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It would be nice to mirror the scoreline on that historic night, but I would settle for another comfortable home win [as we have been producing pre Birmingham]. As home fans we can ask for no more than winning, attacking, attractive football; and this season Rafa has given us that.
I expect to see Mellor dropped back to the bench for the game today, and either Garcia back in tandem with Baros up front, or FloPo. I cant see Kewell maintaining his role up front after a couple too many poor performances.
I think, and expect, we will go at them from the 1st minute. Thats why id like to see Finnan stay in at full back ahead of Josemi, and even a chance on the right for Richie Partridge who looks lively when he came on the other night against probably a better class of oppponent. On the left id expect to see Riise in there, although again Id be tempted to throw Warnock in again as his hunger and desire is infectious, and he has played well in the games he's had so far this season.
In the middle Id be tempted to keep Biscan in the starting XI with Alonso. Not because i think he is better than Didi, but because of the old adage of keeping a player in form, playing. Didi has been a bit hot and cold at times this season, and could possible do with the rest, and with Biscans confidence seemingly sky shigh at the moment, it would make sense to keep him in there. If nothing else more than for his adventurous runs, and work rate.
I expect to see us run out comfortable winners today. None of this pissing about. Early goal [within 1st 20 mins] and then push on to get a couple more for a good 3-0 win.
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Dowie on Anfield Challangehttp://www.cpfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ManagersComments/0,,10323~588686,00.html"We're going to go to Liverpool and compete. They had a good 2-0 win over Middlesbrough in the Carling Cup on Wednesday after making a lot of changes so they will be buoyant.
We have to keep working hard because I don't think we've proved anyone wrong yet. We've got 26 games to go and we'll see then. It's nice that the perceptions are changing and we are playing well but the pundits will keep rubbishing us and we'll keep on doing what we do.
Even when we went through a bad spell, no-one cut us apart. This is supposed to be our `nightmare November' but it was certainly a vivid dream against Arsenal.
We've got over one small hurdle, now we've got to prepare for Liverpool and Newcastle. Both game will be great occasions and if you enjoy the challenge of competing against the best in the world, you're going to learn something; and that's the point. It's about the players developing, and they will improve because of these tests."
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Them on USLIVERPOOL
LiverpoolRafaelBenitezThe Reds' new boss, Spaniard Rafael Benitez, has had mixed fortunes since he became manager at Liverpool - one of the historically 'big' clubs - and wasted no time in bringing a little Spanish sun to Liverpool in the transfer window.
He spent over £26 million on new players in the summer including four Spanish players; Josemi from Malaga, Xabi Alonso from Real Sociedad, Luis Garcia from Barcelona and Antonio Nunez from Real Madrid. Frenchman Djibril Cisse from Auxerre also arrived in the summer having been signed by previous incumbent Gerard Houllier.
The biggest departure in the summer was that of England international Michael Owen who went to Real Madrid as part of the Nunez deal.
Also leaving Liverpool were Danny Murphy to Charlton for £2.5 million, Emile Heskey to Birmingham for £3.5 million and Markus Babbel to Stuttgart on a free. Of the seven players out on loan the most notable is El-Hadji Diouf who is currently with Bolton Wanderers.
With 11 games played in the Premiership so far this season, Liverpool currently lie in 8th - 12 points off the leaders and five off the Champions League automatic qualifying places. A points total of 17 from a possible 33 is not what the Anfield faithful expect.
In the league at Anfield, Liverpool have only played sides that are lower placed - Man City, West Bromwich Albion, Norwich, Birmingham and Charlton - and Palace currently lie five points behind them in the league.
One of Europe's most respected coaches, Benitez, who speaks fluent English, led Valencia to the Spanish league and UEFA Cup double last season, two years after he first took the La Liga crown to the Mestalla and in his three years there he oversaw 163 games winning 87, drawing 33 and losing 43.
