Liverpool boss to further banish Crystal Palace ‘bogey team’ tag
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Having failed to win a Premier League match away to Crystal Palace in 18-and-a-half years prior to a 2-1 victory at Selhurst Park last March, it’s tough to make a case against Jurgen Klopp’s 8/11 favourites making it two on the spin.
Adding in a 2-1 FA Cup triumph in South Norwood during the previous campaign, the Reds have tasted victory just twice in eight visits to this part of the capital since 1997, losing four times, but that shouldn’t put people off tucking into Klopp’s crowd at odds on.
They probably won’t finish the weekend top, with level-on-points Arsenal more likely to do damage away to Sunderland and Manchester City leading on goal difference ahead of their trip to West Brom.
Nevertheless, the 16/5 second-favourites for a first title in 27 years clearly can’t afford any slip-ups, with the Gunners mirroring Liverpool’s recent haul of 16 points out of 18, and City bound to wake from a six-game winless slumber soon.
Tottenham and Burnley are the only sides the Reds have failed to beat on the road so far this season, attaining victories away to Arsenal and Chelsea among others, with the 2-0 loss at Turf Moor plainly down to Clarets boss Sean Dyche nailing his counter-attacking tactics.
Alan Pardew is unlikely to set his side up so defensively at home, where the Eagles saw off Stoke 4-1 in September, yet have taken just one point from the visits of West Brom, Bournemouth and West Ham.
Looking back at the recent history of results here, with Liverpool’s 2013/14 title-ending 3-3 draw and embarrassing 3-1 defeat six months later still fresh in the mind, avowed Palace punters will no doubt see value in the 15/4 on offer about Pardew and co, or even the home double chance at 11/10.
Another way to look at it is the visitors are seeking their third Selhurst Park triumph in a row, and fourth road victory on the bounce in all competitions, which makes 8/11 about the away win seem big.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
