Liverpool vs Crystal Palace: A Tactical Showdown in the Premier League

The Premier League is in full swing, and as Liverpool prepare to face Crystal Palace this weekend, there is much to consider in terms of tactics, team form, and individual performances. In this edition of Rival Recon, Hari Sethi is joined by Joe Walker from the Five-Year Plan and International Clearance podcasts to dissect the upcoming fixture. Here’s an in-depth look into the key insights from the discussion, focusing on the recent form of both teams.

Liverpool’s Premier League Surge

Liverpool, under their new manager Arne Slot, have been off to an impressive start in the Premier League this season. As Joe Walker notes, “eight wins out of nine and being top at the moment, you can’t really complain.” This strong start has exceeded the expectations of many, especially considering the managerial transition. Slot’s arrival has injected new life into the squad, which, despite some initial apprehensions, has adapted well to his methods.

Walker praised the seamlessness of the transition: “I was a little bit trepidatious about how this was going to go… but can’t really complain with eight wins out of nine.” Despite concerns over how long Slot’s philosophy would take to resonate with the players, Liverpool’s tactical discipline and attacking prowess have put them at the top of the table. The question now remains whether they can maintain this momentum.

Crystal Palace’s Struggles

For Crystal Palace, it has been a starkly different story. Under Oliver Glasner, Palace have struggled to find consistency, with three draws and three losses already this season. Walker paints a concerning picture, pointing out that Glasner’s tenure has seen Palace experimenting with starting elevens due to injuries and lack of fitness. “Risky starting elevens” have been a theme this season, with many players starting while still not fully fit, including Jean-Philippe Mateta, who returned straight from Olympic duty. “Most Palace fans think we’ll start him up front until Mateta is ready to play 90 minutes,” Walker observed.

A key issue for Palace has been the loss of Michael Olise, a player whose creativity was pivotal to Palace’s attacking threat last season. As Walker explained, “We haven’t replaced Olise directly, and it feels like a giant area of nothingness down that right-hand side.” This void has been glaring, particularly in their last few matches, where Palace have struggled to recreate the dynamic attacking play that defined the end of their previous campaign.

Palace’s Inconsistencies and Injury Woes

Palace’s inconsistency has been further exacerbated by their injury struggles. Walker highlighted how certain players, such as Adam Wharton, have been forced to play through injuries, resulting in underwhelming performances. “Wharton has been carrying an injury… and he’s looked half the player,” Walker noted. This has been compounded by changes in the backline, with Palace using different centre-back pairings every week due to injury woes.

Despite these challenges, Walker remains optimistic about the potential within the squad: “The personnel are there for us to get top half… but I’m now looking a couple of positions lower due to the start.” With Glasner known for slow starts, as seen at his previous clubs Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt, Palace fans will be hoping that things start to click soon.

Key Battles: Midfield Dominance

As both teams prepare for this weekend’s clash, the battle in midfield could be the deciding factor. Liverpool’s dynamic midfield, combined with their high press, is a formidable force, and Palace will need to be at their best to counter this threat. However, as Walker pointed out, Palace’s midfield has been weakened by the absence of key players. “Mateta’s form in terms of finishing is still there, but the amount of chances coming his way has dropped off massively,” Walker explained.

If Palace are to have any hope of getting a result at Anfield, they will need to address these issues and find a way to disrupt Liverpool’s rhythm. Walker expressed his concern: “If we start with Wharton and Kamada again in midfield, Liverpool will have far too much joy.” Liverpool’s midfield control and quick transitions could prove too much for a Palace side still finding its feet.

Prediction and Final Thoughts

While Liverpool are undoubtedly the favourites going into this match, Palace have a history of causing upsets against the Reds, particularly at Selhurst Park. However, with the game being played at Anfield and given the contrasting forms of the two sides, it seems unlikely that Palace will be able to repeat those heroics.

Joe Walker’s prediction is realistic: “If we start with the same unfit players, it’ll be tough. But I trust Glasner to figure it out.” Whether that trust will be rewarded remains to be seen, but for now, Liverpool look set to continue their Premier League dominance.