Crystal Palace vs Liverpool Preview: Team News, Predicted Line-ups & Prediction
Liverpool head to Selhurst Park as clear favourites on Sunday, 8 November (5:00 PM EAT, 2:00 PM UK). Both teams need a response. Crystal Palace are deep in a relegation fight, and Liverpool have lost twice in a row.
Palace sit 18th on 7 points after nine games. Pierre Sage’s side will also be without their two most dangerous attackers. Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool are sixth on 15 points, and a defeat here would leave them well off the top-four pace.
Form guide
Crystal Palace (L-D-W-L-L-L in the league). Palace have won one of their last seven games in all competitions. No team in the division has conceded more than their 21 league goals. Their home record is poor too: three defeats in four Premier League games at Selhurst Park, with 10 goals conceded.
Liverpool (D-W-L-W-W-L in the league). Liverpool won four in a row in all competitions before two straight defeats: 1-0 at home to Arsenal on 1 November, then a Champions League loss to Fenerbahce in midweek. Their away form is the bright spot. They are unbeaten on the road, with three wins and a draw from four games and only three goals conceded.
Head-to-head
Liverpool have dominated this fixture at Selhurst Park. They won 10 of their 11 visits before Palace broke that run with a 2-1 home win in September 2025. Palace have become an awkward opponent for the Reds lately, but this Palace side is weaker than the one that won that game.
Team news and injuries
Crystal Palace
- Jean-Philippe Mateta (suspended): sent off against Tottenham for a dangerous tackle on Micky van de Ven.
- Ismaila Sarr (injured): out, which removes Palace’s main threat from wide areas.
- With both missing, Eddie Nketiah is expected to lead the line.
Liverpool
- Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni (out): both have long-term injuries.
- Jeremie Frimpong (out): not expected back until around the Manchester United game on 22 November.
- Ryan Gravenberch (doubt): missed the Arsenal and Fenerbahce games with a heel problem. Iraola says he is the only doubt and it is a day-to-day call based on pain.
- Dominik Szoboszlai is expected back in midfield, with Trey Nyoni likely rested.
Possible line-ups
Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Canvot, Disasi, Richards; Khalaili, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Pino, Guessand; Nketiah
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Gakpo, Wirtz, Barcola; Isak
Line-ups are predicted (Sports Mole). Confirmed teams are named about an hour before kick-off.
Key battles
- Nketiah vs Van Dijk: with Mateta suspended, Palace’s goal threat depends on Nketiah’s movement. He is up against one of the league’s best defenders in the air and in one-on-ones.
- Wharton vs Mac Allister: Adam Wharton sets Palace’s tempo. If Liverpool’s midfield can stop his forward passes, Palace will struggle to create anything.
- Isak vs Palace’s back three: Palace have the leakiest defence in the league. Isak’s runs in behind could decide the game early.
Goals outlook
The XScore goals model expects about 3.0 goals in this game. It is based on both teams’ season scoring and conceding records, home and away.
| Market | XScore estimate |
|---|---|
| Over 1.5 goals | 80% |
| Over 2.5 goals | 58% |
| Both teams to score | 56% |
| Over 3.5 goals | 36% |
Palace’s leaky defence points to goals, but losing Mateta and Sarr blunts their attack. Over 1.5 is the safer goals angle. Both teams to score is close to a coin flip.
XScore prediction: Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
Liverpool have the stronger squad, an unbeaten away record and a good history at Selhurst Park. They should bounce back here. Palace will compete, but without Mateta and Sarr it is hard to see where enough goals come from. Pre-match models give Liverpool about a 61% chance of winning, the draw 21% and Palace 18%.
Our tips:
- Main pick: Liverpool to win
- Goals pick: Over 1.5 goals
- Value angle: Liverpool to win and Over 1.5 goals
- Correct score: 1-2 (alternative: 0-2)
Want more picks like this? Head to xscore.co.ke for daily predictions, Over/Under tips, BTTS picks and correct scores across the Premier League and beyond.
Predictions are for information and entertainment. Please bet responsibly, 18+ only.
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