Match Preview- Crystal Palace

With Liverpool facing one of their most daunting fixtures of recent seasons a prayer should be said for Liverpool in the hope that the past does not affect this future. With Steven Gerrard ruled out as well as Raheem Sterling paired with doubts over Phillipe Coutinho's fitness Alan Pardews Crystal Palace may be a stumbling block too far for the Merseyside club.

Liverpool have changed miraculously since the 3-1 mauling at Selhurst park back in November. The new look reds side have been reborn again since the change in formation to 343 with Emre Cans performance claiming a significant amount of that praise. Last fixture Crystal Palace came from one nil down thanks to a Rickie Lambert striker to win 3-1 mainly down to a magnificent performance from winger Victor Bolasie. (Glen Johnson was given a torrid time and was converted to a medical research centre due to his constant nightmares of Bolasie running past him). Liverpool now look a team capable of a top four finish especially since now they have a recognised striker in Daniel Sturridge who after completing his first start in the league since September will look to put his injury problems behind him. Mario Ballotelli is rumoured to have also earned himself a rare start after his match winning goal against Totenham Hotspur on Tuesday. With Liverpool no becoming a more fearful outfit they will hope their commendable form continues in the FA cup with the dream of 'Gerrard to Wembley' still alive.

Captain fantastic himself however will be watching from home as he is out for a number of weeks with a hamstring problem. The skipper may not be Liverpool's main concern; Lucas Leiva a man who has been instrumental in centre midfield is out for an extended period of time, this has left Brendan Rodgers with a dilemma over Can and whether to replace him with Lovren and move him further up the field in his natural position. However having more options will suit the Welshman as his strength in depth seems to be working.

Crystal Palace under Alan Pardew seem a more rounded team, with their main threat being the lower league 14 year old in disguise Dwight Gayle who has made a habit of scoring past Liverpool in his last three fixtures.
 Under Alan Pardew Crystal Palace have neither excelled nor have they de-excelled they have remained consistent. Pardew will look to utilize Gayle and Bolasie and unleash them on the newly unified defence. With Crystal Palace averaging a goal (1.08) a game, coinciding with Liverpool's conceding rate of 1.16 per game it looks likely that Palace will edge a goal somewhere in the fixture. Crystal Palace have scored the most past the Merseyside club this season 6 in total in their last two fixtures with one in particular costing Liverpool any hope of reaching Premier league glory.
But with Crystal Palace gaining momentum in their late push for a top ten finish, their attention in the FA cup may be harmed, this is in comparison to Liverpool's eye for fourth also. 'League form goes out of the window in the cup' is the old saying, with these two teams having Wembley in their sights, Steven Gerrard's farewell trophy versus Pardew's desire of a parting shot at Newcastle, this fixture is sure to create friction and be a fiesty affair.

Both teams have clear positives, Liverpool's resurgence in their new formation to Crystal Palace being the underdogs who Liverpool have underestimated time and time again. Despite Liverpool's injury woes it's hard not to envisage a win for Liverpool.

Through all the fight Crystal Palace will show it SHOULD not be enough, Liverpool SHOULD be able to palm palace away. The confidence their league form will bring coinciding with Daniel Sturridge's hunger for goals and Brendan Rodger's desire to win a trophy in his third season points to a Liverpool win. I expect Emre Can to partner Jordan Henderson in midfield with Lovren taking his place at Centre back with Skrtel and Lovren as his defensive partners. Markovic and Ibe should be either side of the midfielders with Coutinho Ballotelli and Sturridge as the front three.

Match Prediction 3-0 Liverpool. Sturridge, Sturridge, Can.
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