Crystal Palace-Liverpool Preview

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp feels his stars do not need to go up a gear when called upon to sub in for team-mates as he believes them to already be at their best, ahead of their clash with Crystal Palace.

The Reds are struggling with a slew of injuries to Thiago, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Curtis Jones and Naby Keita, who all sat out their opener against Fulham.

Harvey Elliott stepped into the breach with an assured performance, and Klopp says his squad do not need to be asked to rise to the occasion as they are already worthy of a place in the lineup.

"Harvey played a good pre-season and was really decisive in the games when he came on against Manchester City and Fulham," he stated. "Does he have to step up? Yeah, but like all the others as well.

"When you start (the season) with eight or nine midfielders then they all have the same chance, so if one is out, who is filling the gap, or is it just the situation? We have injuries, but I expect from the boys that over the time we work together, and of course rather sooner or later, they can fulfill their potential and that's what I am looking for.

"With the players we have there is still competition for positions. If the boys need that to be at their best it would be new to me. It's not about stepping up, it's about being the best version of yourself or getting close to that and that's what all the boys try as far as I see."

Opposite number Patrick Vieira meanwhile feels his side can learn from their loss against Manchester City, after they were sunk by an Erling Haaland double last time out.

"The game against City, we were well disciplined, well organised and we defended well as a team," he added. "We managed to frustrate them until the kind of moment when we could score that goal.

"Against those teams, it is hard to have possession. We accept that, and we will have to work well as a team if we want to get something from the game. Going to Anfield and defending for 90 minutes will be tough. We have to play our game and to try to create chances and score goals."

Liverpool - Mohamed Salah

The Egypt international has been involved in 11 goals in 10 Premier League appearances against Crystal Palace (7 goals, 4 assists), with each of these coming in his last seven games against them. Only against West Ham (9 goals, 3 assists) has he been involved in more.

Palace - Marc Guehi

Alongside defensive partner Joachim Andersen, the England man was one of six players to complete over 90 passes in the first match week, with 93.

- Since losing 2-1 to Crystal Palace in April 2017, Liverpool have won 10 consecutive Premier League matches against the Eagles, scoring 30 goals in the process. The Reds are only a longer winning run currently against Wolves (11 in a row).

- Crystal Palace have lost nine of their 13 away Premier League matches against Liverpool (W3 D1), losing their last five in a row. The Eagles' three wins there came consecutively between May 2015 and April 2017.

- Liverpool haven't lost their first home league match in any of the last 18 seasons (W14 D4), winning their last nine in a row. Their last such defeat came against Chelsea in 2003-04, losing 2-1.

- Liverpool against Crystal Palace marks exactly 30 years to the day since the first ever Premier League matches took place (15/08/1992). The Reds didn't play on that day, but the Eagles drew 3-3 with Blackburn at Selhurst Park, with Rovers' Alan Shearer scoring the first two of his record 260 Premier League goals.

- Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 20 Premier League games (W16 D4), the longest current run in the competition. They've also found the net at least once in each of these 20 games, also the longest ongoing run.

Updated August 13, 2022