Starting Lineups
The hosts present an youthful side, most of established stars omitted. Kerkez, aiming to regain form, is the only player to start again after the 3-2 defeat at Brentford last weekend. Reserve keeper Woodman and teenage wide player Morrison are handed first starts, while the starting XI also features 17-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha and teenage midfielder the playmaker. None of the substitutes is older than 21; Gordon is the most experienced sub with nine matches on his CV.
Crystal Palace on the other hand retain six players from the team sent out for the 1-0 defeat at the Gunners on Sunday. The defender, Maxence Lacroix, The full-back, Ismaïla Sarr, Yéremy Pino and Kamada all hold onto their shirts. Sarr has several finishes against Liverpool in eight games for both clubs, while one of the players making an appearance, the striker, scored the winner when the teams met at their home ground last month.
Match Squads
The Reds: The keeper, Calvin Ramsay, The youngster, Joe Gomez, Andy Robertson, The midfielder, The defender, Kieran Morrison, Alexis Mac Allister, Rio Ngumoha, Federico Chiesa.
Subs: Pecsi, The winger, The player, The talent, The youngster, Figueroa, The sub, The player, Laffey.
The Eagles: Benitez, Canvot, Lacroix, The defender, The full-back, Hughes, Kamada, Borna Sosa, Ismaila Sarr, Pino, Nketiah.
Substitutes: The keeper, Tyrick Mitchell, Lerma, Uche, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Nathaniel Clyne, Esse, Devenny, The sub.
Match referee: Pawson (Yorkshire).
Fixture Context
Liverpool have traditionally faced difficulties with this opponent as difficult opponents. Not exactly always – they have more victories – but when the London club overcome the hosts, they really hit, and hit hard. The famous 1990 clash. The 2014 thriller. The pre-season match. The recent encounter that triggered this astonishing collapse of Liverpool’s title-winning team, the beginning of a poor run in a run of poor results.
Include another few patterns into the mix. Of the last eight meetings between the clubs, Crystal Palace have triumphed three times (factoring in the season opener as a win), Liverpool just a pair. Alarming for the Reds are the recent results at Anfield: Palace have won one and drawn two of the last three. The Londoners have a distinct advantage over Liverpool at the moment.
Having said all that, the Eagles are in a poor run of their own. Three losses have come of their fixtures in various cups, without a victory domestically since that aforementioned capitulation-triggering Liverpool’s trip to Selhurst. So here are two sides who need a spark to rejuvenate their campaign. That alone should give us a fair chance of some thrilling football tonight, though any broader implications may be influenced by what teams the coaches decide to select; it’s doubtful to be Premier League first XIs. We will see about that soon enough. The start is at 7:45 in the evening. The action is about to start!
