Crystal Palace vs Liverpool

Selhurst Park forms the backdrop for a mid-table Premier League encounter between Crystal Palace and Liverpool.

Crystal Palace conceded a last-gasp equalizer in last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Brentford, remaining the only side in the Premier League yet to wrap up a competitive win in 2023 (D4, L4). Indeed, since a 2-0 away victory at Bournemouth on New Year’s Eve, Patrick Vieira’s men have gone winless in seven league outings, living up to their reputation as ‘stalemate kings’ in that run (D4, L3). Additionally, you’d have to go back to late October for Palace’s last Premier League triumph at Selhurst Park, which hardly bodes well as they bid to arrest an underwhelming run of seven straight Premier League home losses to Liverpool by an aggregate score of 22-6. On the upside, following a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture at Anfield, Palace could go unbeaten in both seasonal Premier League duels against the ‘Reds’ for the first time since 2014/15.

In the meantime, visiting Liverpool seemed on the brink of turning the corner after following up a four-game winless Premier League streak (D1, L3) with back-to-back 2-0 wins over Newcastle United and Everton. Last weekend’s triumph at St James’ Park did not only serve to close the gap on fourth-placed Newcastle to six points but helped the ‘Reds’ snap a woeful three-game losing league run on the road, during which they conceded precisely three goals on each occasion. However, Jurgen Klopp’s men found themselves on the receiving end of a 5-2 scoreline in a midweek Champions League clash against Real Madrid despite going 2-0 up after only 14 minutes of play. Liverpool must bounce back if they’re to remain relevant in a keenly-contested top-four race, though their indifferent six-game away form in 2023 (W2, L4) doesn’t look promising.