Liverpool vs Crystal Palace. Premier League.
AnfieldAttendance53,138.
Saturday 19 August 2017 14:32, UK
Liverpool will still be without Philippe Coutinho but Jurgen Klopp should have Daniel Sturridge back for Saturday's visit of Crystal Palace.
Coutinho has played no part in Liverpool's opening games against Watford and Hoffenheim but with Barcelona's sporting director claiming negotiations are underway, the Reds insist he remains sidelined by a back injury.
Klopp should at least have Sturridge, who came through a full training session on Wednesday, in his ranks after a thigh injury and is relishing a return to Anfield after seeing his side concede a contentious late equaliser at Vicarage Road on the first weekend.
"We were not really disappointed about our first game but it was how a first game can be; there are things to improve but even then we could've won which I think everybody knows," Klopp said.
"It's a tough game - Palace will want to strike back (after defeat to Huddersfield) - but it's Anfield and we have to show it. It was a long time ago that we played there, I'm really looking forward to it."
Sturridge might have shaken off a thigh injury but Klopp did not reveal whether the forward was in line to start against Frank de Boer's side, saying: "Daniel looked really good (in training) but as with all injury recoveries, you have to wait to see how the player reacts to the added intensity."
Nathaniel Clyne (hamstring, back) is still out injured but Andrew Robertson could make the matchday squad for the first time in a competitive game this weekend.
"He's in a good moment," Klopp, who has so far favoured Alberto Moreno at left-back, said of the £8m signing from Hull. "It's how it is with specialist left full-backs - you either play or it's possible you aren't in the squad - but he's developed very well and everything is fine from my side."
Crystal Palace will be without key forward Wilfried Zaha, who suffered a knee injury in the 3-0 defeat to Huddersfield, but striker Christian Benteke is fit to face his former club and struck twice in a Palace win at Anfield in April.
Both teams have found the back of the net in each of the last 10 meetings in all competitions between Liverpool and Crystal Palace, averaging 3.9 goals per game.
Crystal Palace are looking to become the first side to win four consecutive top-flight games versus Liverpool at Anfield since Arsenal in December 1935.
Liverpool haven't kept a clean sheet against Crystal Palace in 13 competitive matches, since a 0-0 draw in an FA Cup fourth-round tie in January 2003 (0-0).
Benteke has scored five goals in his previous three Premier League games at Anfield as an opposition player, more than he has at any other away ground in the competition.
The Belgian's double in this fixture last term means he has now scored more Premier League goals at Anfield as a visiting player (five), than he did as a Liverpool player (four).
Roberto Firmino has scored more and assisted more Premier League goals than any other Liverpool player since the start of 2015-16 (22 goals, 15 assists).
On the opening weekend, Mohamed Salah became the 12th different player to score on his Premier League debut for Liverpool - only Nigel Clough, Milan Baros and Sturridge have scored on their first two Premier League appearances for the club.
Sadio Mane, who has netted five goals in his last seven Premier League games, has had a hand in four goals in five matches against Crystal Palace in the top flight (three goals, one assist).
Frank de Boer lost his opening Premier League game in charge of the Eagles - the only Dutch manager to lose his first two games as a manager in the competition is Martin Jol (lost first three).
Both teams have defensive concerns but more so Crystal Palace. I know Liverpool let in three at Watford but they didn't lose and then they won in midweek, which was a great result. Palace have done well at Anfield over the last few years but they are not good enough defensively.
You don't want to start a season with a home defeat like they did against Huddersfield. It puts them up against it. If you lose this game then you are behind the eight ball already and I don't think they have been great in the transfer market.
The manager is asking them to play out from the back and when you do that with a lack of a confidence, you're asking for trouble.
PAUL PREDICTS: 3-1 (10/1 with Sky Bet)
Liverpool are considered as Sky Bet's banker of the 3pm kick-offs at 4/11 with Crystal Palace up against odds of 7/1 while the draw is priced at 4/1. The Reds did, however, drift out from 12/1 to 16/1 for the Premier League following their opening-weekend draw, while the Eagles were cut to 11/4 to face the drop after their losing to Huddersfield.
The bookmakers struggle to decipher Klopp's main goal threat, with six players 7/2 or 4/1 to score first, while Benteke is 17/2 to haunt his former club and break the deadlock.
