Crystal Palace ay? Or should I not mention them?
Alright maybe I’ll mention our last result but I promise I won’t say anything about a certain 3-3 that happened on the 5th of May 2014, when in a desperate attempt to build on our goal difference we threw away a 3 goal lead to draw the game, giving up any chance of the title. I absolutely guarantee I won’t mention those harrowing scenes, with Luis Suarez sharing the tears that we all felt at the end of that season, when at times we were odds on to win it… I absolutely won’t mention that game…
Sorry, where was I? Ah yes the 4-2, when we first truly glimpsed those pearly whites of Firmino, and after taking it in turns to score in the early knockings of the game we decided just to finish it off with goals from Matip and Firmino… oh hang on that was when they had Pardew wasn’t it?
Oh god, they have Large Sam now, one of our dreaded nemesis (nemesises? Nemesae?), a nemesis purely because Liverpool have never been able to handle anti-football. And this year it seems that’s a bigger problem than ever, I need not remind you all of where we’ve dropped points this season, and with Grande Sam being one of its main advocates… his team on the rise… taking victories from Chelsea and Arsenal in recent weeks, recovering a 2-0 deficit to draw level with the current champions… Specialising in exploiting fullbacks with Zaha… having a big centre forward, who’s great from set pieces and crosses… Oh god…
I jest, we are back on the up and it’s no secret that one of the key ingredients to Crystal Palace’s recent success has been the divisive Agent Sakho, with Palace fans understandably falling in love with him due to his ungainly but more than effective style of defending. And a good portion of LFC fans arguing that had he not fallen out of favour with Klopp, and remained with our first team we’d not have dropped those aforementioned points, be secure in the top four, and dare I say it… challenging? Either way there’s no denying that it’s a blessing that he won’t be eligible play against us come the weekend. The hope is not only will they be missing his talent, it will mean a readjustment to their defence and also a confidence blow coming from having their main man out.
On our side with Lallana, Henderson and Mane still out, we could expect a slightly more cautious approach to this match with Milner sitting a little more and not allowing Zaha et al. to exploit our flanks. Although with Lucas reminding us once again how great he can be at guarding our defence (and providing assists of course) and with the apparent lessons learned from our defeats to the lower tier, parked bus teams, shown in recent recent victories over Stoke, West Brom and Everton I think we have a good deal to be positive about. Whilst Origi, Firmino, Moreno, and the reinvigorated Coutinho should be more than enough to do the business down the other end. Might we even see Daniel Sturridge helping us over the line?
So will we see Grosse Sam’s anti-football win out? Nah, course not, we’ll twat em.
Now unless Klopp does another Stoke the most likely line-up will be something along these lines:
Though most likely Can will be wearing his own shirt and not Lucas'.
Recent results:
23 Nov 2014 Crystal Palace v Liverpool L 3-1 Premier League
14 Feb 2015 Crystal Palace v Liverpool W 1-2 FA Cup
16 May 2015 Liverpool v Crystal Palace L 1-3 Premier League
08 Nov 2015 Liverpool v Crystal Palace L 1-2 Premier League
06 Mar 2016 Crystal Palace v Liverpool W 1-2 Premier League
29 Oct 2016 Crystal Palace v Liverpool W 2-4 Premier League
My prediction?
There’s a chance that some players will kick some good goals, or they might not because the goalkeeper will save the goals and it will be a good or a bad game. The End.
4.30pm Liverpool v Crystal Palace (Sky Sports)
Referee: Andre Marriner
Assistants: S Beck, S Ledger
Fourth official: M Jones