Liverpool Starting XI vs Crystal Palace; Confirmed Team News and Predicted Lineup | OneFootball

Liverpool face Crystal Palace test without Ekitike

Liverpool will travel to Selhurst Park to meet Crystal Palace on Saturday with Arne Slot forced into changes. Hugo Ekitike is suspended following his dismissal in the Carabao Cup against Southampton after celebrating a late winner by removing his shirt. His absence leaves Alexander Isak ready to lead the line, although his manager has been cautious about his fitness.

Isak set for first Premier League start

Isak, signed for £125 million, is expected to feature from the outset but not for the full contest. Slot explained, “He’s able to make minutes again. I still feel 90 – [it] depends also on the pace and the intensity of the game – might be a bit too much. But not only that, also for the long term. So you can maybe give one, I would call, stupid hit to bring him to 90 and then you brought him too far over the line. So, I don’t think it’s smart to play him 90 yet.”

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The Liverpool boss pointed to pre-season patterns, adding, “He’s further into his pre-season now and normally after two or three weeks in pre-season players go to 60, 70 minutes, and in some clubs they even bring them to 90. But if you look at our pre-season, we mainly bring them to 60 to 70 minutes then.”

Midfield and defensive decisions

Florian Wirtz is in contention to return, potentially joining Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch in midfield. That reshuffle could see Alexis Mac Allister step aside. Conor Bradley is expected to start at right-back after Jeremie Frimpong played a full match in the midweek cup tie.

At the back, Slot must cope without Giovanni Leoni, who tore his ACL against Southampton. “He is not in a good place,” said Slot. “He tore his ACL and it means he will be out for a year.”

Predicted line-up

Liverpool are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Alisson in goal, Bradley, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez in defence, Gravenberch and Szoboszlai in midfield, with Mohamed Salah, Wirtz and Cody Gakpo supporting Isak in attack.

Kick-off at Selhurst Park is scheduled for 3.00pm BST on Saturday, 27 September 2025.