The Big Match: Liverpool v C Palace stats, team news, prediction & TV channel

Liverpool v Crystal Palace

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event, 4pm Sunday

Match odds

1-6 Liverpool, 18-1 Crystal Palace, 15-2 draw

Form

A nine-game unbeaten run, featuring four straight successes, has put Liverpool on the cusp of Champions League qualification. The Reds find themselves fourth, level on points with fifth-placed Leicester, but with a goal difference four superior to the Foxes should seal the deal with victory. Jurgen Klopp's men won 3-0 at Burnley on Wednesday, just three days after a miraculous injury-time header from Alisson steered them to a crucial 2-1 win at West Brom.

This final-day trip to Anfield marks the final game in the era of Roy Hodgson, who is stepping down having been appointed Crystal Palace manager in September 2017. The Eagles have lost five of their last seven league games and they conceded two stoppage-time strikes in a 3-1 defeat at home to Arsenal in midweek.

Team news

Liverpool remain without long-term absentees Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, Joe Gomez and Jordan Henderson, but Naby Keita and Diogo Jota are pushing to be fit. James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain returned from the bench at Turf Moor last time out.

Eberechi Eze has been ruled out for at least six months with an achilles injury, joining James McArthur, Mamadou Sakho and Luka Milivojevic on the treatment table.

The tactical battle

Klopp will be hopeful his side can dominate possession against counter-attacking specialists Crystal Palace and will be looking for their high-press to win the ball back high up the pitch.

Flying full-backs Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold will regularly neglect defensive duties as they act as two extra attackers, supplying super service from wide areas.

Palace will sit deep and stay compact, attempting to soak up the pressure before hitting Liverpool on the break, with talisman Wilfried Zaha carrying the visitors' chief threat.

With the racuous Anfield crowd back in play, Liverpool's pressure should eventually pay off. But Palace, well-equipped to the counter-attack, are capable of making their mark against a makeshift defence.

Verdict

Liverpool have raised the stakes when it has mattered most but their margin of victory at Burnley was flattering and it may not be all plain-sailing against Palace.

The inexperienced centre back partnership of Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams still looks vulnerable and Burnley had enough decent opportunities to have at least grabbed a consolation.

The Reds have rediscovered their magic in the final third, but have conceded in five of their last seven league games and Zaha and an in-form Christian Benteke should pose them plenty of problems.

Liverpool 2 Crystal Palace 1

Key stats

• Liverpool have won each of their last seven Premier League meetings with Crystal Palace
• Liverpool have netted 17 goals in their last four Premier League showdowns with Palace
• The Reds have scored in both halves in each of their last four Premier League games
• Christian Benteke has scored in each of Crystal Palace's last four Premier League matches
• Palace have netted in each of their last six away league trips

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