Liverpool FC
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace
Liverpool with brilliant chance to finish in the top four but must beat Crystal Palace to make sure
Liverpool to win 2-0
Nine games ago, Liverpool were sitting down in 8th place after suffering their seventh defeat from the last 12 matches in the league. Their chances of achieving a top four finish when they written off completely.
Since then, they’ve won seven of their following nine games, including wins over Manchester United and Arsenal, and have risen above their rivals Leicester, Tottenham, Everton and West Ham into 4th position.
After doing all the hard work, they won’t want to let it slip now. Anything other than victory here will give Leicester the opportunity to come back into it, so the Reds will be as determined as ever to ensure they pick up three points here.
Crystal Palace’s big news from the past week is that veteran manager Roy Hodgson is to step down at the end of the season, effectively retiring from management at the age of 73.
He’s successfully steered Palace to yet another season in the league. Can they end this season on a high?
Form Guide (all comps): DWWWW
Original predicted finish: 2nd
Likely finish: 4th
Reasons to be cheerful:
One win away from completing a fantastic comeback
Top scorer Salah can fire them to victory
Reasons to be fearful:
Could their inconsistencies come back to hurt them here?
Palace won’t be a pushover in Hodgson’s last game
Liverpool would be delighted with the outcome of this season if they were able to get into the top four and in doing so the Champions League.
Although they will finish 17 points behind Manchester City, considering just how many injuries Jurgen Klopp has had to deal with, it would be nothing short of incredible if they beat Leicester to 4th place.
While it would be harsh on Leicester, a team who have spent 36 of the last 37 in the top four, it will have been earned by Liverpool’s fantastic recent form in which they have claimed 21 points from the last 27 available to them.
Mo Salah is level on 22 goals for the season with Harry Kane and will be determined to score here to try and take the award for himself
Star Man – Mo Salah
Has been the one constant for Liverpool this season, playing well even when the team haven’t been.
Form Guide (all comps): LWLWL
Original predicted finish: 14th
Likely finish: 14th
Reasons to be cheerful:
Can give manager a good send off with victory
Strikers are in good form
Reasons to be fearful:
Were battered 7-0 by Liverpool earlier this season
Many players unsure of futures this summer
With the news announced that Roy Hodgson will be stepping down this summer at the age of 73 and after four solid years at the club.
The veteran manager has successfully guided the club to a midtable finish in each of his seasons at the club, and it’ll be difficult to find another boss who virtually guarantees them safety every season.
As a former Liverpool manager, Hodgson will be determined to give his old side a good game of football here. They could do it as well, with their striking options firing well at the moment.
Unfortunately, one of their brightest players, Eze Eberechi, is likely to be out for up to six months having injured his Achilles in training.
Regardless, Palace will try and spoil Liverpool’s party here.
Star Man – Christian Benteke
Has scored in each of his last four appearances for Palace, and would relish scoring against his old club here.
Liverpool are favourites to win and clinch 4th place
Return of fans will cheer them on
Can Palace spoil the party?
Liverpool are favourites to claim victory here and in doing so clinch what at one point appeared to be an unlikely 4th place to end the season.
Victory would mean five on the bounce for Liverpool, as well as eight from their last 10, a terrific record compared with their earlier struggles.
Crystal Palace will want to give Roy Hodgson a good send off, but whether they can compete with a Liverpool side going for the top four is another story.
Liverpool to win 2-0
