Crystal Palace vs Liverpool Predicted Lineups, Preview, Odds & Prediction

This is the second meeting between Crystal Palace and Liverpool already this season, the first being the Community Shield; that game finished 2-2 in normal time and Palace went on to win on penalties. No trophies in their clubs history suddenly became 2 in 3 months for Crystal Palace and their South East London faithful. Since that game, both sides have had tremendous starts to their season. Both Liverpool and Crystal Palace remain the only undefeated teams in the Premier League this season. Palace have won 2 and drawn 3 so far this season, keeping 3 clean sheets out of 5 games. Liverpool having won 5 from 5, scoring in every game, keeping a clean sheet in 2, despite having faced Arsenal, Newcastle at St James Park post Isak saga, Bournemouth and Everton in the Merseyside derby. It’s the battle of the undefeated’s this Saturday; will we get a stalemate that keeps both teams records unblemished, will Glasner’s underdogs pull of the upset or will the champions continue their perfect start in defence of their title?

• Can Palace remain undefeated against the champions Liverpool?
• Can Liverpool continue their perfect start and make it 6 wins out of 6 to heap the pressure on Arsenal?
• Will Isak make his first Premier League start for the Reds?

Find out all of that and much more in our preview of Crystal Palace vs Liverpool. We have a match preview, predicted lineups, team and injury news, live odds, our score prediction and more for this GW6 matchup.

Match Details:

Fixture: Crystal Palace vs Liverpool

Stadium: Selhurst Park

Date: Saturday 27th September

Kick-off: 3:00pm BST

Premier League Head-to-Head Record:

These two teams have always played tight games in recent years. 3 of each team’s last 7 or 8 games competitive games will have been against each other after this weekend’s game; the final game of last season was against each other and the opening game of this season, the Community Shield, was also these two teams facing off. And now we have this GW6 matchup. We’ve had everything in these games, last minute goals, red cards, exciting tense games, drab 0-0’s – anything could happen on Saturday. Across their last 5 league meetings, Liverpool narrowly hold the upper hand, with 2 wins for the Reds, 2 draws and 1 win for Palace.

Crystal Palace Liverpool Last 5 Premier League Results

25/05/25 - Liverpool 1-1 Crystal Palace

05/10/24 - Crystal Palace 0-1 Liverpool

14/04/24 - Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace

09/12/23 - Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool

25/02/23 - Crystal Palace 0-0 Liverpool

Crystal Palace Overview and Form:

Crystal Palace have had an undefeated start to their campaign, winning twice against West Ham and Aston Villa, and drawing 3 games against Chelsea, Forest and Sunderland. Given they lost Eze to Arsenal less than 2 weeks from the end of the window, and nearly lost captain Marc Guehi on deadline day, as well as the fact they’ve had injuries to key players like Sarr and Wharton already this season, 2 wins and 3 draws in 5 league games with 3 clean sheets is tremendous going for Glasner and his men.

Defensively Palace have been so solid, with 3 clean sheets out of 5 games, having only conceded 2 goals in 5 games. Lacroix, Guehi, Richards, Mitchell and Munoz are all in fine form and proving to be some of the better players in their positions in the league. Palace are 5th best in the league, behind only Newcastle, Arsenal, Bournemouth and Liverpool for xG conceded so far through 5 games. Their defensive strength will be the foundation that their season is built on, especially with Eze leaving.

From an attacking standpoint, the numbers tell a few different stories. Palace currently sit 3rd in xG in the league despite losing Eze and Sarr having missed their last 2 league games. Pino coming in has certainly helped and the defender, particularly Guehi, Munoz and Mitchell have been pitching in with goals and assists big time. However, despite their xG, Palace have only actually scored 6 in 5, and the xG might be explained by the teams they have faced – given Nottingham Forest, Villa, Sunderland and West Ham are 4 bottom half teams with some of the worst defences and defensive statistics in the league. Overall, Palace are a competent attacking side, that has yet to be really tested by a top defence, but they will be this weekend vs a Liverpool team that’s 4th in xG conceded.

Palace will look to defend compactly and aggressively with their back-5 and Wharton and Hughes in front protecting, and look to hit Mateta to hold the ball up and build counter attacks with Pino, Kamada and Munoz. They will look to stop Liverpool gaining any rhythm to their attacks or establishing territory in their half, and cause issues of their own that have Liverpool second guessing.

Liverpool Overview and Form:

Liverpool have now won 5 games from 5 this season and sit 5 points clear of 2nd place in the table. They could not have really had a better start from a results perspective despite the fact their new signings are still naturally bedding in to a new city/country, new teammates and a new system. The performances have been up and down, but overall the Reds started to look like they are clicking last week with excellent first halves that blew Atletico Madrid and Everton away. Wins over Bournemouth, Newcastle, Arsenal, Burnley and Everton have Liverpool sitting pretty and feeling great, with that arguably being the most difficult set of fixtures any of the top teams have had – potentially 4 top half teams there plus Burnley.

