This weekend, Crystal Palace take on a Liverpool side in rampant form. However, despite the Eagles playing a team who should be their major superior, Palace and Liverpool is a game with a very particular history to it. If the Reds are to have a Premier League-era bogey team, it would likely be Palace.

Can Roy Hodgson get a positive result against arguably the biggest black mark on his career? Can his boys get a result against a side who don’t often wilt at present?

Crystal Palace News

With four losses on the spin finally snapped by a win prior to the international break, the Eagles come into this one in decent enough shape. However, a large injury list that could include Wilfried Zaha, Jeffrey Schlupp and Alexander Sorloth on top of long-term absentees like Julian Speroni, Bakary Sako and Scott Dann means they are playing with a lighter squad than they need.

It’s hard to see such a ravaged squad coming out of this one with a result, but Palace are a club that often shock you when you least expect it.

LFC News

Meanwhile, Liverpool will likely be without Dejan Lovren, Emre Can and maybe Andrew Robertson. The Scot came off in Budapest for Scotland with a knock, and he’s touch and go for this game. If he does miss out, we expect to see the Reds call upon Alberto Moreno.

The loss of Joe Gomez for the medium-term is a blow, too, though the timely return of Nathaniel Clyne is a bonus. The Reds come into this one with their attack in full flow, though, and should feel more than capable of getting a result when they visit Selhurst Park.

Verdict

It’s going to be closer than most presume, but we can see Liverpool edging this one. Hoodoo or not, they have the opportunity to put themselves in a commanding position for the Champions League race, and we expect them to see this one though.