Will the Reds secure their Champions League spot?
Liverpool FC has already had the “pleasure” of facing Crystal Palace three times this season. Although, to be honest, the term “pleasure” is completely out of place here. All three direct matchups—in the Community Shield, the English Super Cup, the EFL Cup Round of 16, and the first leg of the Premier League—went to the Eagles from London.
If betting on Glasner’s side pays off again this Saturday afternoon in the rematch between Liverpool and Crystal Palace, Crystal Palace would be the first team since Arsenal in 2006/07 to defeat LFC twice in a single season at Anfield Road.
Admittedly, however, the form curves of both clubs once again suggest that a prediction favoring the visitors could well come true in the match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace. Although the Reds narrowly won their last two difficult league matches against Everton and Fulham, they have still only recorded four wins in their last eleven competitive matches across all competitions.
Crystal Palace, on the other hand, has lost only two of its last twelve matches—one of them an unfortunate defeat while down a man at Manchester United (1-2) and the other in the more or less meaningless Conference League quarterfinal second leg in Florence (1-2), after having already won the first leg 3-0. In other words: The London club is currently very difficult to play against and even harder to beat.
Nevertheless, I’m focusing on the Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace odds for a home win, partly because the Reds have lost just a single home game in the Premier League since early December. That said, Crystal Palace still sits in 13th place and, with only 35 goals scored, boasts the third-weakest offense in the league.
Since qualifying for European competition again could prove tricky in the league, the players may already have their minds (subconsciously) on the first leg of the Champions League semifinal against Shakhtar Donetsk the following Thursday. On top of that, Palace has won only one of its last 18 PL matches against clubs that were in the top half of the table before the start of the matchday.
Liverpool – Crystal Palace Head-to-Head Record
As mentioned in the introduction, the clubs have faced each other three times this season. At the start of the season, Crystal Palace prevailed 3-2 on penalties at Wembley Stadium in the Community Shield. The first leg of the Premier League match, however, ended 2-1 in favor of the Londoners, who ultimately completed their “hat trick” with a 3-0 away win at Anfield in the EFL Cup at the end of October.
In the latter match, at least, Reds manager Arne Slot opted to rest several regular starters. That will be different on Saturday, as the Dutch championship-winning coach—whose future beyond this summer is unlikely to be planned on Merseyside—needs every point in the race for Champions League spots. After three winless Premier League home games against their upcoming opponent, it’s about time they lived up to their role as favorites in their own stadium.
Liverpool – Crystal Palace Prediction
Currently in fifth place, Liverpool Football Club is on track for the Champions League. However, given that the Reds still have a tough remaining schedule ahead of them, they need to secure another three points this weekend at the very least to improve their position.
However, Crystal Palace is a real bogey team. All three head-to-head matches across three different competitions this season have gone to the Londoners, who also haven’t lost any of their last three Premier League away games at Anfield Road.
Although the Reds have been prone to negative surprises of late, I expect them to secure their third consecutive Premier League win this weekend. Crystal Palace is often too harmless in attack and may already have their sights set on the Conference League. I therefore consider it unlikely that Glasner’s side will defeat the (still) reigning champions for a fourth time. My Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace prediction is therefore for a home win with a maximum of four goals in the match.
