Liverpool v Crystal Palace: Key stats and talking points

Liverpool look to move a step closer to Champions League qualification against a Crystal Palace side they have failed to beat in all three of their meetings so far this season. BBC Sport takes a look at the key themes ahead of Saturday's fixture (15:00 BST).

Eagles proving to be Liverpool's bogey team

Crystal Palace have been a thorn in Liverpool's side this season with the Eagles unbeaten in all three of their encounters across three different competitions.

Their 3-0 victory at Anfield in the League Cup was particularly galling for the Reds and means the south Londoners have the chance to become the first team since Arsenal in 2006-07 to win away at Liverpool twice in the same season.

A victory would also mark only their third league double over the Reds and the first time they have beaten the reigning champions of the English top flight twice in the same season.

They travel to Merseyside in great form having gone four league games unbeaten and having lost just one of their last eight in all competitions. Their goalless draw with West Ham on Monday may have been their sixth 0-0 of the season, but a 12th clean sheet is a figure that can only be surpassed in the top flight by Arsenal and Manchester City.

In fact, since Oliver Glasner's first game in charge in February 2024, only the Gunners (36) and City (32) have more shutouts in the league than Palace's 28.

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Glasner's side will of course have one eye on the first leg of Thursday's Europa Conference League semi-final away at Shakhtar Donetsk as they target a second major trophy in their history, a mere year after they won their first.

They left Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr on bench for their match with the Hammers on Monday and it remains to be seen if Glasner will take a similar course of action at Anfield. Liverpool fans will be hoping that Sarr stays unused given he has already scored four goals against them this season.

Liverpool edge closer to Champions League spot

Liverpool's stunning late win over Everton on their Hill Dickinson debut - allied to Chelsea's woeful run of form - means Arne Slot's side remain in pole position for a Champions League place. They are five points clear of sixth-placed Brighton with a game in hand and may be grateful for that buffer given their next three fixtures come against Manchester United (a), Chelsea (h) and Aston Villa (a).

After a sticky patch of three league games without a win, back-to-back victories have eased the pressure somewhat on Slot.

The fact it took until the 99th minute to decide their derby with Everton should come as no surprise given the late drama that has followed them around this season.

It was the ninth 90th-minute winning goal scored in Liverpool's Premier League fixtures this campaign with four going their way and five ending in defeats. Incredibly that is two more than in any other team's matches across a season in Premier League history.

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In goal could be third-choice keeper Freddie Woodman, who made his first league appearance for Liverpool off the bench against Everton. In what was a sensational weekend for his family, his dad Andy, who manages Bromley, celebrated promotion to League One for the first time in their history. Both Freddie and Andy started their footballing careers in Crystal Palace's academy.