Crystal Palace vs Liverpool – Predictions

Liverpool continue to speed towards the midway point of the Premier League season, with a trip to Crystal Palace next up.

It's the Reds' fourth 12:30 GMT kick-off on a Saturday, with Jurgen Klopp's side picked once again for the early slot on TNT Sports.

READ MORE: Crystal Palace vs Liverpool – Match Preview

The boss got tetchy when the subject was brought up after the win over the Sheffield United on Wednesday night – and with good reason. Liverpool have less than 72 hours between the two away Premier League games this week, amid a total of eight fixtures in all competitions this month.

With the fixtures piling up, squad management and player protection are paramount, with the Reds already suffering from a bunch of first-team absences.

Despite that, the Reds have a decent record in the early kick-offs this season and have not lost yet in the slot in 2023/24.

Liverpool have also won four of their last five at Selhurst Park and, with the former Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson reportedly on thin ice at Palace after some dodgy results, Klopp and co are strong favourites going into this one.

Here's how some of Anfield Watch's writers predict the game will go.

---

Sam McGuire: Crystal Palace have one of the worst records at home this season having won just one of their seven matches.

Hodgson is under pressure after the loss to Bournemouth and yet I feel nervous heading into this game. Liverpool haven’t been that convincing away from home and our inability to create anything of any real note without Darwin on the pitch is worrying.

If he starts, I’ll be a lot more confident in picking up all three points. I can’t see it being a high-scoring game though. I also don’t see Mohamed Salah bagging his 200th. I think that will happen next week.

Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool

Ewan Ross-Murray: Oh no...it's the 12:30 kick-off again.

Despite Klopp loathing this particular time slot, the Reds are undefeated in their three early Saturday kick-offs this season, beating Wolves and Everton and drawing at Man City.

Crystal Palace find themselves in a very tricky moment and a 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth midweek has only exacerbated things for the Eagles. Roy Hodgson's side can't seem to keep a clean sheet, while they have been pretty pitiful in front of goal.

I'm expecting a similar game to Sheffield United on Wednesday – fairly slow and largely uninteresting, with the Reds just squeezing over the line despite Palace's best defensive efforts.

However, Selhurst Park can get rocking and Liverpool do have a few injuries to contend with, Alexis Mac Allister adding his name to that list.

I'm banking on a tepid, low-scoring victory for the Reds.

Crystal Palace 0-1 Liverpool

Andrew Headspeath: Liverpool haven't played particularly well in the last two outings against 'weaker' opposition, yet have still come away with maximum points.

That's the sign of a good team, or one riding their luck, depending on your perspective.

Palace is another favourable fixture right now, with Hodgson seemingly on the brink and key players missing.

Despite feeling like an eternal bogey team for anyone who remembers the 2013/14, the Eagles haven't actually beaten Liverpool in any of the last 12 Premier League meetings. The Reds haven't lost at Selhurst Park in nine years either.

Liverpool will need to improve creatively, but they should get the job done.

Crystal Palace 0-2 Liverpool