Crystal Palace vs. Liverpool: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info, Tickets
As we reach the business end of this Premier League season, two sides with contrasting objectives meet in a Sunday-lunchtime fixture that sees top-four hopefuls Liverpool make the trip to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace, who will be looking to put distance between themselves and the relegation zone.
Alan Pardew's Eagles have struggled for form since the turn of the year, without a league win in 2016, but after a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Sunderland last time out, they will be looking to go one better against the Reds.
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But they will come up against a Liverpool side buoyed by an emphatic 3-0 victory over Manchester City on Wednesday night, manager Jurgen Klopp witnessing the perfect response to their League Cup final shootout defeat to the same side the previous Sunday.
Palace have enjoyed positive results over the Reds in recent seasons, including a 3-1 win at Anfield toward the end of 2014/15—Steven Gerrard's last home game before leaving to join the Los Angeles Galaxy.
In November, Pardew led his side to a 2-1 victory in the same fixture, with goals from Yannick Bolasie and Scott Dann giving Klopp his first loss as manager on Merseyside.
Can Klopp exact revenge and keep his side's strong league form going, or will Pardew's Palace win out once again?
Date: Sunday, 6 March
Time: 1.30 p.m. GMT / 8.30 a.m. ET
Venue: Selhurst Park, London
TV Info: Sky Sports 1 (UK only) / NBCSN (U.S. only)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK only) NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S. only)
Form Lines (Last 5 Games)
Liverpool: W-D-W-D-W
Crystal Palace: D-L-W-L-D
Team News
Addressing reporters, including the club's official website, on Friday afternoon, Klopp revealed defensive midfielder Lucas Leiva had joined his four-strong group of long-term absentees, with the Brazilian suffering a thigh injury during the League Cup final defeat to City:
"Lucas is really unfortunate. It’s a little bit more serious.
I’ve never heard about an injury you get like this, from a penalty, but it was only because he was a little bit injured before.
He didn’t feel too much but after the shot it was done. [It’s a] quad—I don’t know exactly but five or six weeks [out], not too good.
"
Klopp provided more positive news when it came to Mamadou Sakho and Daniel Sturridge, however, with the pair likely available for selection after sitting out Wednesday's win at Anfield.
Kevin Stewart, Joe Gomez, Jordan Rossiter and Danny Ings remain on the sidelines, but Martin Skrtel could make his return to the squad after recovering from a hamstring injury.
For Palace, Pardew could be missing one of his most in-form talents, with Connor Wickham "touch and go," having taken a knock to his thigh in Tuesday's draw with Sunderland, as the manager told reporters, including the Press Association (h/t ESPN FC), on Friday:
"Connor has done terrific, unfortunately he has got a knock and we will have a scan [on Friday], that he picked up in the game.
We thought it might just be a bang but it could be more serious than that, he is probably touch and go for Sunday.
[...]
If he misses this Sunday, it is a blow to us but for his part, he has been terrific.
"
Wickham has scored four goals in his last two league appearances for the Eagles, with his absence a bitter disappointment for Pardew, who will also be without Wayne Hennessey, James McArthur and Jason Puncheon.
Left-back Pape Souare is available, however, having sat out the clash with Sunderland through suspension.
Predicted Lineups
After watching his side produce a comprehensive display at home to Manuel Pellegrini's City on Wednesday night, Klopp is unlikely to make many changes to his side for the trip to Selhurst Park.
Simon Mignolet will keep his place in goal, while Nathaniel Clyne, Kolo Toure and Dejan Lovren are likely to continue in defence after a clean-sheet performance against City. Only Jon Flanagan is at risk of dropping down to the bench, as Klopp continues to manage his fitness—with Alberto Moreno waiting in the wings.
In midfield, Lucas' injury will no doubt see Emre Can and Jordan Henderson retain their places, as will Roberto Firmino and James Milner.
Adam Lallana and Divock Origi both excelled against City, leaving Klopp with a selection headache as Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho return to the fold—the latter could come in for the 20-year-old Belgian.
Injury to Hennessey is likely to see Alex McCarthy between the sticks for Palace, while the return of Souare could also prompt a change to Pardew's defensive line.
Ex-Reds defender Martin Kelly is likely to drop out while Dann, Damien Delaney and Joel Ward keep their places.
Pardew is able to call upon his strong, three-man midfield of Mile Jedinak, Jordon Mutch and Yohan Cabaye, providing Palace with the steel required to combat Liverpool's fleet-footed attacking line.
Wickham's injury could see a start for Emmanuel Adebayor, with the former City man flanked by Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha.
Likely Liverpool XI: Mignolet; Flanagan, Toure, Lovren, Clyne; Henderson, Can; Milner, Firmino, Lallana; Sturridge.
Likely Crystal Palace XI: McCarthy; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare; Jedinak, Mutch, Cabaye; Zaha, Bolasie, Adebayor.
Players to Watch
Adam Lallana
Taking up a starting role in Klopp's 4-2-3-1 formation on Wednesday night after missing one of the penalties in the League Cup final shootout days earlier, Lallana could have produced another muted display.
But the 27-year-old responded ardently, spearheading Liverpool's tenacious pressing game to help overwhelm a sluggish City at Anfield, scoring the opener and laying on James Milner's strike.
This saw Lallana throw down the gauntlet after a number of disappointing performances in recent weeks, and the England midfielder—and his manager—will be hoping he can replicate this display against Palace on Sunday.
Emmanuel Adebayor
Signing Adebayor represented a major gamble by Pardew, with the Togolese striker's spell with Tottenham Hotspur petering out disappointingly under Mauricio Pochettino before his contract termination last September.
Having scored once in his five league appearances so far, Adebayor's start at Selhurst Park has been subdued. But as he will likely play in Wickham's stead against Liverpool, Pardew will be hoping the 32-year-old can draw on his top-level experience and fire his new side to victory.
While temperamental and inconsistent, Adebayor has proved himself to be a hugely talented forward during his time in English football. And the mercurial No. 25 could spring a surprise on Sunday afternoon.
Key Battle
Yannick Bolasie vs. Jon Flanagan
After missing 11 games through injury between December and February, Bolasie has been slowly reintegrated into Pardew's first team at Palace, coinciding with a slight return to form for the Eagles.
The tricky, powerful winger has proved his credentials in a number of star turns against Liverpool in the past and will provide Flanagan a major test if the 23-year-old is fielded at right-back at Selhurst Park.
Flanagan came out on top against another pacy forward in Raheem Sterling on Wednesday night, and rising in form and fitness following 18 months out with a knee injury, he will be determined to shine once again—and earn a contract extension, with his deal set to expire at the end of the season.
Odds
Crystal Palace: 273-100
Liverpool: 23-20
Draw: 13-5
Odds via Odds Shark and correct at time of writing.
Ticket Information
For ticket information on all Premier League games, visit the league's official site or go to the ticket page on Palace's official website.
Statistics via Transfermarkt.