Liverpool had some questions raised around their defensive set up and performance after the first couple of games, but things have settled down nicely from a defensive perspective for them in their last few games. They have not conceded 1 or more xG in any of their last 5 games in all competitions, with a total of 2.91 xG conceded between their last 5 games in all comps (Newcastle, Arsenal, Burnley, Atletico and Everton). Things have certainly sured things up defensively; Konate looks back to his regular self after a tough start, Kerkez had his best games as a Liverpool player against Arsenal and Everton, and Bradley and Frimpong have now returned to full fitness.

As an attacking unit, they are and will be the best in the league. Despite facing 4 good defensive teams (Arsenal, Newcastle, Bournemouth and Everton) they have scored the most goals in the league with 11 and have easier fixtures coming up. Having an attack of Salah, Isak, Ekitike, Gakpo, Wirtz as well as having midfielders and fullbacks that are goal and chance creation threats is an embarrassment of riches. There will be a team that finds themselves down 4 goals in the 6oth odd minute soon – it’s bound to happen with this much talent.

Slot will look to have his team control this game against Palace better than they did the Community Shield, and will look to limit Palace’s transition opportunities better than they did that day at Wembley. Palace have been a very good defensive team this season, keeping 3 clean sheets in 5 but Liverpool always score. They will look to control possession and territory, and unleash Salah, Isak, Wirtz and the likes. Slot will want to get ahead and manage the game, looking to dominate chance creation in settled play and build a comfortable 2/3 goal lead and then manage that lead better than they have recently If they can, the Reds will extend their lead at the top of the table.

Match Betting Odds:

Crystal Palace: 16/5 (Great value at Betrino)

Draw: 13/5

Liverpool: 17/20

Both Teams to Score Odds: 

Yes: 4/6

No: 11/10

Player to Score Odds:

Isak: 5/4 

Salah 5/4 (Favourite bet)

Betrino is currently offering over 15% better value on Crystal Palace to win compared with the average market line at most major sports books!

 

Lineups will be updated throughout the week in live time as and when injury and lineup news is announced.

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Crystal Palace Predicted Lineup:

Crystal Palace Predicted Lineup GW6

GK - Henderson

RWB - Munoz

CB - Richards

CB - Lacroix

CB - Guehi

LWB - Mitchell

CM - Wharton

CM - Hughes

RAM - Sarr

LAM - Pino

ST - Mateta

Crystal Palace Team News:

Glasner, speaking on Friday, revealed that “Ismaila Sarr had the full training week, the same as Adam [Wharton] and Eddie [Nketiah]. We always nominate the squad when we think everybody is ready to start. I don’t know if Sarr can play 90 or 100 minutes – I don’t know how intense the game will be – but he’s ready”. Sarr will likely start and play around 60 minutes.

Glasner also revealed “Yeremy Pino just had to rest on Tuesday. He had a bone bruise – he took a knock, knee on knee, which was very painful – but since Wednesday he’s been training and did the rest of the week. He feels fine, so he’s also available”. Pino will start alongside Sarr in the 10 roles.

Same back-5 as always for Palace. They have kept 3 clean sheets through 5 league games this season and Guehi, Munoz and Mitchell have been contributing from an attacking sense this season also.

Wharton returned from an ankle injury that was originally reported to keep him out 6-8 weeks. He was only out for just under 4 weeks in the end and started against West Ham, and finished the game with no issues. He will be fit to start against Liverpool in GW6.

Kamada or Hughes could start alongside Wharton. I think Glasner will opt for the style of player Hughes is for Liverpool.

Nketiah returned from injury, making a cameo off the bench against West Ham. He is an important sub and rotational cover for Mateta but Mateta will start nearly every league game when fit.

Crystal Palace Players to Watch:

Wharton: Returned against West Ham after a few weeks out with an ankle injury and started. Finished the game with no issues. Will start against Liverpool

Sarr: Has trained all week and will start.

Kamada: Could start instead of Hughes in midfield alongside Wharton.

Pino: Will start despite the knock he picked up.

