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Match Squads

The hosts are fielding an fresh side, most of first-team players rested. Kerkez, desperate to play himself into some form, is the only player to start again after the setback at Thomas Frank’s side last weekend. Backup shot-stopper Woodman and youngster Kieran Morrison are handed first starts, while the lineup also features teen talent the forward and 18-year-old midfielder Nyoni. Nobody on their bench is above 21 years; Kaide Gordon is the most experienced sub with nine senior appearances on his CV.

The London club on the other hand keep half a dozen from the team selected for the reverse at Arsenal on Sunday. Marc Guéhi, Maxence Lacroix, Muñoz, The winger, The attacker and The midfielder all keep their places. The Senegalese international has a handful of strikes against Liverpool in eight matches for Crystal Palace and Watford, while one of the players coming into the side, Eddie Nketiah, netted the decisive goal when the teams clashed at their home ground last month.

Match Squads

Anfield outfit: Freddie Woodman, The right-back, The youngster, The defender, Robertson, The midfielder, Kerkez, The winger, The playmaker, The attacker, Federico Chiesa.
Reserves: Pecsi, Gordon, Pilling, Kone-Doherty, Pinnington, Figueroa, Nallo, Lucky, The reserve.

The Eagles: The goalkeeper, The defender, The centre-back, Marc Guehi, The full-back, Hughes, Daichi Kamada, Borna Sosa, Sarr, The winger, Nketiah.
Substitutes: Dean Henderson, Tyrick Mitchell, Jefferson Lerma, The player, Mateta, Nathaniel Clyne, Esse, The talent, Cardines.

Referee: Craig Pawson (Yorkshire).

Preamble

The home side have often struggled against this opponent as challenging rivals. Not always – they have more victories – but when the visitors overcome the Liverpool, they land a blow, and hit hard. Their 1990 cup meeting. The 2014 thriller. The pre-season match. The game at Selhurst last month that precipitated this astonishing collapse of Arne Slot’s champion side, their initial defeat in a run of poor results.

Include another few patterns into the mix. Of the last eight meetings between the clubs, Palace have triumphed three times (factoring in the charity match as a win), Liverpool just two wins. More concerning the Reds are the latest outcomes at Liverpool’s stadium: The Eagles have secured a win and two draws of the last three. Crystal Palace have a distinct advantage over the home team at the moment.

Despite this, the away side are in a dip in form of their own. They’ve lost three of their fixtures in every tournament, failing to win domestically since that previously mentioned loss-inducing visit of Liverpool to Selhurst. So here are two sides who could do with a spark to rejuvenate their campaign. Such a scenario should give us a decent opportunity of some entertaining action tonight, though any long-term significance may be influenced by what sides the coaches decide to field; it’s doubtful to be full-strength teams. We will see about that soon enough. Kick-off is at 7.45pm GMT. We’re underway!