TEAM NEWS
Adam Lallana might be involved, while Joel Matip could play nearly six weeks after fracturing his collarbone. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has not ruled out Trent Alexander-Arnold and Liverpool vs Crystal Palace, despite both suffering knee injuries last weekend.
Crystal Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni, 39, is expected to make his first appearance since December 2017. Vicente Guaita and Wayne Hennessey are out with respective calf and thigh injuries sustained against Watford.
Forward Christian Benteke made his first appearance since September last weekend and is likely to be among the substitutes again.
MOTD COMMENTATOR’S NOTES
@Guymowbray: The last team to beat Liverpool in a Premier League game at Anfield won’t be given a chance by many this time – but then Palace weren’t at Manchester City in December either. I, for one, won’t be quite so quick to write them off again.
With more points away than home, and a clean sheet tally bettered only by the top four, Roy Hodgson’s team command respect.
The Eagles’ remarkable return of three wins from their last four games away to Liverpool further rams that home and underlines it.
Every Liverpool victory takes them closer to that first title since 1990, but does that bring extra pressure that could affect them? Not yet.
VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT
Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp on his side’s unbeaten home run: “Was it Palace [in 2017] when I felt lonely? Now it’s completely different. We have reached a nice level. We’ve used that atmosphere.”
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson on goalkeeper Julian Speroni being called into action: “It’s a tough ask, there’s no question of that. In an ideal world you’d not be thrusting him in, you’d hopefully be easing him in, but we’ve no choice.
“He’s a good goalkeeper, so we’re very fortunate. To have his quality and experience as the third goalkeeper is pretty fortunate. We’ve someone who’s played over 400 times for Palace and is in very good shape.”
LAWRO’S PREDICTION
I don’t see Liverpool having many problems in winning this one. Anything Palace get from this game is a bonus, and I just don’t see it happening.
Prediction: 2-0
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Liverpool have won five of the past six league meetings, and are vying for a fourth straight victory against Crystal Palace for the first time in the top flight.
- However, Palace had won three successive Premier League games at Anfield before losing on their most recent visit in August 2017.
Liverpool
- The league leaders are looking to win seven consecutive Premier League home games for the first time since January 2014.
- Liverpool are on a 31-match unbeaten league run at Anfield since losing to Crystal Palace in April 2017. It’s their joint longest top-flight streak since a club record 63 home games without defeat between February 1978 and December 1980.
- The Reds have kept 12 clean sheets in their last 16 Premier League home fixtures, conceding once in each of the other four games.
- Jürgen Klopp’s side have the second best defensive record of all time after 22 matches of an English top-flight season, conceding just 10 goals. Chelsea conceded eight in 2004-05.
- However, Liverpool have lost 11 of their 27 competitive matches in January under Klopp (W9, D7, L11).
- Sadio Mane has scored in three successive Premier League games against Crystal Palace and has six goals against them in total, more than versus any other side in the competition.
- Mohamed Salah needs two goals to become the first Egyptian to score 50 in the Premier League.
- Andrew Robertson is one short of 100 Premier League appearances.
Crystal Palace
- The Eagles could equal the club top-flight record of three consecutive away victories.
- They have won half of their past six league games, doubling their number of victories for the season.
- Crystal Palace’s tally of eight clean sheets this season is the most by any club outside the current top four.
- Palace have failed to score in six of their past seven league games against the leaders, with the exception being a 2-1 win at Chelsea in April 2017.
- Roy Hodgson won only seven of his 20 Premier League matches as Liverpool manager during the 2010-11 season (W7, D4, L9).
- He is unbeaten in all four Premier League fixtures as a visiting manager at Anfield, with three goalless draws and a 1-0 victory with West Brom in April 2012.
- Christian Benteke scored 10 goals in 42 appearances during his solitary season at Liverpool in 2015-16.
- Wilfried Zaha has failed to score, and only provided one assist, in 15 Premier League appearances since his winning goal at Huddersfield Town in September.
