Liverpool vs Crystal Palace Prediction: Eagles could trouble leaky Reds backline

Within the space of five days, Jurgen Klopp's farewell season at Liverpool has been put under the risk of ruin. A 2-2 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford last Sunday denied them the chance to move back top of the Premier League, and a 3-0 home defeat to Atalanta in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final tie on Thursday has given them a mountain to climb in Bergamo next week.

The Reds must now dust themselves down for the visit of Crystal Palace to Anfield on Sunday (KO, 14:00), as they seek to keep pace with title rivals Arsenal and Manchester City. Below you can find our Liverpool vs Crystal Palace prediction alongside all the latest team news and match odds heading into this contest, which can be watched live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event.

Klopp's tenure at Liverpool has included a 7-2 loss at Aston Villa and a couple of 3-0 defeats at Watford, but Thursday night's disintegration at the hands of Atalanta might well go down as the Reds' worst performance under the German. That's not to discredit the Italian side, who have been a very good team under Gian Piero Gasperini for several years now, but the hosts were absolutely abysmal at Anfield.

It was the worst possible reaction after last Sunday's stalemate at Old Trafford, where they were in the lead and dominant up until Jarell Quansah's mistake allowed Bruno Fernandes to equalise. Despite their command of the game, it was a lack of ruthlessness up front that really cost Liverpool the three points at the home of their bitter rivals, and it was the same old story in midweek, this time without any fluency in midfield.

Palace should represent ideal opponents for them on Sunday, though, with the Eagles winless in five games since Oliver Glasner presided over a 3-0 win against Burnley in his first game in charge on February 24. The south London side started well against Man City last week, taking the lead in the fourth minute through Jean-Philippe Mateta, but were unable to hold on and eventually lost 4-2 at Selhurst Park.

Team News

Liverpool welcomed Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota back to the matchday squad on Thursday after lengthy absences, and the latter made his return as a second-half substitute. Klopp must be giving real consideration into starting both on Sunday, though it feels unlikely given the length of time they have been out.

Alisson Becker also made his return to training earlier this week but it remains to be seen whether he will be thrown in so early, with Caoimhin Kelleher likely to line up in goal for a 14th consecutive appearance. Conor Bradley and Andy Robertson are set to return at full-back, but Klopp has a decision over whether to partner Virgil van Dijk with Quansah or Ibrahima Konate, who endured a difficult evening against Atalanta.

Dominik Szoboszlai missed some guilt-edged chances against Man United and followed that up with a shocking substitute display on Thursday, but Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones were both taken off at half-time during the same game and haven't exactly thrown their hat in the ring to start this weekend.

Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo are the midfielders most certain to begin the game on Sunday, with Ryan Gravenberch knocking on the door after watching everything fall apart in front of him from the bench in the past week.

Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz were rested from the start in the Europa League but they will line up on the wings, and it's between Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo and Jota for the centre-forward spot.

Palace are missing long-term injury absentees Sam Johnstone, Chris Richards, Rob Holding, Marc Guehi, Cheick Doucoure and Matheus Franca for the trip up north.

Glasner has deployed midfielder Jefferson Lerma in a back three alongside Joachim Andersen and Joel Ward in the last two games and that looks set to continue on Sunday.

Michael Olise is pushing for a start after making his comeback from injury against City.

Match Odds

Liverpool are huge favourites to return to winning ways at 1/5, which gives them an implied win probability of 83.3, while the visitors are 12/1 - or a 7.7% chance - to record a first victory at Anfield since April 2017. The draw, meanwhile - which landed in this fixture on Merseyside last season - is available at 6/1.

Both teams found the net as Liverpool won 2-1 at Selhurst Park late on in the reverse fixture in SE12 in December; BTTS - Yes is 10/11 this weekend and over 2.5 goals is 2/5.

Half-time over 1.5 goals @ EVS

There were two goals shared between Liverpool and Brighton in the first half of their Premier League clash at Anfield on March 31, but that's the only occasion in their last seven league games where there has been at least two goals scored before half-time.

Despite that statistic, I'm backing there to be a couple of goals struck before the interval this Sunday. Liverpool should have scored multiple in the first 45 minutes at Old Trafford last weekend, and they should have been well out in front in their previous home game in the competition against Sheffield United.

The Reds should be fired up for this one after a couple of disappointments recently, so I'm expecting them to come out all guns blazing in front of an expectant crowd at Anfield.

They could score one or two, but it also wouldn't be a surprise to see Palace get a goal themselves. The Eagles only needed four minutes to get past City last weekend before the treble winners replied in the same half through Kevin De Bruyne.

#PickYourPunt - Mohamed Salah to score anytime, Liverpool over 20.5 shots & Crystal Palace over 2.5 shots on target @ 3/1

Salah is a certainty to return to the starting XI this weekend and he will be looking to find the net for a third time in his last four Premier League appearances. The Egyptian has a terrific record against the Eagles, scoring eight times in 11 games against them for Liverpool, and he was on target in the reverse fixture earlier this season.

I expect plenty of shots from the Reds, who record the highest number of shots per game (20.3) on average in the Premier League this season. They've gone above that number in their last three, firing off 28, 29 and 30 against Man United, Sheffield United and Brighton respectively.

Palace will fancy their chances of getting at Klopp's side, though, with Liverpool allowing at least three shots on target in their last seven games across all competitions. The Eagles hit the target four times against City and have had at least three on target in four of their six matches under Glasner.

Check out the rest of our Football Betting Tips here.