Liverpool will bid to go top of the Premier League for the first time in over a year when they face Crystal Palace this weekend, live on talkSPORT.
The Reds, who haven’t been at the summit since the 2021/22 season, moved within two points of Arsenal after beating Sheffield United in midweek.
Jurgen Klopp‘s side ruined Chris Wilder‘s Blades return with a 2-0 victory – with Palace suffering the same scoreline at home to Bournemouth.
Liverpool can now leapfrog leaders Arsenal, who don’t play until Saturday evening, with another victory over the struggling Eagles.
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool: 12:30 kick-off
Klopp reacted badly to an Amazon presenter’s jokes about playing in the early Saturday slot following the 2-0 win over Sheffield United.
Reds boss Klopp is the most vocal critic of the lunchtime kick-off and his record in them shows why he hates them.
Since the start of last season, Liverpool have won just one of their seven Premier League away games kicking off at 12:30pm on a Saturday.
Klopp’s men have drawn three and lost three, with their sole victory coming from behind to beat Wolves 3-1 in September.
Home and away, of kick-off times the Reds have played 10+ games under Klopp in the league, their lowest points-per-game average is at 12:30pm (1.76 – P38 W18 D13 L7).
Liverpool have had three early kick-offs this season
- Crystal Palace are winless in their last 12 Premier League meetings with Liverpool (D2 L10), their longest ongoing winless run against an opponent.
- Liverpool have never lost an away Premier League game against Crystal Palace under Jürgen Klopp, winning seven out of eight visits (D1). Their last defeat there was in November 2014 under Brendan Rodgers.
- Liverpool have won four of their last 15 Premier League games in London (D7 L4), losing last time in the capital against Spurs in September. The Reds haven’t lost back-to-back Premier League games in London since defeats at Crystal Palace (November 2014) and Arsenal (April 2015).
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool: Team news
Tyrick Mitchell added to the home side’s injury woes after coming off after just 29 minutes against Bournemouth.
The Eagles are already without Cheick Doucoure, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, Rob Holding, Dean Henderson and talisman Eberechi Eze.
Liverpool are sweating on the fitness of Alexis Mac Allister, with the Argentine sustaining a knee issue at Brammal Lane.
Alisson Becker and Diogo Jota are closing on comebacks but this game will come too soon while the Reds have several serious injuries.
Joel Matip has suffered an ACL tear, while long-term absentees Stefan Bajcetic, Thiago Alcantara and Andrew Robertson all remain sidelined.
Former Liverpool star Nathaniel Clyne is set to deputise for Tyrick MitchellGetty
- Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has lost each of his last eight Premier League games against former club Liverpool since a 1-0 win with West Brom in April 2012. Indeed, managers to have previously taken charge of Liverpool in the Premier League have lost 17 of their last 19 games against the Reds in the competition, the exceptions being two Brendan Rodgers wins with Leicester (February & December in 2021).
- Liverpool have lost just one of their last 26 Premier League matches (W17 D8), a 2-1 defeat to Spurs in September. Since they lost to Man City in April, the Reds have won more points than any other side in the competition (59).
- Since the start of October, no side have won fewer Premier League games than Crystal Palace (W1 D2 L5), while only Sheffield United (6) have scored fewer goals than the Eagles (7).
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool: What has been said?
Klopp has warned anyone against writing defending champions Manchester City out of the 2023-24 Premier League title race.
He said: “If somebody would write City off that would be the biggest joke in the history of football. Arsenal are fighting and had a similar experience we had [late win vs Fulham]. It feels really good but anyway you have to start the next game from 0-0.
“Aston Villa is incredible. United is there, don’t play yet maybe exactly the football whoever wants – the media or whatever – but they have points like crazy. Chelsea, I’m not sure if they’re coming.
“The league is incredibly strong, you need to be lucky to get through difficult moments, with injuries especially. So I have no clue [who will win the title]. Probably [there are more challengers].
“It was the last years, always two. I’m not interested in that, so long as we’re around there. But it’s so difficult and intense. Ask me again in April.”
- Since the start of the 2018-19 season, Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk has scored more Premier League goals than any other defender (17). The Dutchman has won all 15 games he’s scored in for the club, the best such 100% win ratio for a single club in Premier League history.
- Darwin Núñez has been involved in four goals in his last four Premier League substitute appearances for Liverpool (2 goals, 2 assists). Away from home, the Uruguayan has four goals and two assists in eight sub appearances, averaging a goal or assist every 29 minutes in these games.
- Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has won 12 of his 16 Premier League meetings with Crystal Palace (D2 L2), his joint-most against a side in the competition (also 12 v West Ham). In his managerial career, only against SC Freiburg (13) has he won more league games.
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool: talkSPORT coverage
This Premier League clash will take place on Saturday, December 9.
Kick-off at Selhurst Park is scheduled for 12:30pm.
talkSPORT will have exclusive live coverage from south London, presented by Faye Carruthers.
Commentary comes from Sam Matterface and former Chelsea defender Scott Minto.
talkSPORT.com will also be running a live blog to cover all of the action as well.
