The games are starting to come thick and first now upon the return of Champions League football for Liverpool, but it is back to domestic action on Saturday as Crystal Palace are the visitors at Anfield. Coming just three days after the reds’ gruelling affair with AC Milan, Patrick Vieira’s side will see this as an opportunity to exploit a few tiring legs and cause an upset on the biggest stage.
Crystal Palace have taken many points off Liverpool since returning to the Premier League in 2013, most notably at Selhurst Park in Liverpool’s title charge of 13/14, coming back from behind to draw 3-3. They also won at Anfield in what was Steven Gerrard’s last ever home game, as well as winning 2-1 in 16/17, sparking Liverpool into a run of 68 league games without defeat at home.
Confidence will be coursing through the veins of those in Crystal Palace colours , coming into this game on the back of a mightily impressive 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, a game which the Eagles dominated from the first minute until the last. Convincing scoreline aside, Palace’s defensive solidity is what will have pleased Vieira most heading into this game, with his side limiting Spurs to snap shots and no clear cut opportunities.
For the first time in his Premier League career, Harry Kane did not have a touch or a shot in the opposition penalty area in a game he’s completed the 90 minutes in, further underlining Palace’s ability to stay tight to their men and defend aggressively.
Stereotypically, Crystal Palace were viewed as a defensively well drilled side that were tough to beat under Roy Hodgson, but the underlying numbers suggest that the defence was in serious need of upgrading, especially with the likes of Mamadou Sakho, Scott Dann and Gary Cahill leaving the club.
The signings of Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen signalled Palace’s approach to life post-Hodgson, with technically astute centre-backs being signed to form a new partnership at the heart of their defence. The evidence so far has been clear for all to see, with impressive clean sheets against Brentford and Tottenham. Against the leagues toughest opposition, having such high-level defenders will give Palace so much scope for picking up results, whether it’s via clean sheets or keeping the top teams down to one or two.
Saturday will be this sort of encounter for them. The last thing Patrick Vieira wants is a humiliating defeat, so sitting back and looking to hit the Reds on the counter attack may prove to be influential. Wilfried Zaha is a constant threat wherever he plays, and up against the attacking Trent Alexander-Arnold he will always look for space in behind to exploit.
Prior to Palace’s last two games, goals were a huge concern for fans of the club, worrying whether the output of Benteke and Ayew was enough for them going forward. Two weeks on, loanee Connor Gallagher and new signing Odsonne Edouard have given them a new lease of life, both scoring twice and proving that they have what it takes to find success going forward. Edouard was brought in from Celtic after having an incredibly successful career in Scotland, and the Frenchman scored just 27 seconds into his Premier League debut, capping off his performance with a well taken second goal in the final moments as well.
Both goals scored by Edouard showed his instincts in front of goal, as well as his sharp movement and clinical nature. Christian Benteke has his moments to say the least, yet the dynamism of Edouard provides Palace with a new dimension to their play, especially with the likes of Zaha, Gallagher and Olise offering the service. I suspect Edouard will start this game after his electric cameo, and up against Virgil Van Dijk and whoever is partnered next to the Dutchman, it’ll be fascinating to see how he fairs at Anfield.
Liverpool’s changes in midweek with Gomez and Origi starting suggests to me that Klopp will go full strength again for this league encounter, and therefore Palace will have to be switched on tactically to get anything from the match. Mohamed Salah has started the season on absolute fire and the attacking combinations between him and Alexander-Arnold are difficult to stop at time. Young full-back Tyrick Mitchell will need support from his winger and midfielders around him, and I can see Palace deploying a very rigid 4-3-3 system, with defensive midfielders sitting in deep and wingers covering the full-backs at all times. If Crystal Palace can use the confidence from last weekends result and start well, then there is no reason why they will be unable to cause an upset and hurt Liverpool.
