow afternoon for matchday 23 of this season’s Premier League. The Reds have a four-point advantage over second-placed Manchester City so a win is a must if they’re to maintain their advantage.
Overview
Until recent times, Crystal Palace were somewhat of a bogey team for Liverpool. Those days of the Eagles’ rough and tumble style are long gone with manager and local Croydonian Roy Hodgson – along with recent managers, preferring a more cultured means of playing. In fairness to them, it hasn’t gone unrewarded. In fact, the bogey team tag is still deserved.
Crystal Palace have won three of the last five fixtures against Liverpool at Anfield in the league so this is by no means a foregone result. Jürgen Klopp will need to have his team at the top of their game in order to be triumphant in this match. The form that has served the Reds so well this season must at all costs be maintained.
More of this tomorrow, please. 👊#LIVCRY
— lfc Fans (@lfc_allting) January 18, 2019
Team News
Liverpool are relying on lady-luck to some degree in this weekend’s fixture. Gini Wijnaldum and Trent Alexander-Arnold are both 50-50 after both suffering knee injuries in the last game. Late fitness tests will decide if the pair take part.
Adam Lallana who could make the bench. Joel Matip is no longer recorded as injured according to the usual sources. So he could well return to partner Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence.
Jürgen Klopp gives an injury update ahead of tomorrow's @CPFC clash…#LIVCRY
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 18, 2019
Palace are not without their injury problems. Both first choice and reserve goalkeepers Wayne Hennessey and Vicente Guaita are both out with thigh and calf muscle strains respectively.
This will likely mean a return between the sticks for long-time club servant Julian Speroni. Pape Souare is a long-term absentee after dislocating his shoulder. Ex-Liverpool forward Christian Benteke will reportedly make the bench.
Betting
As we see in the Premier League odds tracker from sports betting dime, Liverpool are now favourites over Manchester City, albeit by slim odds. We also see that tomorrow’s visitors are among those favoured to be relegated. Their current 14th place and four points from the drop zone makes this a reasonable punt.
For this game though, things are a little different. Liverpool should be considered favourites. However, expect the odds to be very slim on the basis of histrionics.
Summary
Despite the form books, this one will be a tough game for both sides. Obviously for different reasons. Statistically, Liverpool should go on to win their first title in almost three decades but we all know it’s just not as simple as that.
Fortress#LIVCRY https://t.co/CZ13gN8MeW
— lfc Fans (@lfc_allting) January 18, 2019
However, the Reds play at home where the fortress Anfield tag has been well earned. Earned over the last 637 days to be precise. Liverpool have shown this season that they’re an extremely tough nut to crack. It’s the task of the Eagles to see if they can do that.
I don’t make predictions but if I did, I’d say this will be a tight game. 2-1. For who? Well, you know the answer to that one.
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