Liverpool Predicted Lineup:

Liverpool Predicted Lineup GW6

GK - Alisson

RB - Bradley

CB - Konate

CB - Van Dijk

LB - Kerkez

CM - Gravenberch

CM - Szoboszlai

AM - Wirtz

RW - Salah

LW - Gakpo

ST - Isak

Liverpool Team News:

Speaking to the media in his Friday press conference, Arne Slot, speaking on Isak’s fitness, revealed “Isak is able to play minutes again. I still feel 90 minutes might be a bit too much, it depends on the pace of the game… I don’t think it’s smart to play him 90 yet… He’s further into his pre-season now. Normally after two or three weeks of pre-season, players get to 60 or 70 minutes. Some clubs even bring them to 90. If you look at our pre-season we only brought them to 60 or 70”. That is a very clear indication of what we will see on Saturday vs Palace – Isak will start and play 60/70 minutes depending on how he feels and the state of the game.

Slot outright stated none of the ‘big hitters’ will start against Southampton in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night. Do not expect to see Salah, Van Dijk, Konate, any of the main 3 central midfielders or Alisson.

Isak started against Southampton on Tuesday night in the EFL Cup. He scored his first Liverpool goal in the first half. He was substituted off at half time; playing 45 minutes is likely what Isak needed in his legs to be able to start his first league game against Crystal Palace on Saturday. Ekitike got himself sent off in the game against Southampton for taking his shirt off in celebration of his winning goal which was his second yellow of the game. He will be suspended for the game against Crystal Palace on Saturday. Isak was likely going to start against Palace regardless but this rules Ekitike out of starting at LW.

Slot on Friday, speaking on Ekitike’s red card and suspension, said “It wasn’t very smart what we did, it’s what he recognised straight away. He said sorry to his team-mates straight away. He’s young, players of all ages make mistakes, that’s what he did and we all make mistakes. You are allowed at this club to make mistakes without immediately getting fined or these type of things”. Sounds like the matter is closed and the team and Ekitike have moved on. I suspect we see Isak and Ekitike start together for the first time next weekend.

Gakpo likely starts at LW now with Ekitike’s suspension, although Wirtz could if Slot wants to use last season’s midfield.

Jones, Bradley, Frimpong, Isak, Ekitike, Chiesa and Kerkez for a very short cameo, were the only first team players used in the Southampton game.

Young Italian centre-back signed from Parma, Giovanni Leoni, who had a promising debut against Southampton in the EFL Cup, has sadly torn his ACL in that game. He will be out for the rest of the season.

Curtis Jones is now fit and made another top cameo off the bench. He is proving how important he is to this Liverpool team in his cameos against Arsenal and Everton. He brings control to Liverpool’s game.

Mac Allister started against Everton and was fine, but not his usual self. He has spoken of dealing with personal issues, and has recovered from 2 injuries in the past few months, and does not look to be fully fit and sharp right now.

Bradley started against Everton, and is the profile of right-back you want to start against Palace. He has played well this season despite some tough moments against Grealish.

Liverpool Players to Watch:

Bradley: Should start at right-back over Frimpong. Better suited to play against a team like Palace.

Wirtz: Was rested last game with Liverpool playing 3 games in 7 days. Will start against Crystal Palace.

Ekitike: Suspended for Palace after red card against Southampton.

Isak: Will start his first league game for Liverpool on Saturday.

Mac Allister: Has returned from multiple injuries in the past 6 months and been dealing with personal issues. Might be one to drop him to the bench against a physical Palace team, and allow him to use these early games as his pre-season.

Gakpo: Started every game so far this season and is showing some fatigue with performances.

Crystal Palace vs Liverpool Preview & Predicted Score:

Both teams will set up in their standard and expected formations/systems. Liverpool in their 4-2-3-1 and Palace in their 3-4-2-1.

Liverpool will look to continue the trend that started in their last 2 games of dominant first halves with fast starts and 2-0 leads. Palace will be a tough cookie to crack defensively but Liverpool have more than enough firepower to do so and already scored 2 against Crystal Palace in the Community Shield and that was without Isak or Gravenberch. If they do take the lead, they will will look to control the game and tempo and limit transition opportunities for Palace better than they did in that Community Shield game.

Glasner and Crystal Palace will very much look to defend compactly and defend doggedly, and will look to be physical in the duels with Liverpool and make them earn everything. They will look to hit Liverpool on the counter when they can with Mateta, Pino, Kamada and Munoz and see if they can go into the final 30 minutes of this game on level pegging and to increase the pressure on Liverpool at Selhurst Park and use that to their advantage.

I can see Palace causing some trouble on the counter, but without Eze and Sarr, not enough to keep up with a Liverpool team that has built an ingrained habit of winning football matches over the past 15 months or so. With Isak now fully fit, Salah starting to play better, Wirtz’s best game coming in that Community shield against Palace, along the quality they have in midfield and a centre-back pairing that can handle Mateta, another Liverpool win seems likely. It’ll be close but Liverpool will get the job done.

Score Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool