Crystal Palace v Liverpool: Klopp to be glad all over at Selhurst Park

Liverpool travel to Crystal Palace this Saturday afternoon and Paul Robinson believes that the current leaders will be able to pick up where they left off...

Crystal Palace v Liverpool
Saturday November 23, 15:00

Defeats stacking up for Palace

Roy Hodgson's side started to see their results tail-off in their games in-between the last two international breaks, and the manager will be keen to arrest that slide against his former employer.

Hodgson didn't enjoy the best of times at Anfield, but he's back at a level that plays to his strengths, and his team are currently 12th in the table - which isn't bad when they had been written off in some quarters, pre-season.

Wilfried Zaha ended up staying at Selhurst Park, but it has to be noted that he is yet to score for the Eagles this year, and he has directly assisted just two of their 10 league goals.

Of course the Ivory Coast winger still plays a pivotal part in the team, but he isn't firing yet this term, and he has been overshadowed by Jordan Ayew in front of goal.

Liverpool remain top of the Klopps

The Reds moved eight points clear at the top of the league by upsetting the odds and beating Manchester City in their last game before the international break. I use the term 'upsetting the odds' rather tongue-in-cheek, as City were actually the favourites for that clash, which was rather absurd - and profitable - to me.

Admittedly, Jurgen Klopp's side hadn't been too spectacular in the run-up to that match, but they had shown true grit and determination in some of their come-from-behind wins, and that is a quality that they have sometimes lacked in the past.

Mohamed Salah returned to the scoresheet against Pep Guardiola's men, which was only his second Premier League goal since September 14th. He is a big doubt for the trip to Selhurst Park though - as is Andy Robertson - as they both have ankle injuries.

Take advantage of Reds' leaky defence

Crystal Palace have pulled off a few shock wins over the last couple of years, and it would be re-miss of me not to mention that they were the last team to beat Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League (under Sam Allardyce in April 2017).

Like that one, most of their big priced wins have come on the road, with victories at Man City, Leicester, Arsenal and Manchester United all occurring within the last 12 calendar months.

Things haven't been so great at Selhurst Park though, as since that away run was kicked off at the Etihad on Dec 22nd 2018, they have played 17 league matches at home, and won just five. It's also worth noting that the clubs they beat were Fulham (relegated), Huddersfield (relegated), Bournemouth (mid-table), Aston Villa (newly promoted) and Norwich (newly promoted and bottom).

Therefore I can't get excited about the 8.60 available for the Palace win on the Betfair Exchange. They have lost their last two in front of their own fans - both of which were to nil. Yes, Leicester and Man City were the visitors, but Liverpool are better than the Foxes and at worst, on par with City.

So what of Liverpool's away form then? It needs to be relatively decent if we are going to invest in them at around the 1.46 mark.

Their record away from Anfield this season reads - played six, won five and drawn one - and they ended the previous campaign with four successive away victories.

Clean sheets haven't been too abundant though, as it was only at Turf Moor and Bramall Lane that their opponents failed to find the net - and it's not like they have been keeping them at home either.

The Draw is 5.00, but that doesn't tempt me either. Liverpool should get the job done on Saturday, but I wouldn't be confident of a clean sheet.

That brings the Match Odds and Both Teams to Score Market into play, with Liverpool and Yes, a very appealing price at 3.20

Expect goals at Selhurst Park

As I have just recommended a bet that requires a minimum of three goals, it should come as no surprise that I agree that Over 2.5 Goals is odds-on at 1.70.

It is a selection that has landed in four of the Reds' six away games this season (as well as all six at Anfield too).

The case for the Under at 2.34 is that all of Palace's matches at Selhurst Park have had two goals or fewer, and with Zaha off-colour, and Salah a big injury doubt, two of the main goal sources are either diminished or not there at all.

On balance I am happy to sit this one out, as while I would certainly go with Overs, I am not willing to invest at the current odds.

Trading Places

It is quite clear that the hosts will set-up to defend and try and nick something on the counter, so I wouldn't expect too much ambition from them in the first half.

Liverpool have only scored once before the half hour mark in their away games this term, and in their three most recent ones, their earliest strike came with just 20 minutes remaining.

That represents a possible trading opportunity, as in the Half Time Score Market, 0-0 is available to back at 3.60, and that will be a lot shorter if it's still goalless at the 30 minute mark.