Liverpool are wishing to brush aside their opening day disappointment by collecting the first three points of the 2022/23 campaign at Anfield against Crystal Palace.
The Reds had to come from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Fulham while Crystal Palace suffered a 2-0 loss to Arsenal in a diminutive display.
LIV vs CRY Match Details
Date: Monday, 15th August 2022 / Tuesday, 16th August 2022
Time: 20:00 (BST) / 00:30 (IST)
Venue: Anfield, Liverpool
LIV vs CRY Match Preview
Jurgen Klopp did not wish the start of the 2022/23 season to be in this manner going on to say the 2-2 draw felt like a defeat to him. The Liverpool side that have opened most of their recent seasons with a bang struggled to get out Fulham’s press or create decent enough opportunity. The first half, in particular, was rocky leading to Alexander Mitrovic heading in the opener at Craven Cottage capitalizing on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s inability to defend the cross. Luis Diaz hit the woodwork in the only meaningful opportunity before the break. Klopp rang around changes on the 50th mark partly due to Thiago’s injury fielding Harvey Elliot in his place and introducing Darwin Nunez to replace Roberto Firmino. The changes worked magic as the Uruguayan’s out-of-the-box attempt, with some luck, helped him earn his first Premier goal for the Reds. However, Liverpool went behind again with Mitrovic getting his second from the spot after being tripped by Virgil van Dijk inside the box. The record signing now turned provider by returning the favor of his opener to Mohamed Salah for the Egyptian’s first goal of the season. Jordan Henderson could have won it at the death with his long-ranger hitting the crosspiece but it would have been unjust to Fulham’s fight on the day. Klopp will be willing to get his side to their own standard in their first home game of the season to prevent any dropping of points knowing that title rivals Manchester City have made a hundred per cent start in two games of the new season so far. The concern for Liverpool though will be their growing injury list. Most of their injured players won’t be returning until September so the manager has to produce the best from his available players to get over this month. The record at Anfield is a savior with Liverpool winning 13 of their last 14 league encounters. Also, the Reds are yet to lose a game this year and are confident to face a Crystal Palace side that have started the season on a losing note.
Not since the 2003-04 season Liverpool have lost a home game in the Premier League and it sends all kinds of wrong messages in the dressing room of Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace. Starting the campaign with a 2-0 loss to Arsenal amid few chances to rescue a draw from the game stalled early season optimism for the Gunners legend as he prepares his side for a tough schedule also having champions Manchester City to face in the first five games of the 2022/23 season. The defeat meant Crystal Palace lost their five-match unbeaten streak at Selhurst Park and their clean sheet too. Patrick Vieira is in no mood to repeat the record of losing back-to-back opening games of a season that happened in 2017/18 where they went on to lose their first seven games, the worst record in the Premier League to date. There is little chance this talented group of players will be fragile in the same way but the team urges for a consistent striker which neither Odsonne Edouard, Mateta or Christian Benteke have been at the club causing Vieira to chop and change. Facing Liverpool at Anfield right after competing with a well-drilled Arsenal side a week ago spells a tough start to the 2022/23 season for them. The worry for Palace is enlarged by their dismal record of losing their last six league games at Anfield since their 2-1 win over the hosts in 2017, losing ten prior meetings too. That was also the second time the visitors managed to score a goal within the period. Liverpool have also scored 12 goals and conceded only twice in the last five league games at home so it is a test of might for Palace to stop this juggernaut in their backyard whom they lost twice last season.
LIV vs CRY Team News
Injuries keep mounting for Liverpool as Joel Matip takes to the treatment room with a groin injury making him a major doubt for the game. In that case, Joe Gomez will partner Virgil van Dijk at the back with Ibrahima Konate a long-term absentee. Midfielder Thiago Alcantara suffered a hamstring injury in the game against Fulham set to keep him out for six weeks. This is a major concern for Jurgen Klopp who is already short of options in the middle of the park with Alex Oxlade Chamberlain and Curtis Jones out injured. Signed a new long-term contract with the club, Harvey Elliot is tipped to start in the midfield three of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson regardless of Naby Keita’s return back from illness. Second-choice keeper Caoimhin Kelleher is having physical discomfort while Diogo Jota, also penning a new deal, continues to recover from a thigh injury. Left-back Tsimikas is a doubt for the game. New signing Calvin Ramsey is not in contention. Jurgen Klopp is willing to give record purchase Darwin Nunez his first start in a Liverpool shirt after starring off the bench in the last two games for the Reds.
Crystal Palace are also struggling with injuries although they haven’t picked up a new one after the opening day loss to Arsenal. Goalkeeper Jack Butland remains out with a broken wrist so is James McArthur with a groin injury and a muscle problem is keeping out James Tomkins from selection. Both Nathan Ferguson and Michael Olise is missing through foot injuries. All of them are not expected to get back to action this month. Palace also have a decision to make about who to start upfront with Odsonne Edouard, who started against Arsenal, facing competition from Jean-Philippe Mateta for his place after the Frenchman scored twice for the U21s this week.
Predicted Lineups
LIV: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Van Dijk, Andrew Robertson; Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Harvey Elliot; Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz
CRY: Vincent Guaita; Nathaniel Clyne, Joachim Andersen, Marc Guehi, Tyrick Mitchell; Jeffrey Schlupp, Cheick Doucoure, Eberechi Eze; Andre Ayew, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Wilfred Zaha
LIV vs CRY Head to head
Now a Bayern Munich player, Sadio Mane scored the opener at Anfield in this clash last season with Mo Salah and Naby Keita joining the party to seal a 3-0 victory. The Senegalese also scored twice in the meeting earlier in 2021. He also scored the winner in a 4-3 thrilling match in 2019 with Salah bagging a brace and Roberto Firmino also getting on the scoresheet. The only victory Crystal Palace had in recent times was in 2017 when Benteke scored twice against his old club to cut off a first-half lead from Philippe Coutinho.
LIV vs CRY Dream11 Team prediction
GK: Alisson (8.5)
DEF: Alexander-Arnold (9.5), Andersen (9), Van Dijk (8.5), Robertson (9)
MID: Zaha (9.5), Eze (8.5), Doucoure (8), Diaz (9.5)
FW: Salah (10.5), Nunez (9)
Captain: Mohamed Salah (47.91%)
Vice-captain: Darwin Nunez (25.55%)
Alisson has kept a clean sheet in three of his last four games at Anfield against Crystal Palace since joining in 2017
Nunez has 13 goals contribution in his last 10 games in all competitions including a goal against his present side in both legs of the Champions League quarterfinal last season.
Salah has 11 goal contributions in his last 7 matches versus Crystal Palace.
