Liverpool Aims to Maintain Top Spot Against Struggling Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace have yet to win a Premier League game this season, while Liverpool are top of the table having won five of their first six. Add in the fact that the Reds have won eight of their last nine league visits to Selhurst Park, drawing the other, and there’s a fair chance you’ll be putting this down as an away banker this lunchtime. But look at it another way. Palace are surely too good not to snap their winless streak sooner rather than later; Liverpool surely can’t keep winning their away fixtures this season forever; and despite their great recent record at Selhurst, there’s always something nagging away at the back of Mersey minds … because Crystanbul left a lot of scar tissue. So good luck confidently predicting the outcome of this game, which could see Liverpool confidently extend their lead at the top, Palace get their season going belatedly, or anything in between. Kick-off is at 12.30pm BST. It’s on!

The Reds' Dominant Start

Liverpool’s 2024–25 Premier League season has gotten off to a dream start under Arne Slot. Other than a surprising loss to Nottingham Forest on Sept. 14, Liverpool has collected three points from every domestic match so far, putting the club ahead of Manchester City and Arsenal in the EPL standings. Slot's men also won their first two Champions League fixtures.

A Look at the Lineup

Here's what Liverpool's XI could look like against Crystal Palace.

GK: Alisson Becker—The Brazilian has only conceded three goals across all competitions for the Reds this season.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold—The England international will take his place on the right flank as a possible move this summer continues to loom over his head.
CB: Ibrahima Konaté—Konaté scored his first Premier League goal against Wolves last weekend and will once again be one of Liverpool's biggest targets on set pieces.
CB: Virgin van Dijk—The Dutchman will lead Liverpool in his 279th appearance for the club.
LB: Andrew Robertson—The 30-year-old got the nod against Bologna even after suffering a knock at the weekend. If Slot opts to give Robertson a bit of rest, though, expect Konstantinos Tsimikas to start in his place.
DM: Ryan Gravenberch—Gravenberch is Liverpool's unsung hero so far. While the front four push forward, the 22-year-old acts as an insurance policy behind the ball, always ready to stabilize the midfield and help his backline.
DM: Alexis Mac Allister—Fresh off scoring the winner against Bologna, Mac Allister will slot in alongside Gravenberch.
RW: Mohamed Salah—Salah has found the back of the net in Liverpool's first three away fixtures of the 2024–25 Premier League season and will look to extend the streak at Selhurst Park.
AM: Dominik Szoboszlai—The midfielder will look to continue building him chemistry up top with Salah and Díaz. Szoboszlai has yet to score in the Premier League this season.
LW: Luis Díaz—Despite his lack of the production in Liverpool's first two UCL fixtures, Díaz already has five goals in six Premier League matches.
ST: Diogo Jota—Expect Jota to return to the starting XI after Núñez got the nod against Bologna. Slot confirmed the Portugal international recovered from a knock he suffered in training earlier in the week.

A Look at the Palace's Form

Before the October international break, Liverpool faces one last test against Crystal Palace, a side that is winless in its opening six Premier League matches. With only Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa dealing with injuries, Slot can field his strongest XI in Saturday's clash to make a statement against Oliver Glasner's squad.

Match Day Preview

Key Points From the Match

Early Goals

Crystal Palace have the ball in the net! Wharton slips a pass down the inside-right channel for Sarr, who rolls into the centre for Nketiah. The striker lifts the ball over Alisson and in! But the flag goes up. He’s gone too soon. The move started by Lerma winning a 50-50 with Gravenberch in the midfield.

Liverpool Dominates Possession

Liverpool have enjoyed 83 percent of possession so far. That 21-second Nketiah shock seems an awfully long time ago now. “Good advertisement for squad depth with Robertson’s, Diaz’s and Nunez’s replacements combining for that goal,” observes Patrick Crumlish.

Liverpool Goal

Liverpool ping it around patiently – this is Slotball – before – and this is also Slotball – suddenly turning it up a notch. Tsimikas slips a pass down the inside-left channel for Gakpo, who fizzes a low cross into the middle. Jota is the sharpest, arriving to slam home from eight yards. Easy as that.

A Late Substitution

Munoz is down feeling his thigh. Not sure he’ll be able to continue. He certainly doesn’t look too happy. The physio comes on, then the pair trudge off. No sub yet. Clyne, formerly of Liverpool, comes on to replace the stricken Munoz.

A Closer Look at the Match

The teams are out! Crystal Palace are red and blue and Glad All Over. The usual magnificent atmosphere at Selhurst. Liverpool meanwhile are in crisp third-choice white with black shorts; a proper 1987 Littlewoods Cup final vibe, if memories of Crystanbul haven’t been painful enough. Apologies to Matt Dony. We’ll be off in a couple of minutes!