Crystal Palace and Liverpool have, perhaps inevitably, experienced very different starts to the season. Liverpool are top of the league having lost just once, a shock home defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest. Palace, on the other hand, are precariously sat in the relegation zone with just three points from their six matches.
Most troubling, Palace lost to Everton last time out, in the kind of game they simply cannot afford to lose. Still, at least they managed a goalless draw with Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United and thereby avoided the ultimate indignity.
While the memorable 3-3 draw in 2014 lives long in the memory of the Selhurst Park faithful, Palace’s performances in this fixture have been underwhelming in more recent times. They have lost 11 of their last 14 league encounters with Liverpool and the sole win in that period was the shock victory at Anfield in April. Liverpool have, in fact, not lost away at Palace since November 2014, almost a decade ago. It does not bode well for the hosts, not least since Liverpool have won nine of their last 10 matches against these opponents in all competitions.
American defender Chris Richards will not feature for Palace as a result of a hamstring injury while Cheick Doucoure and Chadi Riad are also sidelined. Doucoure was just coming back from an Achilles injury, but suffered a toe injury against Leicester a few weeks ago. Matheus Franca is back in training and looking to take part for the first time this season.
For the visitors, Harvey Elliott is still recovering from a fractured foot and Federico Chiesa is a doubt after missing the home win over Bologna during the week.
Oliver Glasner’s Palace side are still waiting for a league win this season but it’s been plain sailing for Arne Slot at Liverpool other than one blip against Forest. One might have expected a dip in form after the departure of Jurgen Klopp, but it seems as though Liverpool are coping better with the changing of the guard than Manchester United did once Sir Alex Ferguson retired or Arsenal coped in the immediate aftermath of Arsene Wenger’s exit.
Click here to follow Sports betting on The Athletic and get relevant stories in your personalised feed.
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool odds
Odds from BetFair and update live.
Venue: Selhurst Park — London
Time: 12:30 p.m. BST (7:30 a.m. ET), Tuesday
Form guide (league only)
Crystal Palace: 0-3-3, 3 points (18th); L-D-D-D-L
Liverpool: 5-0-1, 15 points (1st); W-W-L-W-W
Match prediction
Crystal Palace 0-2 Liverpool
Everything seems to point towards a Liverpool victory. They’ve been flawless away from home this term and their record against Palace in recent years is nothing short of ominous. On top of all this, Palace are struggling with injuries at the worst possible time. Selhurst Park is never an easy place to go but surely this will be an away win that keeps the visitors at the top of the table.
More Premier League reading
Premier League predicted line-ups: Who do our writers think will start in Gameweek 7?
Why Crystal Palace should still be optimistic: That back line, attacking potential and Cheick Doucoure
How Arne Slot prepares Liverpool: ‘Body wake-up’, ice baths and wellness checks
(Photo of Mohamed Salah: Carl Recine / Getty Images)
