Liverpool dey enter this EFL Cup fourth-round clash with Crystal Palace for Anfield like team wey don dey full-blown crisis mode.
If we go talk true, Arne Slot and im boys don lose five of their last six games across all competitions. But no be only dem dey suffer — Crystal Palace too dey go through bad patch since their unbeaten run end.
Match Preview
Liverpool small Champions League joy last week no last reach Premier League. The Reds thrash Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 for Europe, but as dem come back home, reality slap dem again.
Brentford under Jordan Henderson beat dem 3-2 for weekend, make am four straight Premier League losses back-to-back — the same level of collapse wey Klopp’s 2020-21 team and some other former champions experience.
Na this kind form dey drag dem down — same number of league defeats dem get all of last season don happen already. Now dem don fall seven points behind Arsenal wey dey show dem how proper defending dey run. Only two clean sheets in 14 games tell you say na defence dey kill Liverpool right now.
The Reds still manage escape from Southampton for third round of this EFL Cup with 2-1 win, but that one no too sure say dem go reach far. In fact, for the last five seasons, dem don waka comot for fourth round two times — even though dem don win the trophy twice (2022 and 2024) and finish as runner-up last year.
Crystal Palace on the other hand dey enjoy success for FA Cup and Community Shield this decade, but the EFL Cup na one competition wey still dey hide from dem. In 120 years, dem never win am. For the last six years, dem don only pass the fourth round once — last season, before Arsenal dump dem out for quarter-finals.
Funny enough, na the same Arsenal wey beat dem again this past Sunday with Eberechi Eze haunting im old club with the only goal wey seal 1-0 win for the league leaders.
Palace never win for their last four games and don lose three times this month alone. That 19-game unbeaten record wey dem enjoy earlier this year now just be history. But make nobody forget — dem don beat Liverpool two straight times this season already.
First na for Community Shield back in August, then dem shock dem again for Premier League last month. Add to that, Palace never lose for Anfield since September 2021. So dem go enter this clash with small belief say dem fit shock Slot’s men again.
Team News
For Liverpool side, wahala still dey pile up. Curtis Jones come out injured against Brentford, and Arne Slot talk say e no too serious, but the midfielder still be doubt for this Palace game.
Alexander Isak (groin), Ryan Gravenberch (ankle), Alisson Becker (hamstring), Giovanni Leoni (ACL) and Jeremie Frimpong (hamstring) all still dey unavailable.
Because of all these, Slot go likely rotate heavy. Reports dey say e fit start third-choice keeper Freddie Woodman and right-back Calvin Ramsay to give dem some minutes. For attack, we fit see mix of young and hungry players wey wan impress the boss.
For Palace, Caleb Kporha (back), Chadi Riad (knee) and Cheick Doucoure (knee) still dey miss. Chris Richards too go miss out with small calf issue. Coach Oliver Glasner don dey use the same core players for long, and that one don begin show as fatigue dey enter their play.
Expect small rotation from am too. Eddie Nketiah, wey score the winning goal against Liverpool last time, dey front line for possible start, and former Liverpool man Nathaniel Clyne fit also enter starting XI.
Liverpool Possible Starting XI:
Woodman; Ramsay, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Endo, Mac Allister; Chiesa, Szoboszlai, Ngumoha; Ekitike.
Crystal Palace Possible Starting XI:
Benitez; Canvot, Lacroix, Guehi; Clyne, Lerma, Hughes, Sosa; Esse, Devenny; Nketiah.
Prediction: Liverpool 2–0 Crystal Palace
Both Liverpool and Palace get bigger priorities than this EFL Cup, but this match na perfect chance for both coaches to rebuild small confidence. Liverpool poor form don tire their fans, but even with rotation, dem still get more firepower pass Palace. The Eagles no dey score goals lately, and if dem no tighten up, Liverpool go use this opportunity take calm things down. Expect the Reds to bounce back here with 2-0 win to enter quarter-final.
Na Live Preview — We Go Dey Update Am Steady
This page go dey update regularly as gist dey drop before and after kickoff — from official lineup release to injury updates and match reactions. Keep checking back so you no miss any new Liverpool vs Crystal Palace tori as e dey hot.
