Crystal Palace v Liverpool
Saturday 31st March, 12:30
Live on Sky Sports
Saturday 31st March, 12:30
Live on Sky Sports
Crystal Palace out of the relegation zone
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson hailed a "vitally important" victory as his side moved out of the Premier League's relegation zone and ended a seven-match winless runby beating Huddersfield 2-0 before the international break.
The Eagles were on top throughout and secured their success thanks to a goal in each half from James Tomkins and Luka Milivojevic's penalty. Their improved performance was built on defender Mamadou Sakho's leadership at the back, plus the returning Wilfried Zaha adding constant pace and trickery down the flanks.
Considering Palace have kept only five clean sheets throughout the whole season, the shutout was most welcome by Hodgson. Indeed, the Eagles didn't even allow Huddersfield a shot until the 63rd minute and conceded their first on-target effort with just nine minutes left to play.
Liverpool bounce back in style
Jurgen Klopp takes charge of his 100th Premier League game (W53-D28-L18) on Saturday hoping to continue where Liverpool left off before the international break. The Reds demolished Watford 5-0 at Anfield with Mohamed Salah scoring four and setting up the other for Roberto Firmino.
The victory ensured Liverpool opened a seven-point gap over Chelsea in fifth and was the perfect remedy to their 2-1 defeat to arch-rivals Manchester United the previous week. Klopp insisted his side wanted to be back "immediately on the winning side" and his players responded with a performance befitting their manager's urgency.
Liverpool retain hope that Emre Can could feature on Saturday - but Joe Gomez will definitely miss the trip to Selhurst Park. Both players returned home from international duty early after picking up niggles whilst away. A fully fit Nathaniel Clyne and Trent Alexander-Arnold will compete for the right-back berth.
Reds worthy favourites
Liverpool 1.47 haven't completed a Premier League double over Crystal Palace since the 1997-98 campaign when they were managed by Roy Evans but the Reds have taken top honours in each of their last three trips to Selhurst Park.
The Merseysiders have suffered only two defeats in 22 Premier League outings (W15-D5-L2) and haven't lost back-to-back away games in over a year. Liverpool have won seven of their last 11 trips to bottom-six sides and claimed maximum points in each of their past five when excluding the Big Six.
Crystal Palace 8.00 have endured a tough recent run of fixtures and the Eagles do tend to struggle against the Premier League's elite. The hosts have been beaten in nine of their 11 contests with Big Six sides this season, failing to score in six and conceding an average of more than two goals per-game.
Delve a little deeper and Palace have lost 10 of their past 13 when welcoming top-sixPremier League finishers and so it's a difficult to support anything other than an away success on Saturday.
Goal-frenzy forecast for Selhurst Park
Liverpool have scored more Premier League away goals than any other this season with the Reds notching 35 in total, including goals in all bar two of their 15 road trips this term. The visitors have plundered three or more goals in eight of those 15 away days already.
So it's no surprise to learn that nine of Liverpool's last 11 games as guests featured Over 2.5 Goals 1.58, while half of the Reds' most recent 16 visits to bottom-half teams have produced four or more goals, suggesting another high-scoring contest could be on the cards.
Since Crystal Palace returned to the Premier League in 2013, nine of their 10 encounters with Liverpool have seen Over 2.5 Goals pay-out, as well as Both Teams To Score with five of those fixtures seeing at least four strikes. Having already suggested Liverpool will be too strong, it's worth adding Over 2.5 Goals to the equation for a 10/11 play.
RECOMMENDED BETS
Back Liverpool to win and Over 2.5 Goals @ 10/11 in Crystal Palace v Liverpool
