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Football News: Premier League Preview Crystal Palace v Liverpool 20 August 2018

Premier League Preview Crystal Palace v Liverpool 20 August 2018
Image from: freelargeimages.com

Crystal Palace v Liverpool


Crystal Palace host Liverpool on a Monday night for the first time since that remarkable 3-3 draw in the 2013-14 campaign, in which Liverpool were 3-0 up after 78 minutes.
That season remains the closest Liverpool have come to a Premier League title, with this almost certainly the first season since then that Liverpool have been tipped to challenge again by many.

Since that fateful evening in May, Liverpool have won three of their four league visits to Selhurst Park, all in succession, and could be only the second side to win four straight trips there in the Premier League after Newcastle United.
Indeed, Liverpool have come out on top in four of the last five league games between these teams, losing the other 2-1 at Anfield against Sam Allardyce's Palace team in April 2017.

But Palace are in fine form. Going into MD2, their run of four consecutive wins is the best ongoing streak of its kind in the Premier League, and they haven't won five in a row in the league since April 2014. At home, they have won three in a row, scoring 10 goals in those games.
This will be a much sterner examination of Liverpool than their opener against West Ham turned out to be, not least because of the haunting memories Reds fans have of matches against the Eagles.

Key players:
Christian Benteke - Wilfried Zaha may be the man of the moment at Palace having just signed a new contract at the club and equalling Chris Armstrong's Premier League scoring record for the club, but I'm going with Benteke as my key player here. Benteke missed a host of chances in this same fixture last season, which Liverpool won 2-1, but should he return to scoring form, he will be trouble for Jurgen Klopp's side.

Six goals in nine league matches against Liverpool is more than Benteke has against any other side currently in the Premier League, and he will be hoping to deal damage to his former club once more.
Sadio Mane - Fresh off the back of two goals in the opening game, Mane has a fine record against Crystal Palace; five goals in seven Premier League matches against them is more than he has against any other team in the competition, and he scored in both fixtures against them last season for Liverpool.

Written by Reid the Red August 20 2018 12:36:31

 

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