Full Breakdown
Liverpool vs Crystal Palace: Anfield clash with Champions League hopes on the line
4/25/2026, 2:22:59 PM
Match Overview
Liverpool host Crystal Palace at Anfield on Saturday, 25 April, 15:00 BST. Referee Andy Madley (VAR Neil Davies) will oversee. A win would lift Liverpool eight points clear of sixth-placed Brighton, strengthening their Champions League push.
Recent Encounters and Form
Liverpool and Palace have met three times this season, each a Liverpool defeat (Community Shield shoot-out, Premier League loss, Carabao Cup exit). Liverpool entered after a Merseyside derby win and two league wins. Palace, under Oliver Glasner, have lost two of last twelve games, are unbeaten in last four league matches and remain unbeaten at Anfield in four visits.
Squad Availability
Liverpool’s injury list includes goalkeeper Alisson Becker (hamstring) and backup Giorgi Mamardashvili (cut), leaving Freddie Woodman to start. Defender Joe Gomez is back, while Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo remain absent. Forward Hugo Ekitike is out after Achilles surgery. Manager Arne Slot said Dominik Szoboszlai may cover right-back and Alexander Isak will lead the attack.
Key Numbers
Liverpool rank fifth for set-piece effectiveness, with only four teams conceding more goals, while Palace have conceded more from set pieces this term. Liverpool have lost three home league games but won nine of sixteen; Palace have lost two of last twelve matches and are unbeaten in last four league fixtures.
Stakes
A victory would bring Liverpool within striking distance of a top-five finish, securing Champions League qualification with four games remaining. Palace must balance the league test with Conference League semi-final against Shakhtar Donetsk, prompting a cautious approach to energy expenditure.
Official Club Statements
Arne Slot said the club monitors Alisson’s hamstring recovery, adding “the answer is … we don’t react to rumours in this room.” He confirmed Mamardashvili’s absence and that “Freddie Woodman is fit.” Slot noted Gomez’s return adds depth and will manage the “long rehab process.”
Opposition Viewpoint
Oliver Glasner warned Palace will “be wary of exerting energy at Anfield” before Conference League semi-final and flagged Liverpool’s “growing reliance on set pieces” as a concern.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on Alisson’s availability: some suggest a return, others call the timing “too early.” Reports on Gomez vary, with some saying he is back for the Palace game and others that he will miss next Everton match. Injury tally is described as “up to seven,” while others list eight absentees.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Ali is close to a return of play, so let’s see if tomorrow comes too early,” Slot said.” — Arne Slot
- “No, Giorgi will definitely not be available for tomorrow and for the upcoming weeks.” — Arne Slot
- “The surgery went well,” — Arne Slot
- “We only react when facts need to be told and that is not the situation at the moment.” — Arne Slot
What’s Next
Liverpool travel to Everton next, while Palace face Shakhtar Donetsk in the Conference League semi-final first leg.
