Game Week 34 Predictions: Liverpool to beat Palace at Anfield

Premier League Game Week 34 Predictions and Betting tips: Liverpool to beat Crystal Palace at Anfield

Hugo Ekitike will miss the rest of the season, but Ismaila Sarr is available to torment Liverpool as always. Will Liverpool allow the Senegalese star? (Photo credit: Opta)

 

Liverpool vs Crystal Palace

Anfield Stadium

3:00pm

Chelsea's recent slump has handed Liverpool a free pass to the fifth spot on the Premier League log. It will take a collapse of some sort for Liverpool to miss out on Champions League football next season.

Nothing is assured in England. You must fight for every point. With just five games left to play this season, Liverpool's only aim is to finish within the top 5. 

There's a chance that the 6th spot might be enough for Europe's elite competition; no one at Anfield would love to take such chances.

If it's down to mathematics, Crystal Palace isn't safe from relegation yet, but a 12-point cushion over Tottenham represents something healthy enough. 

One more win and the Eagles are guaranteed another year in the top flight of English football.

Palace has interests elsewhere. The Eagles are in the semi-final of the Europa Conference League. 

They won the FA Cup last season, beating Manchester City in the final; they have another opportunity to land another title as Oliver Glasner exits the club.

The interesting thing about this fixture is that both teams have different goals. 

Little pressure to bag three points, but their desires are on different levels. 

Liverpool, having lost their Premier League crown, wants Champions League football; Palace only wants a respectable position on the log while seeking silverware in Europe.

Liverpool will be without Hugo Ekitike. 

The Frenchman picked up a nasty Achilles tendon injury in the loss to PSG a fortnight ago. Alexander Isak is primed to start after a lengthy injury layoff.

Palace could win this one to leapfrog Sunderland on the log. 

The Black Cats lost heavily to Nottingham Forest at the Stadium of Light on Friday. 

The 5-0 result was one no one saw coming. The real priority, however, would be for Palace to come out of this game without injuries.

Ismaila Sarr is one player who comes alive whenever it's time to play Liverpool. 

The Senegalese winger is in red-hot form in the Europa Conference League. Sarr was instrumental to Liverpool's first loss of the season at Selhurst Park. Will he do it again?

Mohammed Salah and Andy Robertson are both leaving Liverpool at the end of the season. 

This game presents an opportunity for the duo to begin their countdown and say their goodbyes. Will Arnelot hand them starting roles?

Verdict: Liverpool to win.