Match Preview: Liverpool close in on Champions League qualification ahead of Crystal Palace clash

Further forward, the integration of key players continues to feel incomplete. Florian Wirtz remains a talent waiting for a system that fully unlocks him, while Alexander Isak’s movement has not been consistently matched by service. Mohamed Salah, expected to start again, remains the most reliable outlet—his ability to turn moments into goals is still Liverpool’s greatest weapon.

Defensively, leadership will again be crucial. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté must ensure that the lapses seen throughout the season do not reappear. Against a side that thrives on capitalising on mistakes, concentration is non-negotiable.

This is no longer about performances alone.

It is about accumulating wins.

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Crystal Palace: Organised Threat with Nothing to Lose

Crystal Palace arrive without the same pressure but with enough quality and organisation to cause problems.

They are a side comfortable in their structure, capable of defending compactly and breaking quickly when opportunities arise. Against a Liverpool team that has struggled to maintain control, that approach could be particularly effective.

Palace will not need to dominate possession to influence the game. Instead, they will look to disrupt rhythm, frustrate Liverpool’s build-up, and exploit transitions—areas where the hosts have been vulnerable all season.

The longer the game remains level, the more belief will grow within the visitors.

That is the danger for Liverpool.

Because when confidence is fragile, patience can quickly turn into anxiety. If the crowd senses hesitation, the pressure could shift back onto the home side, creating exactly the kind of environment Palace will look to exploit.

Predicted Liverpool XI (4-2-3-1)

GK – Freddie Woodman

RB – Curtis Jones

CB – Ibrahima Konaté

CB – Virgil van Dijk (c)

LB – Andy Robertson

CM – Alexis Mac Allister

CM – Ryan Gravenberch

AM – Dominik Szoboszlai

RW – Mohamed Salah

LW – Florian Wirtz

CF – Alexander Isak

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Final Word

This is where Liverpool’s season now lives—at Anfield, in games they simply have to win.

The derby victory may have stopped the immediate decline, but it has not corrected the underlying issues. Arne Slot’s future remains uncertain, and performances continue to raise questions about the long-term direction of the team.

But for now, the focus is narrow.

Win home games. Secure Champions League football. Stabilise what has been an unstable campaign.

Fail to do that, and the consequences will extend beyond this season.

Liverpool cannot afford another setback.

Even if belief in the bigger picture remains uncertain, the requirement here is clear.

Get the job done.

Steven Smith’s Score Prediction:

Liverpool 2 – 2 Crystal Palace