After squeezing through 2-1 on aggregate against Austrian side Graz in the qualifying rounds, the group stages of the Champions League have seen mixed form from Liverpool; they beat Monaco at home, lost to Olympiakos away, drew 0-0 at home to Deportivo but won 1-0 away at Depor.
LiverpoolSinama-PongolleAfter a disappointing 0-1 loss against Birmingham at home last Sunday, Benitez saw a young reserve side win against Middlesbrough in the Carling Cup at Anfield on Wednesday night, thanks to a brace from youngster Neil Mellor who scored against Palace last season whilst on loan at West Ham. Mellor will be looking to get on the bench for the Palace game. This result sets the Reds up for a Quarter-Final tie against Spurs at White Hart Lane.
In a squad of thirty at Anfield, twenty players have seen first team action in the league so far this season. Steven Gerrard and Djibril Cisse are injured but Florent Sinama Pongolle and Euro 2004-star Milan Baros should be available for selection on Saturday after returning from injury.
In the past week there has been a minutes silence in honour of John Peel and Emlyn Hughes who both recently passed away. John Peel and our very own David Jensen used to work together on TV and Radio.
LiverpoolEmlynHughes"He was part of the best ever Liverpool sides and won a lot of trophies," Benitez said about Hughes. "Hopefully a legend like this can inspire the players. It would be marvellous if they could mirror his achievements."
Recently announcing record losses in the last financial year of £21.9m it seems Benitez will have to stick with his current squad unless the much-maligned takeover happens and new funds are injected into the club.
In all competitions at Anfield this season:
P9 W6 D1 L2 F14 A3
Premiership stats at Anfield
P5 W4 D0 L1 F10 A2
Possible Squad (from): Kirkland, Dudek, Josemi, Carragher, Hypia, Traore, Garcia, Alonso, Hamman, Riise, Baros, Kewell, Pongolle, Mellor, Finnan, Biscan, Diao, Warnock.
Historic Facts
Palace have never beaten Liverpool in the Premiership in six attempts.
The only time Crystal Palace have beaten Liverpool in the league at Anfield was on the 2nd November 1991 when we won 2-1 in the old First Division.
The last time Palace played Liverpool at Anfield was on the 5th February 2003 in the FA Cup 4th Round Replay which we won 2-0.
In the Palace squad that played that night and could play on Saturday were; Darren Powell, Tony Popovic, Danny Butterfield, Shaun Derry, Danny Granville, Dougie Freedman and Andrew Johnson. Also playing that night was none other than Kit Symons!
In the Liverpool squad that played that night and could feature on Saturday were: Dudek, Carragher, Hyypia, Risse, Baros, Hamann, Diao, Biscan and Traore.
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Season so farSat 14 15:00 A Norwich City PREM D 1-1
Sat 21 15:00 H Everton PREM L 1-3
Tue 24 20:00 H Chelsea PREM L 0-2
Sat 28 15:00 A Middlesbrough PREM L 1-2
September
Sat 11 17:15 A Portsmouth PREM L 1-3
Sat 18 15:00 H Man City PREM L 1-2
Tue 21 20:00 H Hartlepool LGCP W 2-1(aet)
Sat 25 15:00 A Aston Villa PREM D 1-1
October
Mon 4 20:00 H Fulham PREM W 2-0
Sat 16 15:00 A Bolton PREM L 0-1
Sat 23 15:00 H WBA PREM W 3-0
Wed 27 20:00 A Charlton LGCP W 2-1
Sat 30 12:45 A Birmingham PREM W 1-0
November
Sat 6 17:15 H Arsenal PREM D 1-1
Wed 10 20:00 A Man Utd LGCP L 0-2
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Pos Name P W D L F A W D L F A GD PTS
8 Liverpool 11 4 0 1 10 2 1 2 3 8 9 +7 17
16 Palace 12 2 1 3 8 8 1 2 3 5 8 -3 12
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Click here to read Palace forums score predictionThere are as many expecting a defeat to us, as a win.
