Crystal Palace v Liverpool: Preview

by Joel Lefevre

In a Community Shield rematch, Liverpool visit Selhurst Park on Saturday for an afternoon affair with Crystal Palace on matchday six of the Premier League campaign.

The Reds remain top of the table thanks to a 2-1 victory over Everton last weekend, while Palace are fifth following a 2-1 win against West Ham.

Match Preview

For a change, Liverpool decided to score early last Saturday, netting twice in the opening half hour to win their first five fixtures of a new campaign for a fifth time in their history.

Arne Slot’s men can become just the third Premier League champions to win their opening six outings on Saturday, with Manchester City (2023-24) and Chelsea (2005-06) both retaining the crown at the end of their respective campaigns when doing so.

Liverpool have escaped by the skin of their teeth on numerous occasions this season, winning six consecutive matches across all competitions by a single goal.

Only once in their last 15 September Premier League away matches have we seen the Merseyside club come away with nothing, losing 2-1 at Tottenham in 2023.

On Saturday, they have a chance to equal their longest away run without conceding from last season (two games), after a 1-0 triumph at newly promoted Burnley on matchday four.

The Reds are unbeaten in their last ten visits to Selhurst Park against the Eagles, winning in nine of those instances, including a 1-0 triumph in this exact fixture last year, with the late Diogo Jota netting the only goal.

Following their first major trophy lift in club history last season, Crystal Palace have continued their strong form into the new campaign, collecting nine points after five Premier League matches.

They are the only side in this competition, along with Liverpool, that have yet to lose, the first time the London club have avoided defeat in their first five top-flight affairs since 1990-91.

Oliver Glasner’s men are unbeaten in eight consecutive domestic affairs at Selhurst Park dating back to last season, but have yet to win there in 2025-26.

The Reds have managed to get by thus far with their attacking firepower, but the opposite has enabled Palace to remain unbeaten, with this side conceding the joint fewest goals domestically alongside Arsenal (two).

This side have failed to win their last two home outings in this competition when scoring first, coming away with a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest on both occasions.

It has been over a decade since their last home triumph against Liverpool in the top-flight, erasing an early Ricky Lambert goal in 2014 to claim a 3-1 victory.

Team News

After receiving a red card during Tuesday's Cup match against Southampton, Hugo Ekitiké will serve his one-match suspension this weekend. 

In the Merseyside Derby, Liverpool were missing Stefan Bajcetic with a sore hamstring, while Giovanni Leoni is still recovering from a cruciate ligament tear.

We saw only one new face in their starting lineup as Conor Bradley came into the fold with Florian Wirtz relegated to the bench.

Ryan Gravenberch and Ekitiké scored in their victory over the Toffees last weekend, with the Frenchman leading with four this season, while Mohamed Salah has nine goals all-time against Crystal Palace.

Ismaïla Sarr missed the previous clash for Palace through injury, Caleb Kporha was sidelined with a sore back and Eddie Nketiah had a hamstring strain.

Cheick Doucouré and Chadi Riad were sidelined last week with knee injuries, while Yéremy Pino is doubtful on Saturday for the same reason.

Jean-Philippe Mateta netted his second of the campaign against West Ham, with the winner coming courtesy of Tyrick Mitchell, his first of the new season.

Predicted XI

Liverpool: Alisson; Bradley, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Isak

Crystal Palace: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guéhi; Munoz, Lerma, Hughes, Mitchell; Kamada, Uche; Mateta