Liverpool Looks to Continue Impressive Run Against Struggling Crystal Palace
The Reds, under the guidance of Arne Slot, have made a blistering start to the season, winning eight of their first nine matches. They’ll look to extend their winning streak when they travel to Crystal Palace on Saturday. The Eagles, on the other hand, are struggling, sitting in 18th place with no wins in their first six matches.
Slot’s men will rely on the attacking prowess of Mohamed Salah, Luis Díaz, Diogo Jota, and Darwin Núñez to secure a win, while Palace will pin their hopes on Eberechi Eze and summer signing Eddie Nketiah. The Reds’ manager is aware of the challenges his team will face, saying, “They’ve already shown how tough of an opponent they are against the big teams… In both situations, they got a result.”
Liverpool’s impressive start has seen Slot become the first manager to win eight of his first nine matches in charge. However, he remains cautious, saying, “I don’t think we started well… [For] the long term, you have to look at the performance.” The Dutch coach is pushing his team to deliver a perfect 90-minute performance.
Ryan Gravenberch has been instrumental in Liverpool’s success, impressing in the No. 6 spot. Slot praised the midfielder, saying, “I was delighted with Ryan… Again, a big performance from him.” Gravenberch, along with Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, forms the spine of the team.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, has struggled to find their footing this season. After a strong finish last season, they’ve made a tentative start, with only Southampton scoring fewer goals. They’ve made mistakes and struggled to convert chances, leading to a series of disappointing results.
The next few matches will be a true test of Liverpool’s mettle, with a challenging run of games against top-tier opponents. Squad rotation will be key, and Slot will need to integrate players like Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones, and Cody Gakpo into the starting lineup. The manager is aware of the challenges ahead, saying, “We still have yet to prove that if we come across Arsenal, Newcastle, Chelsea, and Aston Villa, that we can still be up there, with Champions League games included as well.”
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