Alan Pardew says Liverpool are genuine Premier League title contenders

Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew believes Saturday's opponents Liverpool are genuine title contenders.

Liverpool sit third in the Premier League, level on points with the two teams above them, Manchester City and Arsenal.

Jurgen Klopp's side are unbeaten in their last 10 games in all competitions and have no European distractions to contend with and Pardew believes they can win the title.

"I think Liverpool always have great players in any era. There is a momentum and intensity about them - and no Europe is helping them," he said.

"We have to focus on all the fantastic individuals they have. The way the league is panning out, you have to put Liverpool in contention for the title.

"They play high intensity and they're quick to the ball, and that's driven by the manager, but Brendan Rodgers' team wasn't too dissimilar.

"Liverpool will be looking for consistency now and if you catch them on the wrong day they can be very difficult."

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Palace go into the match in 11th place, without a win in three and on the back of a 3-1 defeat to Leicester, and Pardew is demanding an immediate improvement at the back, and up front.

"Clean sheets are a concern for all managers. We need a little more concentration to get us over the line," he said.

"It was unusual for us to concede three at Leicester, we're normally in with a shout. We just need to score more goals - we had 23 shots."

The man he will look to for goals is striker Christian Benteke, who takes on his former club for the first time since leaving Anfield - where he was rarely given a start by Klopp - in the summer.

And Pardew warned Liverpool the big Belgian is pumped up for the game.

"When you've not had the opportunity you think you deserve, it's natural to be up for this game," he said.

"Christian is playing with a smile on his face. Every player wants to play, especially great players like him."