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You know those games where you have the dubious feeling that it could be difficult?
Good: Welcome to Crystal Palace away from home at 12:30 pm after a sensational performance and result against Tottenham in the middle of the week.
Although they have had ups and downs to start this season, Palace has problems. As always, they are rigid and disciplined. But with Wilfried Zaha at the peak of his powers and a couple of close season additions, there is a new expansion to Roy Hodgson’s team in possession.
Jürgen Klopp will be aware of the threat that Crystal Palace represents. After Wednesday night’s high, Kllopp will look to maintain the team’s momentum over the Christmas period.
Here, our writers take a look at what to watch out for on Saturday afternoon.
Mark Wakefield: If ever there was a game that only has ‘banana skin’ written all over it, it’s an early start at Crystal Palace. I still have nightmares about that April 2014 visit, but that’s all I’m going to say about that one.
Liverpool players will be jubilant after beating Spurs in the middle of the week, but as Andy Robertson said after the final whistle, that result only means something if more wins follow and carry on. Palace on their own turf will be a tough test, even without fans, which is a great shame, but it will certainly help Liverpool.
I’m interested in seeing what Klopp does as a central defender. Rhys Williams stepped in to fill Joel Matip’s void against the Spurs and did a tremendous job, but did he do enough to guarantee another start? We’ll have to wait and see.
Matip appears to be back in training and could be in contention to start at Selhurst Park, so it stands to reason that the senior players’ experience takes over and gets the go-ahead. But Williams did so well against the Spurs, is he worth playing with again? Again, it is a dilemma that Klopp will have to solve.
It will also be interesting to see how many changes, if any, Klopp makes to his team’s selection this afternoon. After today, Liverpool have eight days off before hosting West Brom at Anfield after Christmas, so you wouldn’t be surprised to see the same 11 that line up against Spurs midweek.
And he would like to see Liverpool start a game well and possibly score an early goal, which is not something we have seen in quite some time. Against Fulham the first half was terrible, but there was an improvement against Spurs and there could have been an early attack if the opportunities had been taken. Still, if the same amount of quality and effort is shown against Palace, three points should be on the cards.
Ollie Connolly: I am fascinated by how Crystal Palace will be set up with Wilfried Zaha and Eberechi Eze without Christian Benteke (who is suspended). Some of this will depend on who Jurgen Klopp chooses to start as a central defender. But with Benteke out of the lineup, how will Palace deploy its two most instinctive and creative attacking players to try and trap Liverpool’s right-hand side?
Could Zaha start in the middle? In a look shifted to the left? The last time Palace came to Anfield with Jordan Ayew leading the shot was indescribable. Eze brings some chaos to Roy Hodgson’s rigid order. Together with Zaha, he is the player Liverpool will want to keep an eye on.
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The pair have already found some delicious chemistry on the left: Zaha plays a little louder during the flow of the game, while Eze acts as an instigator and creator on the move.
Your setup will depend on how Klopp sets your bottom line. But just as interesting will be how Klopp alternates In the game to cut off the supply to Eze and the supply from Eze to Zaha.
The deployment of the two will make for a fascinating tactical chess match between Klopp and his staff and Hodgson.
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