Crystal Palace vs Liverpool: Confirmed Team News and Predicted Lineups | OneFootball

Crystal Palace v Liverpool: Team News and Key Updates

Liverpool return to Premier League action this Saturday with a trip to Selhurst Park, facing a Crystal Palace side buoyed by the return of a key forward. Arne Slot’s men arrive in south London eager to maintain their strong early-season form, though injuries and suspensions have influenced the manager’s squad options.

Liverpool Adjustments for Selhurst Park

Arne Slot confirmed that Alexander Isak is likely to feature again after scoring his first goal for Liverpool during Tuesday’s 2-1 Carabao Cup win over Southampton. The Swedish striker played the opening 45 minutes before being replaced by Hugo Ekitike, who came off the bench to score the winner but was later dismissed for a second yellow card.

With Ekitike suspended for one domestic match, Isak’s availability has become crucial. 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.

But 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.”

Photo: IMAGO

While Isak edges closer to full match fitness, Liverpool face a significant defensive setback. Giovanni Leoni has been ruled out for around a year following an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained against Southampton. Slot added:

“He is not in a good place, of course, because he tore his ACL and it means he will be out for a year.”

Liverpool predicted XI: Alisson, Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Salah, Isak, Gakpo

Crystal Palace Boosted by Returns

Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace side receive a timely boost with the return of forward Ismaila Sarr after a three-match absence. Despite concerns when Yeremy Pino came off at half-time in last weekend’s draw with West Ham United, both players have been declared fit.

Glasner said:

“He [Sarr] had the full training week, the same as Adam [Wharton] and Eddie [Nketiah last week].

We always nominate the squad when we think everybody is ready to start. I don’t know if he can play 90 minutes – I don’t know how intense the game will be – but he’s ready.

[Pino] just had to rest on Tuesday. He had a bone bruise – he took a knock, knee on knee, which was very painful – but since Wednesday he’s been training for the rest of the week. He feels fine, so he’s also available.”

However, Palace remain without Cheick Doucoure, Caleb Kporha and Chadi Riad for the 3pm BST kick-off.

Crystal Palace predicted XI: Henderson, Richards, Guehi, Lacroix, Munoz, Mitchell, Wharton, Hughes, Sarr, Pino, Mateta

Match Context and Expectations

Liverpool, reigning Premier League champions after Slot’s remarkable debut season in charge, aim to sustain their momentum and protect their title credentials. Selhurst Park has often been a challenging venue, and with Palace regaining key attackers, the visitors know they cannot afford complacency.

Isak’s involvement, even for 60 or 70 minutes, could prove decisive in Liverpool’s attacking approach. Palace, on the other hand, will look to exploit their home advantage and the absence of Ekitike in Liverpool’s front line.

This encounter promises to be a compelling clash, shaped by returning stars, enforced absences and the tactical nous of both managers.