Crystal Palace - Liverpool 27-09-25

Crystal Palace have become a team to be reckoned with. Glasner has a rock-solid team at his disposal, and even though one star player after another has left the club in recent seasons, the good results continue to come. Imagine this team with Zaha, Olise and Eze behind Mateta… But still, Crystal Palace are tough to beat, and the season has started promisingly with a temporary fifth place. We have also received promising signs from the reigning league champions in red. Full pot after five rounds, and already eight points down on Manchester City. Everything has worked out for Arne Slot, and they have used the extra time for all it is worth. It has not been particularly comfortable, but then there are still a number of new pieces to fit in. What can you expect when Wirtz and Isak are firing on all cylinders? So far, things are looking rosy in the Beatles city.

Crystal Palace – An established top team

Because that's what you almost have to call Palace now. It's better than a life in the middle of the table, and it must be natural to have to take up the fight with teams like Newcastle, Aston Villa and Tottenham. There have been many ups and downs over the last couple of seasons, and it's not easy to catch up with Glasner's chosen ones. After five rounds, they are in fifth place, without a loss. The goal difference says a lot about playing style and solidity, because here we can see six goals scored, and only two conceded. Two goals against in 450 minutes played in the world's toughest football league is noticeable. The offensive game may suffer somewhat from the tight defensive tactics, but as long as the points come, there is no need for major adjustments.

Guehi had a medical with a view to a transfer to Liverpool just a few weeks ago. The powerful centre-back was Slot's next signing, but then the whole deal fell through. Glasner threatened both, and a suitable replacement was never found. You can understand the attitude towards Palace's manager in the whole thing, because here they were close to losing the very basic structure of the team. Guehi stayed, and the team has continued with the fine performances. Another one who is vital for this team is midfield dynamo Ismaila Sarr. The fast and strong Senegalese is an important contributor to goals in the right direction, and a key support player for the team's spearhead, Mateta. Sarr has been out with a hamstring injury in recent rounds, but it is rumored that he may be ready for the Liverpool game on Saturday. It is possible that he will contribute from the bench this time.

The last time Crystal Palace conceded more than one goal in a football match was against Liverpool in the Community Shield final at Wembley. The Reds were 2-0 down after just under half an hour before the Londoners came back to win the match. Could the Premier League champions be the team to inflict another setback on Palace?

Liverpool – The game is over when Liverpool has won

Because that's what it's really been like lately. Liverpool are grinding on, their opponents are hanging on by the ropes, and finally the redeeming goal comes. They don't give up, and there seems to be a strong belief in the team that we'll get this done before the final whistle. Seven games have been played, including the EFL Cup and Champions League, and all have been won.

Arne Slot was asked after the cup match against Southampton whether Hugo Ekitike was a bit short-sighted after his decisive 2-1 goal. The manager did not mince words, and described the whole thing as idiotic. Taking off your shirt in euphoric celebration when you already have a yellow card is a major brain hemorrhage. The red card was shown, and the striker who has started so well is not available for the match against Crystal Palace. It must be a bit annoying for Slot, because it was probably the Frenchman who was supposed to lead the attack on Saturday. Now the question is whether Isak will not get his first Premier League start for Liverpool. If the Swede is ready, there doesn't have to be a crisis.

Liverpool are otherwise almost full. Slot can pick and choose in all parts of the team, and perhaps especially in midfield the fight for a starting place is extra tough. Gravenberch and Szoboszlai have both started the season adventurously, so the question is whether Mac Allister and Wirtz don't have to look at each other and realize that one of them needs to settle well on the bench. Unless the Hungarian captain is moved down to right-back again. Luxury problem for the manager so far in the season.

The Reds seem to have something unresolved about them. Sometimes you play your opponent up in the stands, before you take your foot off the gas pedal and invite them back into the game. A safe victory suddenly becomes a breathless battle to keep all three points. Two questions arise. One is when will the game come where you can't keep your opponent alive, and you go down on points, the other is when will the game come where you score both two and three before the team on the other side gets to borrow the ball. Both parts are a bit on hold, it seems. Will we see one of these scenarios on Saturday?

Conclusion – Two undefeated teams meet for a match

Because these are the only two in the Premier League who have not yet lost a football match. Maybe not the biggest surprise, but still, it is a solid performance by both teams. For our part as match analysts, we try to find matches and situations that are comparable, and can we use the Wembley match as a reference? Because I think so, if Liverpool win here, which they will definitely do their utmost to achieve, then one goal will not be enough. And two goals were recorded in the aforementioned final. The question is whether the guests will not have to find the net a couple of times again if the hope of a flawless start to the season is to live on.

So which is stronger this Saturday, the home team's defensive structure, or the visitors led by Isak, Gakpo and Salah? There is no doubt that the Reds are capable of making life miserable for Palace, and if the home team lets up a bit in their pursuit of their own goal, the Reds will quickly find ways through the wall. The scenario where this assumption does not hold is if we, for example, get a goalless draw at half-time. Impatience can take even the best, and Palace have shown before that they are not easily broken down. We simply conclude that Liverpool's offensive arsenal is better than Crystal Palace's defensive wall. Liverpool will score at least two, but we dare not say whether it is enough to win the match. Two goals for the visitors could also become three, but the home team could still register, and we are left with another 2-2 match. That will not be surprising, and that development is perhaps a bit overtime already? Taking this into account, it is recommended to bet on a slightly more open football match than is often the case when Palace is involved.

England at 16:00: Crystal Palace - Liverpool: Over 1.5 goals for Liverpool (1.81)

Alternative game

England at 16:00: Crystal Palace - Liverpool: Both teams score + Over 2.5 goals in total (2.05)

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