We are drawing ever closer to tonight’s kick off at Anfield. Liverpool look to get on track after last week’s underwhelming draw. Crystal Palace makes the trip up from South London to help kick off our home schedule. This is the Reds’ home opener and Liverpool and their supporters will be looking for a fast start.
Kick off is at 8 PM BST and tonight’s game will wrap up Week 2 of the Premier League. Tonight marks 30 years to the day that the Premier League played its first ever matches. Liverpool would lose their opening Premier League match against Nottingham Forest, 1-0 the next day, August 16, 1992.
The Reds are looking for a different outcome than against Forest back in ‘92, as well as against Fulham last week. Palace are coming off a 2-0 loss to Arsenal last Friday and are looking for their first points of the young season. Liverpool have won 10-straight games against Crystal Palace and want to keep that streak going.
It looks as though Jürgen Klopp has heard our pleas and has given Darwin Núñez his first league start. He’s also given Nat Phillips his first start for Liverpool since 2019 at center back. James Milner and Harvey Elliott get the starts in the midfield.
Roberto Firmino is missing from the line up tonight. It is a precautionary measure according to the club. It’s good to see Naby Keïta and Kostas Tsimikas available off of the bench.
Liverpool
Starters: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Phillips,Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Milner, Elliott, Salah, Núñez, Díaz
Substitutes: Adrian, Gomez, Keita, Tsimikas, Henderson, Carvalho, Clark, Bajcetic, Van Den Berg, Chambers
Crystal Palace
Starters: Guaita, Clyne, Ward, Andersen, Guéhi, Mitchell, Eze, Doucouré, Schlupp, Zaha, Ayew
Substitutes: Johnstone, Milivojevic, Olise, Mateta, Hughes, Edouard, Ebiowei, Richards, Plange
LFC Globe Verdict
The hope is that the line up tweaks that Jürgen Klopp has made since last Saturday’s match against Fulham will be enough. Crystal Palace will be looking for an upset, and they have been known to poach points from teams further up the table.
The feeling is that Liverpool will come out with a lot more focus than they did last week. I think that focus will be enough to see them through a tough test from Palace. The Eagles make it interesting but, I see the Reds holding on for a 3-2 home victory tonight.
Look for goals from some new faces. Sadio Mané had tortured Palace lately but, as we all know, he is no longer on Liverpool. Look for Núñez to get on the board, and I think maybe a goal from an unexpected source, maybe Harvey Elliott or Virgil van Dijk.
