Liverpool team news v Palace: Isak gets first PL start for Reds as Slot makes big call on Wirtz | OneFootball

Liverpool have the opportunity to temporarily open an eight-point lead on their current nearest pursuers Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur this afternoon, but it’d require them to pull off a feat that nobody has managed since mid-April.

Crystal Palace welcome the Reds to Selhurst Park on a run of 17 matches unbeaten in all competitions, two of which were against Arne Slot’s side, including the Community Shield in August.

Today’s contest pits the only two undefeated teams in the 2025/26 Premier League against one another for the first time since the collapse of Marc Guehi’s deadline day transfer from south London to Merseyside, adding an additional subplot to an already eye-catching fixture.

Paul Merson has claimed that Liverpool could already put one hand on the title if results go their way this weekend, but it could take their best performance of the season so far if they’re to maintain their 100% top-flight start to the campaign against a high-flying Eagles outfit.

(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Liverpool starting XI to face Crystal Palace

After resting almost all of his regular starters in the midweek Carabao Cup win over Southampton, Arne Slot recalls the big guns for what’ll surely be an extremely hard-fought contest at Selhurst Park.

Alisson Becker returns between the sticks, with the usual centre-back pairing of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate ahead of them. Conor Bradley and Milos Kerkez are recalled in the full-back positions.

Ryan Gravenberch and new dad Alexis Mac Allister resume their midfield partnership, with Dominik Szoboszlai likely to assume the number 10 role today.

Alexander Isak makes his first Premier League start for Liverpool at centre-forward, with Hugo Ekitike suspended after his bizarre red card on Tuesday night. Mo Salah is on the right as usual, and it looks like Florian Wirtz will start on the left side of a front three, with Cody Gakpo among the substitutes.

You can view the Liverpool starting XI and substitutes below, via @LFC on X: