Liverpool v Crystal Palace – Reds to collect against Eagles at 11/1

16/08/2017 | Categories: Football | Published by: AC

Updated: 08/10/2024

Liverpool v Crystal Palace

Premier League Preview: Liverpool v Crystal Palace – Anfield – 19th August 2017 – 15.00 hrs

For all the skills of Wilfred Zaha and Christian Benteke upfront, it was a pathetic defensive show by Frank De Boer's Crystal Place that lead to a ignominious defeat at the hands first time Premier League entrants Huddersfield 0-3.

Correct Score Football Betting tips for Liverpool v Crystal Palace

Liverpool 3-0 Crystal Palace @ 9/1

Liverpool 3-1 Crystal Palace @ 11/1

If Scott Dann, Jaïro Riedewald and Timothy Fosu-Mensah were so rattled at the back by a Huddersfield attack, their fate when they visit Anfield this weekend could be much worse against one of Premier League's more potent forward lines.

Despite a 57 per cent possession, the Eagles with men like Zaha, Benteke and Chelsea loanee Ruben Loftus-Cheek could muster only 4 shots on target against Huddersfield.

The pressing and control the ball style of Frank De Boerhave left spaces for opponents and vulnerable to counter-attacks. Riedewald at the back and Olympiacos-impport, right midfielder Luka Milivojevic, were so ineffective that they had to be taken out half-way through the Huddersfield clash. Andros Townsend could very well start in that mid-field space for the weekend Anfield clash.

Not that the Liverpool defense was anything to write home about. Sadio Mane and £12 million Roma import, Mohamed Salah, were brilliant for the Reds upfront fetching them 3 goals in the Watford game. But that wasn't enough. The experieced trio of Matip, Lovren and Moreno at the back were sloppy and a spirited Watford were able to match Liverpool's tally of three.

With the visiting Eagles attack not in the best of shape, Klopp would not worry about re-organizing his defense. He is likely to adopt an all-out attack mode and with men like Firminio, Salah and Mane upfront he can count on getting goals. Although the midfield comprising of Wijnaldum, Henderson and Emre Can (who alone really impressed) combined well only in patches in the Watford game, Klopp would be confident of a positive outcome from Saturday's home clash.

Although both teams share equal number of wins and losses from their previous 6 encounters since 2015, it's Crystal Palace's pathetic form since the latter half of the 2016-17 season that has prompted bookmakers to wager on Liverpool as the clear favorites in the August 19 game. Barring unforeseen circumstances, it should be a comfortable win for the hosts.

Interestingly, the Eagles’ last visit to Anfield had resulted in a victory for them with the mercurial Christian Benteke getting both goals in the 1-2 win. Palace fans will be praying for a repeat of that feat on Saturday.