Game Week 16 Predictions: Liverpool to beat Palace at Selhurst

Crystal Palace struggles against Liverpool's title push.

Darwin Nunez and Oddson Edouard are both struggling with confidence in front of goal, this is another opportunity for both of them to prove their worth. (Photo credit: GOAL)

 Crystal Palace vs. Liverpool

Selhurst Park

1:30pm

Crystal Palace is having it tough at the moment; they can’t buy a win, and a clean sheet has become a rarity. For a team that was built on a solid defense, this is quite strange.

Bournemouth beat Palace 2-0 in midweek. There are a couple of injuries that could pass as excuses, but they’re not new to this game; they’re aware of the December rush, and if care is not taken, they will have to fight for relegation.

Liverpool could go to the top of the Premier League log with a win at Selhurst Park, and that should be a good incentive. With the Gunners not playing until later in the day, three points will take Jurgen Klopp’s side one point above the Gunners.

Liverpool has won four of their last five, with the only draw coming at the Etihad. It was a great point that firmly planted them in the title race. Palace is a bad team for Liverpool; however, current form points everything in the Kops’ direction.

How will they line up? There’s no Ebere Eze, but Michael Olise is dependable. It has been said more than often that Palace’s problem lies in the attack; they have the dullest forwards in the league, and that makes it hard for them to score.

Oumar Doucoure’s injury means that Roy Hodgson has to improvise. Jefferson Lerma must be disciplined and must hold his own in the game against an equally weak Liverpool midfield. The big question, however, is: how will they stop the Liverpool attack?

Diogo Jota is injured, which means Liverpool will once again hope Darwin Nunez suddenly finds his way to the net. Cody Gakpo could be deployed as the number 10, but Luis Dias and Mohammed Salah are the certain ones out wide.

Wataru Endo came up with a crucial goal last weekend for Liverpool at home against Fulham; he is likely to earn a starting role. Red-hot Trent Alexander Arnold is set to take up a role in midfield again, while all eyes will be on stand-in goalkeeper Caoimhen Kelleher.

Tyrick Mitchell is injured; that’s a worry for Palace. They must find ways to manage their current squad challenges. Liverpool is the clear favorite to win and surge to the top here, but football knows how to surprise even the best of pundits.

Verdict: Straight win for Liverpool