Crystal Palace vs Liverpool: Match preview, betting tips and predictions

Crystal Palace vs Liverpool: Match preview, betting tips and predictions - Premier League Matchweek 14

Curtis Jones saw his effort blocked by a resolute Fulham defense in their 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage. (Photo credit: Premierleague.com)

Crystal Palace vs Liverpool
Selhurst Park
1:30pm

 

Roberto Firminho’s late winner continued Liverpool’s home dominance and yet again brought out the moaning side of Jose Mourinho but what matters is the fact that Liverpool are sitting pretty right on top of the premier league.

 

The premier league is the best when it comes to perception and make-belief, but a season like no other has pitched lots of strange situations, like Fulham holding Liverpool to a draw and West Brom earning a point at the Etihad, hence the need to be cautious when looking at the games.

It’s the festive period, one with huge promise and strong fixtures, a time to test the depth of teams and the physical fitness of everyone, quality is one thing, consistency is another, and for most teams to survive the December rush, they have to rotate.

The reality of this strange season will continue to hit teams but for Crystal Palace, they will want more of the same.

12^th on the log and 9 points away from relegation spot isn’t particularly a dream position for an ambitious club but with the amount of money available to bigger clubs, Palace will take this.

Liverpool away to Palace has always been a one way traffic, the Eagles can be bogey on their days especially with the amount of quality on their flanks in Eberechi Eze and Wilfred Zaha, but how much of joy will they find when the Kops come to town?

Palace have drawn their last two, one to high flying Spurs on the ground and the other a hard-fought point at yet another London rivals, Westham, they will surely celebrate a point if that’s all they get from this fixture.

Liverpool’s ambition is obviously to do what not many have been able to do, retain the premier league crown, the competition is very stiff.

But they have done well even in the face of harsh injury worries with notable players like Trent Alexander Arnold being away for a while and of course Virgil Van Dijk who is still very much away from the group.

Liverpool will do more of the same, inverted midfield triangle and sporadic attacks from Robertson’s wing to test Daniel Ward and Arnold on the right charging down at Patrick Van Aanolt.

Palace will have to be patient and stay disciplined, there’s no other way to stop Liverpool than to concentrate for 90 minutes and more.

Counterattack is the only way to go about this for Roy Hodgson, the veteran manager at some points managed Liverpool before heading for the Three Lions job which of course ended after the failed World Cup in Brazil.

Palace goalkeeper, Vincent Guaita will have to be at his best, but if there’s one player that needs to step up and be counted, it’s Sadio Mane who has failed to spark this season.

 

Verdict: Liverpool to win.