Crystal Palace vs. Liverpool: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview
After back-to-back losses in their last two Premier League games, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers needs a victory away to Crystal Palace on Sunday.
The Reds have got off to an awful start to the league season and currently sit 11th with just four victories from their first 11 matches.
However, a trip to struggling Palace may be just the tonic, the Selhurst Park outfit having lost four of their last five matches, leaving them on the cusp of the relegation zone.
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Read on for all the details for Sunday's match including scheduling, television and live streaming information as well as a preview of the encounter.
Date: Sunday, Nov. 23
Time: 1:30 p.m. GMT, 8:30 a.m. ET
TV Info: Sky Sports 1 (UK), CNBC (US)
Live Stream: Sky Go, NBC Sports Live Extra
Preview
Liverpool were supposed to be welcoming back star striker Daniel Sturridge for Sunday's game, per Eurosport, but the Englishman has suffered another injury setback, which means he misses out yet again, per BBC Sport:
Thus Rodgers is left with Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini as his strike options, none of whom have scored a Premier League goal this season, per WhoScored.com.
A lack of firepower up front has been a major issue for the Reds so far this season, as without the departed Luis Suarez and injured Sturridge, they look a far cry from the side that scored 101 goals last term.
However, only QPR have conceded more goals than Palace in the league this season, and the Reds certainly have the quality to break down the Eagles' back line.
But Rodgers needs to change things up tactically. Raheem Sterling is arguably Liverpool's best player at the moment and needs to be playing a more central role where he can affect the game more.
Equally, Balotelli has taken much criticism this term and he has been poor, as Bleacher Report UK's Ryan Bailey alludes to in his preview of the Premier League weekend:
But Rodgers' insistence on isolating the Italian up front as the lone striker has proven consistently ineffective, per B/R UK's Matt Ladson:
"Something about making the same mistakes over and again (4231, Sterling wide, Balotelli isolated, Johnson playing).
— Matt Ladson (@mattladson) November 1, 2014"
With Sturridge still out injured, Rodgers needs to get the best out of what he has at his disposal, and there is real quality to call upon.
The likes of Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana, Sterling and Balotelli certainly have the ability to cause a weak Palace defence major problems, but they must be set up correctly for maximum effectiveness.
Playing away from home could be an advantage for Liverpool considering the increasing pressure being built up at Anfield after their poor start to the season.
However, anything but a win on Sunday will see that pressure further increased when they return home for their next league encounter against Stoke.
Meanwhile, Palace have major issues of their own and have not picked up a win in the Premier League since beating Leicester at the end of September.
Neil Warnock's men performed well last time out against Manchester United but still left Old Trafford with nothing after a 1-0 defeat.
Top scorer Fraizer Campbell will be key for the Eagles on Sunday if they are to claim a valuable win as he will no doubt be given opportunities by a consistently poor Liverpool defence.
The Englishman must be clinical and take advantage of any chances he does get after failing to convert the best chance of the match against United two weeks ago, per the Manchester Evening News' Rob Dawson:
Palace should be confident of taking something away from Sunday's encounter with memories of last season's dramatic 3-3 draw between the two sides in May no doubt still fresh in the memory.
The Reds are vulnerable at present and are lacking firepower in attack, a problem that could potentially be solved by some tactical tinkering.
However, if Palace can come out of the blocks fast on Sunday and pressure the Reds' weak defence, they should be able to claim the initiative which could lead to a vital win.
