On the back of a dominant display at Anfield, having outplayed Manchester City in front of a vociferous home crowd, Liverpool travel to Selhurst Park to face off with Alan Pardew’s lively Crystal Palace side this Sunday. Without a single league win in 2016, Crystal Palace and Alan Pardew have in recent seasons, been a thorn in Liverpool’s eyes often upsetting the Merseysiders home and away.
Having effectively played a part in derailing Liverpool’s ill-fated title challenge the season before last, Crystal Palace will this time, look to end a run of poor results which has seen them drop to 14th in the Barclay’s Premier League table.
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Kickoff and Live Telecast
Channel: Star Sports 4 & Star Sports 4 HD
Date and Time: 5th March, 19:00 IST
Venue: Selhurst Park
Live Stream: www.starsports.com
Team News
Crystal Palace
Papa Souare returns from a three-match ban for Crystal Palace, having been shown a straight Red versus Watford. Conor Wickham and Wayne Hennessey are considered doubts for the game but are expected to have late fitness tests. Jason Puncheon and James McArthur continue to be out with injuries sustained on their hamstring and ankle ligaments respectively.
Liverpool
Daniel Sturridge and Phillipe Coutinho are expected to return to the starting line-up with Lucas Leiva set to spend a spell on the sidelines with a thigh injury. Alberto Moreno is back in training after a knock kept him out of the game against Manchester City and is expected to return to the starting lineup at left back with Jon Flanagan giving way and Nathaniel Clyne reverting to his favored right back position. Mamadou Sakho is also fit and available for selection.
Probable Lineups
Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): Hennessey; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare; Jedinak, Cabaye; Zaha, Mutch, Bolasie; Adebayor
Liverpool(4-2-3-1): Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno; Emre Can, Henderson; Milner, Firmino, Coutinho; Sturridge
Form
Crystal Palace
The home team is in admittedly dreadful form with no wins in the last five fixtures having lost three and drawn two of these games. Crystal Palace drew their last outing to the Stadium of Light against Sunderland losing previously to West Bromwich Albion away and Watford at Home. Before those games, they had drawn at Swansea away and lost to Bournemouth at Selhurst Park.
The mood around the Palace grounds is far from jovial with a run of form that the Crystal Palace faithful are desperate to overturn. Having faded alarmingly since the turn of the year, Alan Pardew will be hopeful that Crystal Palace repeat their exploits at Anfield earlier in the season when they beat Liverpool with goals coming that day from Bolasie and Dann. Crystal Palace are currently 14th in the table.
Last 5 Matches: L-D-L-L-D(Last Match: Sunderland 2-2 Crystal Palace)
Liverpool
Liverpool have had quite a stop-start season with great performances being peppered by many a questionable display. A look at the last five games alone reflects their season form guide with the Merseysiders marking wins against Manchester City and Aston Villa with a prior draw against relegation battlers Sunderland and league leaders Leicester, with all of these games following a nine-goal thriller which saw Liverpool sensationally beat a resilient Norwich side at Carrow Road by 5 goals to 4.
Having thoroughly battered Aston Villa and outplayed as well as outfought title contenders Manchester City, a win may go a long way in establishing Liverpool’s late surge for a top four finish.
Last 5 Matches: W-L-D-W-W( Last match: Liverpool 3-0 Manchester City)
Key Stats:
Liverpool have not won against Crystal Palace since beating the Eagles 3-1 at Anfield in October 2013.
Crystal Palace have lost 4 of their last 5 home games in the top flight.
Crystal Palace are winless in the Premier League in 2016.
Liverpool have scored 16 goals in their last 5 Premier League games.
Conor Wickham has scored 4 goals in his last 2 Premier League games.
Key Battles:
Daniel Sturridge vs Scott Dann
Liverpool’s main man, Daniel Sturridge has been missed by the Anfield faithful almost all season having been frustrated by his lack of physical fitness till about the turn of the year. From the look of things, the striker has turned a corner on the fitness front having played in the last few games without much incident and even lasting a staggering 120 minutes of football played at brutal pace in the Capital One Cup Final against Manchester City. His blistering pace, guile and trickery will be crucial in breaking down a physical unit that is the Crystal Palace defense.
Drawing battle lines against the Liverpool marksman ironically will be boyhood Liverpool fan and former Liverpool season ticket holder Scott Dann. Having been Palace’s most consistent and arguably best defender this season, Dann plays with his heart on his sleeve. A marked organizer of his defensive lineup, Dann is also adept at wreaking havoc at the other end of the pitch with his aerial threat from set pieces, having plundered a team top score of 5 goals this season including the winner at Anfield in the reverse fixture. His organization and mettle defensively will be key if Crystal Palace are to subdue the threat of Liverpool’s galvanized forward line let alone Daniel Sturridge.
Yannick Bolasie vs Nathaniel Clyne
Yannick Bolasie was a wanted man in the summer. Palace may have celebrated his staying at Selhurst Park but they have missed their main man this season owing to a string of fitness issues. Bolasie can turn a game on its head if he so desires with a turn of pace and surge of power that makes wingers like him so very difficult to deal with.
His opponent for the game in all likelihood will be the equally athletic Nathaniel Clyne who since his move from St. Mary’s has brought a defensive calm to the Reds’ right-hand side that was oft deemed missing in previous seasons. Clyne is incredibly quick on the turn and has a keen defensive ability. His link up play on the other end of the pitch may also be crucial in pegging Bolasie back and, therefore, blunting the Palace attack. Either way, this clash may prove to be a mouth-watering one for any neutral watching.
Prediction
Liverpool are building momentum and on the back of the win against Manchester City, you would not bet against them at this moment. However having already played 210 minutes of high octane football in a span of 7 days already, you could expect the players to feel leggy. Palace are on a poor run of form yet they could capitalize on their relative freshness especially with Liverpool’s weakness from set pieces. However, with all their firepower and a rested Daniel Sturridge and Phillipe Coutinho, Liverpool could sneak this with a hard fought win.
Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
Betting odds:
Crystal Palace – 11/4
Draw – 13/5
Liverpool – 11/10
