Liverpool can take a massive step towards securing a Champions League spot for next season with a win against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The Reds’ pursuit of a top-five finish was enhanced by their win at Everton on Sunday courtesy of Virgil van Dijk’s last-gasp header and Chelsea’s defeat at home to Manchester United.
A home game with Palace is an excellent opportunity to clinch another three points, with the visitors potentially having one eye on Thursday’s away first leg of their Conference League semi-final against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot remains wary of an Eagles side who beat them on penalties in the Community Shield as well as the reverse Premier League fixture and the EFL Cup this season.
He said: “As always, what makes it difficult is the players you face. They have a good team. They already had a good team two or three years ago.
“They have a very good manager [Oliver Glasner] who is able to bring a lot of discipline to that team. It is really hard to create chances against them.
“It doesn’t matter what game you are watching. You haven’t seen the other team create a chance against them.
“On the other hand, they are very direct with their attacking style. They have conceded the fewest goals after Arsenal [and Manchester City]. That tells you a lot.”
Outgoing boss 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.
“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.
Where to watch Liverpool v Crystal Palace
Kick-off on Saturday is at 15:00 GMT (12:00 ET / 09:00 PT). The match is not being shown live in the UK.
Visit the Premier League’s site for a full list of international broadcasters.
Liverpool v Crystal Palace stats
- Liverpool lost the fixture on penalties in the Community Shield at Wembley Stadium, 2-1 in the Premier League at Selhurst Park in September and 3-0 at Anfield in the EFL Cup fourth round in October.
- They are winless in their last three Premier League home games against Crystal Palace (D2 L1), having won five in a row against them at Anfield immediately beforehand
- With six wins in their last 10 Premier League games (D1 L3), Liverpool have earned more victories than in their previous 18 combined (W5 D6 L7) and could win three league games in a row for a fourth time this season
- Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has scored in each of his last three Premier League starts (three goals), having only scored two goals in his previous 14 starts
- Salah will be 33 years and 314 days on the day of this game, with Cristiano Ronaldo the last player that old to score in four starts in a row in the competition (37 years, 86 days in May 2022)
- Palace could complete the league double over Liverpool for just the third time, after 1991/92 and 2014/15, and achieve the same feat over the reigning champions for the first time
- They have netted exactly twice in their last five Premier League games against the reigning champions, with Manchester City the only team to score at least two goals in six in a row against title-holders in the competitions, doing so from September 2013 to May 2017
- The last team to beat the Reds twice at Anfield in the same season were Arsenal in 2006/07
- Ismaila Sarr has scored in each of his last four appearances against Liverpool in all competitions (5 goals)
- In English football, Sarr only has more goals against Aston Villa (8) than he does against the Reds (7)
