Stat Pack: Everything you need to know about Crystal Palace ahead of Liverpool clash

Liverpool will be aiming to continue their good form and pile more misery on Crystal Palace this Saturday when they travel to Selhurst Park.

The Reds have won three games in a row after drawing with Manchester City after the international break, beating LASK, Fulham and Sheffield United to set themselves up nicely in the Europa League and Premier League.

Meanwhile, things have been all doom and gloom for former Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson, his Palace side without a win in four and sat 14th in the table.

Defeats to Everton, Luton Town and Bournemouth mean the pressure is building on the Eagles, who are now embarking on an incredibly difficult run that starts with the Reds this Saturday.

But what do the underlying numbers show us? Are Crystal Palace really that bad?

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HEADLINE FIGURES

As mentioned, Palace currently side themselves 14th in the Premier League table after their recent struggles, sitting just seven points off the relegation zone - even with Everton's ten-point deduction.

The Eagles have managed just 16 points so far this term, made up of four wins, four draws and seven defeats. Out of those victories, only their 1-0 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford could be described as unexpected, with defeats to the likes of Newcastle United, Arsenal and Tottenham this season.

Despite a -7 goal difference, Palace have still kept five clean sheets this season, with goalscoring their real issue. Injuries have also hit Hodgson hard, with Eberechi Eze's absence particularly debilitating.

Palace have won just one of their last eight matches - a 2-0 win over struggling Burnley - and have just five points from a possible 24 since the beginning of October.

Despite their poor form, the London club have lost just one game by three or more goals this term, that defeat coming in a 4-0 thrashing at St James' Park back in mid-October.

However, they have only managed to score more than one a single game on two occasions.

EXPECTED GOALS

While Palace have been pretty blunt up top, they should have scored more than the 14 they have this season. Other than Odsonne Edouard with six goals, only Eze and Joachim Andersen have scored more than once in the Premier League.

It's worth saying that Liverpool are outperforming their xG at present, but only by 0.37. If you had to bet on one team racking up a few goals this weekend, it would be the Reds.

When it comes to xGA (expected goals againt), Palace are actually performing pretty well. They should have conceded 22.30 goals, but have only let in 21 in the league.

Palace actually have the seventh best xGA in the top flight, better than the likes of Tottenham, Aston Villa and Chelsea. Liverpool will have to be sharp to break them down this weekend.

In terms of xPTS (expected points), Hodgson's men should be higher in the table. Despite only having 16 to their name, they should have 18.70 points, sitting 12th in the xPTS standings.

Ultimately, Palace have been slightly unfortunate this season, but they remain an average side.

POSSESSION

It's fair to say that Palace won't be too worried if Liverpool dominate possession on Saturday. The Eagles have averaged just 45.9% in their matches this season, 12.7% lower than Liverpool's 58.6%.

They rank 13th for pass completion (78.5%) and passes completed (5,464), although they do sit tenth for progressive passing distance (35,937 yds).

At home to Arsenal in a similar fixture this season, Palace did manage 47% possession, but the Gunners were reduced to ten men after 67 minutes following Takehiro Tomiyasu's red card.

Against Tottenham at Selhurst Park back in late October, they had just 24% possession.

FUN FACT

Roy Hodgson has lost all eight of his meetings with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp (seven with Palace and one with Watford). A pretty good omen for Saturday.