Crystal Palace are a “really, really, really hard” team to create chances against, Arne Slot has said as his Liverpool side aim to end a five-match winless run against the Eagles when Oliver Glasner’s team visit Anfield on Saturday.
The Reds have lost all three of their encounters with Palace this season but are five points clear in what is likely to be the final Premier League qualifying position for the Champions League with five matches of their campaign remaining.
“It doesn’t matter which [Palace] game, but you’re watching 60 minutes of football and you haven’t seen the other team creating a chance against them,” observed Slot, reflecting on his attempts to find defensive weaknesses to exploit.
“At the other end, they are very direct in their playing style with good attackers going quite fast in behind your last line.
“After Arsenal [and Manchester City], they have conceded the fewest goals [in this season’s division]. That tells you a lot, and there’s a reason for that: they hardly concede a chance.”
The outgoing Glasner will lead Palace at Anfield for the final time and says his players have a “massive chance” to earn a fourth win of 2025/26 against them, which would push his side towards the top half of the table.
“If we win twice against Liverpool, it’s very good,” said the Austrian. “To win three times is amazing. Now we have the opportunity to win against Liverpool four times in one season.
“It’s something unique – you don’t play a team like Liverpool four times a year very often. Having three wins already is massive.
“We are really happy and motivated because maybe this will never happen again. Anfield is such an amazing stadium.
“The atmosphere is great. We’re still playing the Premier League holders and it’s a big challenge. We always enjoy these kinds of games.
“This is exactly what we want and what helps us to improve. We get the mirror of what we are doing well and what we need to improve.”
Liverpool v Crystal Palace team news
Goalkeeper Alisson could return for Liverpool after missing six straight matches in all competitions with the Brazil international’s second hamstring injury of the season.
Established understudy Giorgi Mamardashvili is out for weeks with a knee injury sustained during the last-gasp 2-1 win at Everton on Sunday, so third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman – a Palace fan and former Eagles academy player – will deputise if Alisson remains unavailable.
Centre-back Joe Gomez is back in contention after missing the trip to Everton. Midfielder Wataru Endo has returned to training following a long-term injury and should play again before the end of the season.
Defenders Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni (both knee) and forward Hugo Ekitike (Achilles) are long-term absentees and forward Jayden Danns remains out with a hamstring issue.
Midfielder Adam Wharton is back for Crystal Palace after missing the 0-0 draw at home to West Ham on Monday.
Nathaniel Clyne needs to recover from illness if the defender is to make his 250th Palace appearance at Anfield.
Striker Eddie Nketiah (hamstring) and on-loan Aston Villa forward Evann Guessand (knee) remain out.
