Crystal Palace vs Liverpool: Team news, key battles & predicitons

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  • Final stages: Brendan Rodgers will be desperate for his side to hold their nerve for their final two games.

    Liverpool legend John Barnes believes if his old side win the title it will go down as the greatest triumph in Premier League history.

    Manchester City, who are their closest rivals for the title, may have won the championship on goal difference with virtually the final kick of the season two years ago but Barnes thinks it would be even more remarkable if the Reds do it this campaign.

    City moved into pole position after Saturday’s 3-2 win at Everton took them top of the table and, with a superior goal difference, if they win their remaining two matches they will be champions.

    “All of the Liverpool fans will be disappointed if Manchester City win the title but at the start of the season if you asked them if they would take fourth place they would have said yes,” Barnes, who was in the last Anfield side to lift the title in 1990, said.

    “If they win the title it will be the biggest Premier League victory in history because Liverpool finished seventh last year and now they have the same players.

    “They bought Iago Aspas and Mamadou Sakho (also goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and Luis Alberto) but they aren’t the reason why they are where they are and that shows how good a job Brendan Rodgers has done and how much the players have come on.

    “So yes, if they win the title it will be the greatest in history. If they finished second or third it will be a big improvement.

    “They will give everyone at Liverpool hope for the future knowing that they might not necessarily win it next year, but they will compete and they haven’t been able to do that for many years.”

    Having seen Manchester City seize the initiative in the title race, Liverpool have no option but to win when they visit Crystal Palace tonight.

    The Reds’ title challenge was compromised by their 2-0 loss at home to Chelsea last weekend.

    City currently lead Liverpool on goal difference alone, however, and although they have a nine-goal advantage in that regard, it is a slender enough margin of superiority to give Rodgers’ side hope.

    Liverpool were unable to find a way through Chelsea’s defence last weekend despite enjoying 73 per cent of possession, but Rodgers has vowed that they will not abandon their patient approach.

    “You are always going to get that criticism when you try to play and work and pass the ball. It is something I’ve had since I was a young coach,” he said. “What we did do was run out of patience in the (Chelsea) game, and going forward, playing games in the Champions League next season, we are going to have more games like that.

    “That is something we will look to improve on, but it is something I believe is one of my strengths. I learn fairly quickly and the great thing about my players is they are also great learners.

    “When they reflected, they know we played well in a lot of the game, but our patience ran out in the last 20 minutes. But that is natural when you play against top opponents who are in a Champions League semi-final with huge experience and players who are mobile and can cover the ground.

    “We are not perfect, I have always said that, and this will help in our development.”

    Rodgers added: “We had 73 per cent possession, but the focus for us is on the dangerous possession and in that final third we didn’t have enough, and that is something we will work on.

    “We had a good week to analyse and hopefully we will improve.”

    Liverpool will once again be without their England midfielder Jordan Henderson, who completes a three-game ban for his dismissal in last month’s 3-2 win over Manchester City.

    The visitors are otherwise expected to be at full strength, while Palace’s only injury doubt concerns South African central midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi, who has a knee complaint.

    TEAM NEWS

    Crystal Palace

    Manager Tony Pulis has no new injury concerns and expects to have a full squad to choose from as Liverpool arrive at Selhurst Park. Midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi could start after he was returned from injury as a substitute last week.

    Liverpool

    Liverpool will once again be without midfielder Jordan Henderson as he serves the final game of a three-match ban, but should have Daniel Sturridge fit though the England striker has not trained during the week due to a hamstring strain.

    LIKELY LINE-UPS

    Crystal Palace (4-4-1-1)
    Speroni; Mariappa; Dann; Delaney; Ward; Puncheon; Dikgacoi; Jedinak; Bolasie; Ledley; Jerome

    Liverpool (4-3-3)
    Mignolet; Johnson; Skrtel; Sakho; Flanagan; Lucas; Gerrard; Allen; Sterling; Suarez; Coutinho

    KEY BATTLES

    Jon Flanagan vs Jason Puncheon
    The Palace winger has been terrorising defences in recent weeks, scoring vital goals against Cardiff, Villa and Everton. His trickery and ability to cut inside onto his strong left foot make him a genuine danger and Flanagan will have a major battle on his hands.

    However, the Liverpool defender has barely put a foot wrong since forcing his way into the side and will hope to neutralise the threat of Puncheon.

    Luis Suarez vs Julian Speroni
    The Palace keeper has kept four clean sheets in his last six appearances, while Luis Suarez has just one goal in his last four.

    But with Liverpool trailing Manchester City on goal difference the Argentine keeper may well have to be in supreme form to stop his fellow South American.

    FORM GUIDE

    Palace's last five home results –  L W W L L 
    Liverpool's last five away results – W W W W L

    Last five games

    Palace 0-2 Man City (H)
    Palace 0-1 West Ham (A)
    Palace 3-2 Everton (A)
    Palace 1-0 Aston Villa (H)
    Palace 3-0 Cardiff (A)

    Liverpool 0-2 Chelsea (H)
    Liverpool 3-2 Norwich (A)
    Liverpool 3-2 Man City (H)
    Liverpool 1-2 West Ham (A)
    Liverpool 4-0 Tottenham (H)

    SPORT360 PREDICITON

    Reds boss Brendan Rodgers knows it is near impossible to overhaul Manchester City’s superior goal difference so he will be hoping to keep up the pressure with a victory. A fast start will be vital for Liverpool but the Palace defence will not be easily prised open, just ask Chelsea. Palace 1-3 Liverpool 

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