Crystal Palace will play hosts to Liverpool at Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon hoping to bounce back from their wretched run of form in the Premier League. However, the Eagles will go into this match as the clear underdogs as the Reds are currently sitting pretty at the top of the league standings. Even then, the South Londoners could prove to be a tricky test for the Merseyside outfit as they have the pace to threaten the Liverpool defence on the counter.
Roy Hodgson could take a defensive approach and opt for a 4-5-1 formation. However, the Palace head coach will be sweating on the fitness of Joel Ward and Wilfried Zaha as they continue to recover from their respective injuries.
4-5-1 Crystal Palace Predicted Lineup To Face Liverpool
Defence
Vicente Guaita will start in goal for Palace despite conceding four goals in his past two starts in the English top-flight. The defensive pair of James Tomkins and Gary Cahill will lineup at the heart of the Eagles backline looking to keep things tight at the back against Jurgen Klopp’s free-flowing attack.
Joel Ward is a doubt for this clash and will be in a race against time to be fit to start at right-back. Patrick Van Aanholt will operate on the other side as the left-back. The home side has conceded 16 goals in 12 league matches thus far, so Hodgson will be desperate to see his defenders improve that record in the coming weeks.
Midfield
The Palace manager might flood the midfield to disrupt Liverpool’s rhythm at the centre of the park. It is expected that James McArthur, Luka Milivojević and Cheikhou Kouyaté will anchor the midfield and hopefully pick out the runs of Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend on the counter.
Both Zaha and Townsend need to have a good game if the Eagles are to trouble the opposition defenders this weekend. Jeffrey Schlupp and James McCarthy will be on the Palace bench and might get a chance to make an impact in the game if required.
Attack
Jordan Ayew will lead the charge for the Selhurst outfit up top. The 28-year-old has scored four goals in 11 Premier League appearances so he will be Hodgson’s best weapon going forward. Christian Benteke will be available on the bench and might get an opportunity to impress against his former club if Hodgson calls upon his services.
