Crystal Palace vs Liverpool
The Premier League is set for yet another thrilling Matchday during a busy December slate. Various clubs are juggling multiple tournament games and shuffling their players due to injuries, but it hasn’t stopped the Premier League from being one of, if not the most competitive, top flights in the world.
Liverpool and Klopp are under a microscope as they continue to dominate the league despite having multiple key players on the injury list. With their recent 0-2 clean sheet win at Bramall Lane, they stay within striking distance of first-place Arsenal and are two points above third-place Aston Villa.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace have been having an abysmal stretch of football, having lost three of their last five games in the Premier League. They hope to turn things around when they host an injury-riddled Liverpool at Selhurst Park.
Talking Points
Liverpool hurdled with injuries
Amidst an already impactful stretch of matches without the likes of Alisson Becker, Diogo Jota, Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic, and other key players, Klopp is now faced with yet another injury. This time, it’s centre-back Joel Matip.
The Liverpool defender was taken off the field in the second half of their match against Fulham at Anfield last weekend with an apparent knee injury.
“I don’t know exactly [how long he will be out] but it doesn’t look good, that’s something we can say. The scan is not done yet so we don’t know exactly but it is not great. From the first minute it was clear. I spoke to him and said: ‘Ah no, that is not good’. But how long [he will be injured for], we don’t know.” Klopp shared with the media.
Liverpool manager Klopp has his hands full dealing with a stacked December slate in the Premier League while also competing in the Europa League and the EFL Cup. Luckily for him, his roster is considerably deep and can still hold its own against worthy adversaries.
Their recent 0-2 victory against Sheffield United was a testament to their formidability amidst an injury-riddled stretch and an attestation of Klopp’s brilliance with how he shuffles and manages his team.
Jean-Philippe Mateta poised to part ways with the Eagles
It has come to light that striker Jean-Philippe Mateta’s future with Crystal Palace has become uncertain ahead of the January transfer window.
The 26-year-old’s contract has reached its final six months, and the Frenchman has not started in the Premier League since October. This is a textbook scenario that could culminate with a transfer as early as January.
Mateta has started in just 19 matches with the Eagles in the last two seasons, ever since joining the club on loan from Mainz back in 2021. In his stint with Crystal Palace, the Frenchman has shown signs of brilliance and proved to be a serviceable player for Roy Hodgson. After scoring a hat-trick against Plymouth, Hodgson said nothing but good things about his striker.
“We know he can do that when he gets through with the goalkeeper and gets into those positions,” he said. “He has that composure and the ability to strike the ball very well.” Hodgson said.
Fortunately for him, Frankfurt have been keen on bolstering their offence, especially after parting ways with Randal Kolo Muani. Mateta will surely be one of the headlines in the Premier League 2023 news once further updates on his looming transfer gain more ground.
History
These clubs have faced each other a couple of times prior to their upcoming matchup. Liverpool have dominated their past head-to-heads, winning 19 of their 28 total matchups, while Crystal Palace have won six.
Both teams aren’t shy about displaying their offencive prowess when facing each other, as both clubs have tallied a total of 93 goals in 28 matches. The Eagles have managed to find the back of the net 31 times, while the Reds have scored twice as much with 62 goals.
It has been a tight battle for these rivals in their past two matchups, as both games ended in a draw, leaving no time or purpose for either team to bask in celebration.
In recent form, Liverpool have won three of their last five Premier League games, and with 31 points, they sit in the second spot, just a point ahead of Manchester City.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace are trying to get their first win since last month’s win at Burnley. They’ve lost three of their last five matches in the top flight and are trying to fend off a budding Bournemouth squad, who are breathing down their necks.
Betting Tip
As the SBOTOP Premier League 2023 odds suggest, Liverpool will be the club that comes out of this bout with three league points. The Reds are priced as the favourites to win at 1.54, which is already a good line to consider, but personally, I find the first half 1X2 for Liverpool more enticing and exciting at the same time.
As their head-to-head history shows, Liverpool have been the dominant team when these clubs meet. Despite having multiple key players sidelined, the Reds are still a formidable foe, especially for teams in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT))
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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