Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the EFL Cup match.
October is not over yet, but Liverpool and Crystal Palace will meet for the third time this season. The past month has brought both sides a similar kind of frustration.
Liverpool
Liverpool have lost four consecutive league matches, even though they scored in each of them — not what you expect from the reigning champions. They now sit seventh in the Premier League. In between, there was a 5:1 thrashing of Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League, but the new format of the competition offers little resistance compared to an English mid-table side. The absence of first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker has been costly, with Giorgi Mamardashvili struggling to provide the same reliability. It remains uncertain whether he will feature in the League Cup tie, especially with an important league game against an in-form Aston Villa coming up.
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace are hardly an ideal opponent right now, though Arsenal recently showed they can be neutralised without creating much — ten shots, three on target, 60% possession, and a goal from a free-kick by former forward Eberechi Eze. Before that 0:1 defeat, Crystal Palace had gone three games without a win across all competitions, earning one draw and suffering two losses.
Liverpool vs Crystal Palace Prediction
The recent head-to-head matches between these teams have been full of goals, including a 2:2 draw in the Super Cup and a 2:1 result in the Premier League. Despite Crystal Palace’s mixed form, Dean Henderson has been their standout performer, making more saves than any Liverpool keeper. With Crystal Palace facing Brentford on 1 November, rotation is expected. This will likely mean a start for backup goalkeeper Walter Benítez, which increases the likelihood of another high scoring game.
