Liverpool will be aiming to end their run of domestic defeats but may not have things all their own way when Crystal Palace head to Anfield in the fourth round of the EFL Cup on Wednesday.
Liverpool are aiming to bounce back from a rocky domestic run when they host Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup fourth round at Anfield on Wednesday night (19:45 BST).
The Reds have lost four straight Premier League games but remain a force to be reckoned with in front of their own fans.
Arne Slot has tasted defeat in only one home cup tie since taking charge, winning all nine of the others, and will demand an immediate response to Saturday evening’s 3-2 league loss at Brentford.
The Eagles also had their wings clipped in a 1-0 Sunday afternoon league defeat at Arsenal.
After remaining unbeaten for the longest in the Premier League, Oliver Glasner’s side have now lost three of their last four games and failed to score in each of their last two.
But, including their penalty shootout win in the Community Shield, Palace have got the better of the Premier League champions twice already this season and will not fear a trip to Anfield, where they are unbeaten on their last three visits.
Here’s our Liverpool v Crystal Palace Bet Builder, with three selections that reflect recent form and tactical trends.
Liverpool v Crystal Palace Bet Builder Tips
- Half-time result: Crystal Palace @ 4/1
- 4+ Crystal Palace shots on target @ 31/40
- Dominik Szoboszlai to assist @ 4/1
Pays out at 33/1
Eagles to lead at the break
Liverpool’s slow starts have been an issue all season and they have gone behind in the early stages of each of their four consecutive league defeats.
Slot will want to rectify that but it may be more difficult for his side to hit their full attacking stride amid a raft of anticipated changes in this competition.
The Dutchman’s starting XI against Southampton in the last round featured mostly fringe players or those that needed minutes, as the likes of Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai were given the night off.
Some of the Reds’ big guns may need to cancel their midweek leisure plans now the team are in dire need of a victory of any kind.
Palace have led at the break on their last three trips to Anfield and given they are capable of exploiting the defensive weaknesses that the Reds have been showing, backing the visitors to lead at the break seems like a good idea.
Leg 1: Half-time result – Crystal Palace @ 4/1
Palace’s attacking threat remains
A couple of recent results aside, Palace have been racking up some solid shot counts and testing the opposition goalkeeper regularly this season.
They had accumulated the most shots on target in the Premier League going into last weekend’s game against Arsenal, who had the best recent record of preventing shots on target.
Glasner’s side were only able to register one shot on target at the Emirates Stadium, but can get back to their healthy average of over four per game against a Liverpool side that have come under too much attacking pressure recently.
Brentford mustered seven efforts on target at the weekend, following on from Manchester United’s four at Anfield and Chelsea’s six at Stamford Bridge. And right at the beginning of the Reds’ sorry run, Palace peppered Alisson’s goal with seven on-target strikes.
Leg 2: 4+ Crystal Palace shots on target @ 31/40
Szoboszlai becoming the key cog in midfield
Szoboszlai has stepped up to become one of Liverpool’s most influential midfielders this season.
The Hungarian is averaging over two key passes per game and has already registered assists in both league and cup competitions this season.
Slot cannot afford to leave him out this week because he is one of the few Liverpool players showing any decent form and his set-piece delivery should also come in very handy against Palace.
Expect Szoboszlai to find space and provide service to the likes of Cody Gakpo or Alexander Isak on Wednesday.
Leg 3: Dominik Szoboszlai to assist @ 4/1
