PL: Crystal Palace v Liverpool

TOP 4 PUSH

Lets forget about the Real Madrid result for a second and instead focus on what realistically is the only thing left to fight for this season.. A top four spot.. This has been a season to forget barring an all out miracle in the away tie in Spain..

Injuries have cost us in what has been a replica of the 20/21 season when Virg suffered his ACL.. We can easily get in to the problems that ensued that season and this but its far too long.. One thing to learn is if something is broke you need to fix it..

Saying that we are unbeaten in two Premier League games and go to Selhurst Park where things can be tough if you allow them to be. The fans back their team. Their team backs their fans but if you can get on top of them three points are really achievable..

Quick Stat Check.. Palace haven't won in their last six games.. Drawing four and losing twice.. At home they have drawn their last three.. The reds have struggled away from home all season but dismantled Newcastle quite easily last time out..

Liverpool haven't lost at Palace since 2014 winning every game there since.. We all remember the 7-0 the other year..

LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS

In more great news and it nice to find positives at the minute.. Ibou Konate returned to training this week. Along with Diaz last week.. Yet squad selection is questionable as they build fitness for full returns. 

Joe Gomez is a late fitness test. Arthur & Thiago are still a couple of weeks away and Calvin Ramsay is out for the season..

PALACE

The Eagles are without Sam Johnstone, Joel Ward, James Tomkins, Tyrick Mitchell, Nathan Ferguson and more importantly Wilfried Zaha..

DANGERMAN In the absence of Zaha its hard to single out anyone as a major threat which could explain their struggles this season.. Olise & Eze can cause problems and Joachim Andersen is one to watch from set pieces. Edouard can be dangerous if given the space too..

LIVERPOOL TEAM

Ali, Trent, Matip, Virg, Robbo, Bajcetic, Fabs, Hendo, Gakpo, Mo, Nunez

THE GAME

We spoke earlier about learning from mistakes. For weeks and months of that 20/21 season every man and his dog was asking for Nat Phillips & Rhys Williams to play at CB and get our midfield back in position.. This time around it was to beef that midfield back up.. With Hendo, Fabs & Bajcetic that is problem solved..

The next issue being the defence and before we do.. DISCLAIMER: We most definitely do not think these players are rubbish they are not.. Trent & Joe Gomez can not play next to each other in defence.. Joe Gomez has to play right back and Trent has to play further forwards..

Luckily half of this is out of our hands as Joe will be replaced by Matip here & Konate too in the future. They are targeted time and time again and with no protection from Mo they are screwed.. Real Madrid like countless other teams defend their right hand side and attack down the left in numbers. Expect more of the same at Palace until they realise Jo-El Matip aint a soft touch..

The midfield and forwards have to work more in sync on their counter pressing with added back up from the defence cos Madrid cut through that like a knife through butter.. A quick one-two and it's one on one with a defender. Crazy.. Especially when you are 2-0 up..

So better game management, more possession and play like a team in both attack and defence. We did this well against Newcastle & Madrid for 20 minutes or so and then fell apart..

PREDICTION: 3-0 to them mighty reds

In all honesty this should be a walk in the park if we go out and do what we do best for 90 minutes.. With Matip coming back in you feel more confident.. The front three look to be gelling nicely. Diaz will only enhance this sooner rather than later.. Bobby & Jota need to be more dynamic from the bench if they don't start..

Midfield is key once again. Their holding positions dictate the whole teams set up.. A more managed controlled performance attacking and a total solid display defensively is the order of the day and every day..

DANGERMAN

Darwin Nunez yet again.. Vital goals and assists constantly.. Why he ever gets substituted has to be questioned.. A constant threat.. 

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