Liverpool face a must-win final-day match as they welcome Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace to Anfield, in what is likely to be Hodgson’s last-ever match as a manager.
Victory for Liverpool will be enough to seal a top four finish given their superior goal difference over Leicester, unless the Foxes also win and manage to better the Reds’ goal difference.
Palace meanwhile could finish 12th with a win if Wolves lose elsewhere.
Team News
Diogo Jota could return for Liverpool after missing their last two matches with a foot injury.
Naby Keita could return from a muscle injury if he is deemed match fit.
Joel Matip (ankle), Joe Gomez, Virgil Van Dijk (both knee), Jordan Henderson (adductor), Ben Davies and Ozan Kabak (both muscle) remain ruled out.
Palace could be without Christian Benteke after the striker suffered a suspected Achilles injury in Wednesday’s loss to Arsenal.
Tyrick Mitchell (fatigue), Scott Dann (strain) and Luka Milivojevic (personal) are also considered doubts as Ebere Eze (Achilles) joins Mamadou Sakho (thigh), James McArthur (muscle), Nathan Ferguson (thigh) and Connor Wickham (knock) remain absent.
Stat Attack
- Liverpool are unbeaten in their last seven league meetings against Crystal Palace (W7).
- Palace have won three of their last six trips to Anfield (W3, L3).
- Sadio Mane has scored once in each of his last five Liverpool appearances against Crystal Palace.
- Jordan Ayew has been substituted in 11 of 22 starts for Palace this season, more than any other Eagles player.
- No Liverpool player this season has been caught offside more times than Mane, who has been found offside on 30 occasions in 34 league appearances.
Prediction
A recent improvement in form has seen Liverpool put their top four fate into their own hands, which I can see them taking if they can deliver another relentless attacking display because their pressure paid dividends at Burnley in an edgy contest.
Palace though will provide difficult opposition because they were excellent in attack against Arsenal even after conceding first, yet wasted chances and defensively switched off in injury time which cost them.
This match though is set to be Hodgson’s last as a manager and with a top four finish for Liverpool at stake, it would be slightly amusing if their former manager denied them a result to secure Champions League football for next season.
I however do expect Liverpool to pull through even though Palace will certainly give them a tough game, like they have done in most of their recent visits to Anfield.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Crystal Palace
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