Liverpool-Crystal Palace match preview
Liverpool’s turbulent start to the season could take another blow when they host Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup fourth round on Wednesday night.
Arne Slot’s side have had a terrible run, losing five of their last six matches in all competitions. Their grip on domestic silverware is easing and the EFL Cup could be their best opportunity to regain some confidence before the Premier League resumes.
A 5-1 Champions League win over Eintracht Frankfurt provided a brief respite, but the Reds quickly fell back into bad habits in a chaotic 3-2 defeat to Brentford.
The result marks a fourth successive Premier League defeat, making Slot’s side only the fourth reigning champions in the competition’s history to lose four in a row.
Liverpool are now seven points behind leaders Arsenal and look like a shadow of the team that dominated last season. Defensive weaknesses have been the key problem – they have only kept a clean sheet twice in 14 matches – and questions are mounting over the team’s leadership.
They narrowly beat Southampton 2-1 in the previous round, but having exited the competition at this stage twice in the last five years, Slot knows a strong response is vital.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, arrive at Anfield in their own doldrums. After winning the FA Cup and Community Shield, the Eagles struggled to find rhythm in the EFL Cup, a trophy which has always eluded them. Their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at the weekend was their third defeat this month, leaving them winless in four.
Oliver Glasner’s side had racked up a club-record 19-match unbeaten run earlier this season, including a penalty shootout victory over Millwall in the previous round, but that run seems distant now.
Despite this, Palace have enjoyed rare success against Liverpool recently, beating them in both the Community Shield and the Premier League this season, and they have not lost at Anfield since 2021.
Team news for Liverpool vs Crystal Palace
Liverpool suffered another injury setback in the defeat to Brentford, with Curtis Jones forced off the field due to injury. Slot suggested the problem may not be serious, but the midfielder remains doubtful for this tie.
Alexander Isak (groin) and Ryan Gravenberch (ankle) are unlikely to feature, while Alisson Becker (hamstring), Giovanni Leoni (ACL) and Jeremie Frimpong (hamstring) remain sidelined.
Slot is expected to rotate heavily, with third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman and right-back Calvin Ramsay both in line for rare starts.
The Crystal Palace team situation is unchanged. Caleb Kporha (back), Chadi Riad (knee) and Cheick Doucoure (knee) are the only ones absent. Glasner could also refresh his squad after a demanding run of matches, with Eddie Nketiah pushing for a recall after his winner against Liverpool last month. Former Red Nathaniel Clyne could also make the roster.
Expected line-ups for Liverpool vs Crystal Palace
Liverpool: Lumberjack; Ramsay, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Endo, MacAllister; Chiesa, Szoboszlai, Ngumoha; Ékiti
Crystal Palace: Advantage; Chant, Lacroix, Guéhi; Clyne, Lerma, Husses, Sosa; Esse, Devenny; Nkehiah
How to watch Liverpool vs Crystal Palace: TV channel, online streaming
Liverpool vs Crystal Palace kicks off at 7.45pm (UK time) on Wednesday October 30 at Anfield.
The match will be shown live on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event, with streaming available via the Sky Go app and NOW TV.
The stats of the Liverpool-Crystal Palace match
- Liverpool lost five of their last six games in all competitions
- The Reds have conceded at least two goals in six of their last seven matches
- Crystal Palace is winless in their last four matches calendars (D1, L3)
- Palace failed to reach the EFL Cup semi-finals since 2011-12
- Liverpool progressed from this point twice in the last five yearswinning the competition in 2022 and 2024
- Palace avoided defeat in their the last three visits to Anfield
Prediction
Both teams are under pressure to respond after difficult spells, but Liverpool’s superior depth and home advantage should help them pull through.
Crystal Palace have struggled to create chances in recent matches and could struggle to cope with Liverpool’s attacking quality.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Crystal Palace
