Crystal Palace v Liverpool: Premier League – live!

One bit of good news for Liverpool is that there will be no fans at Selhurst Park this afternoon. The 2,000 crowd made such a difference during Palace’s draw with Spurs last Sunday, back in the halcyon days of London being in tier 2.

Jordan Ayew replaces the suspended Christian Benteke, one of four changes for Crystal Palace. Liverpool make three changes: Joel Matip returns after a back spasm, and Mo Salah and Curtis Jones are rested.

Crystal Palace (4-4-2) Guaita; Clyne, Kouyate, Cahill, van Aanholt; Schlupp, Milivojevic, McArthur, Eze; Zaha, Ayew.
Substitutes: Butland, Ward, Tomkins, Dann, Mitchell, Townsend, McCarthy, Riedewald, Batshuayi.

Liverpool (4-3-3) Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Henderson, Keita; Minamino, Firmino, Mane.
Substitutes: Adrian, Kelleher, R Williams, Phillips, N Williams, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones, Salah, Origi.

Referee Jon Moss.

Hello. In most cases, Covid football has reduced or even obliterated home advantage. Liverpool are one of the exceptions. Twenty-one of their 28 points this season have been won at Anfield: they’ve won seven out of seven, as compared to one in six away from home. Only four teams have picked up fewer points on their travels, and Liverpool’s one win, at Chelsea, was three months ago. Today’s trip to Crystal Palace is their latest chance to sort their away form out.

Styles make fights, and Palace’s strengths – Hodgson, Two Banks of Four, Zaha-led counter-attacks – make them awkward opponents for Liverpool. Most of their recent games have been close, including a nerve-shredding 4-3 at Anfield two years ago, but Liverpool tend to get the job done. They have won the last six games at Selhurst Park, and the last six against Palace anywhere since Christian Benteke won at Anfield in 2017.

That was Liverpool’s last home defeat in the league, a run that shows no sign of ending. Liverpool’s home record means that, if they get anywhere near last season’s away form, we can probably forget about a title race.

Kick off 12.30pm.