Crystal Palace welcomes league leaders Liverpool to Selhurst Park on Saturday in the only remaining clash between unbeaten teams in this Premier League season. The hosts sit in a strong fifth place with nine points, while Liverpool lead the table with a perfect record of five wins from five games. Interestingly, the two teams met in August in the Community Shield, with Palace triumphing 2-2 on penalties. This recent encounter highlights the balance of power between the two sides, even though Liverpool have been flawless in the league so far. Palace have developed remarkable defensive stability under Oliver Glasner, conceding just two goals in five league games. That solidity will be put to the test as Liverpool travel to London on the back of a club-record goal-scoring streak in league games. The Reds will be without Hugo Ekitike after his silly red card in the League Cup against Southampton. The head-to-head matches in recent years show a fascinating pattern: both teams score regularly, but the games usually remain low-scoring. Four of the last five meetings have seen fewer than three goals, suggesting tactically-minded duels in which small details make the difference.
- Venue: Selhurst Park, London
- Date and time: 27.09.2025, 4:00 p.m.
- Competition: Premier League (Matchday 6)
Crystal Palace form & record check
Crystal Palace is in impressive form and, after five matchdays, is one of only two undefeated teams in the league, sitting in fifth place in the table. The Eagles have picked up nine points from their games so far, with a pattern emerging: two wins and three draws, all of which demonstrate their tenacity. Noteworthy is the defensive stability that Oliver Glasner has instilled in his team. In their first five league games, the Londoners have conceded only two goals, with none conceded in the first half. These figures underscore the tactical discipline of a team that relies on a compact three-man defense centered around captain Guehi, Lacroix, and Richards. Last weekend’s 2-1 win at West Ham highlighted both Palace’s strengths and their versatility. Mateta gave the visitors an early lead, but after Bowen equalized, the team showed character. Mitchell scored the decisive goal, underlining the importance of attacking fullbacks in Glasner’s system. Palace have already proven that they can draw creativity from other sources without Eze, who has moved to Arsenal. Their current run of 17 games unbeaten in all competitions, stretching back to April, makes it clear that Palace are no fluke. They are just one point behind Chelsea in fourth, while the gap to fifth-placed Bournemouth is also just one point.
Crystal Palace are likely to line up against Liverpool in the familiar 3-4-2-1 formation that Oliver Glasner has successfully established. The lineup seems largely predictable, even if there are some important absences to contend with. Particularly painful is the absence of Sarr, who normally plays a central role in Glasner’s transition game with his direct running strength. Added to this is the loss of Nketiah in attack, leaving Mateta as the only real striker available. Doucouré and Ahamada are also missing due to lack of Conference League eligibility, which thins out the midfield center. These absences could force Glasner to rely on Esse or Uche as alternatives to compensate for the lack of attacking width. The defensive framework around Guéhi, Lacroix, and Richards, on the other hand, remains intact and will be crucial in stopping Liverpool’s perfect start to the season.
Liverpool Form & Record Check
Liverpool travels to Selhurst Park on the back of a flawless winning streak and leads the Premier League by five points ahead of Arsenal. Under Arne Slot, the Reds have won all of their league games so far, showing impressive consistency that far exceeds even the most optimistic observers’ expectations. Recent performances show a team in top form, proving its dominance both nationally and internationally. The 3-2 win over Atlético Madrid in the Champions League was particularly revealing, as Liverpool controlled the game and decided it late despite a combative opponent. Ryan Gravenberch has developed into one of the most complete midfielders in the league under Slot. His new role allows him more offensive freedom, which was evident in the derby against Everton, where he both scored and assisted. This tactical evolution gives Liverpool an extra dimension in their attacking play. However, the personnel situation in central defense is causing headaches. Giovanni Leoni’s cruciate ligament rupture after his debut against Southampton means that Slot can now only rely on van Dijk, Konaté, and Gomez. The failed transfer of Marc Guehi on deadline day now seems even more regrettable. Hugo Ekitiké’s sending off in the League Cup after his goal celebration made headlines, but it also shows the emotional attachment of the new players to the club. Nevertheless, his five goals in eight games underline his value to the system. Liverpool’s current form makes them clear favorites, even though Palace are traditionally difficult to play at home.
Liverpool are likely to line up in the tried-and-tested 4-2-3-1 formation favored by Arne Slot. Mamardashvili may get a chance between the posts, with Alisson on the bench. In defense, Frimpong could be preferred to Bradley on the right, while Konaté and van Dijk are likely to occupy the center-back positions. Robertson will probably defend on the left. The midfield duo of Endo and Gravenberch has proven itself recently. The absences are noticeable: Leoni is out long term with a cruciate ligament rupture, Chiesa and Williams are ineligible to play, and Bajcetic is struggling with a thigh injury. In attack, Wirtz could play a central role, flanked by Salah and Gakpo, while Isak is likely to lead the line.
H2H Crystal Palace – Liverpool Head-to-head & statistics
The most recent meeting between these teams caused a stir in August 2025. Crystal Palace won the Community Shield final 3-2 on penalties after regular time and extra time ended 2-2. This was the Eagles’ first title against Liverpool in recent history. The head-to-head record over the last two years shows a balanced picture. In five encounters, Liverpool have two wins, Palace have one win and there have been two draws. It is noteworthy that Palace celebrated a surprise 1-0 away win at Anfield in April 2024. A striking pattern characterizes this pairing: both teams score regularly, but also concede goals reliably. In four of the last five encounters, both teams found their way into the opponent’s goal. The defensive lines seem to cause each other problems, which suggests an open contest. In contrast, the first halves have been low-scoring. In the last four meetings, there has been a maximum of one goal before the break. The games are traditionally decided after the break, when both teams reshuffle their tactical cards and the intensity increases.
The tip for “Under 1.5 goals – 1st half” is based on Palace’s impressive defense, which has not conceded a single goal before the break, while Liverpool traditionally gets stronger after the break and Ekitike’s suspension weakens their early attacking power. Four of Liverpool’s five league wins have ended with fewer than 2.5 goals, which supports the “Under 2.5 Goals” tip, especially as Palace have conceded only two goals all season. The “both teams to score: yes” tip is supported by Liverpool’s perfect scoring record and Palace’s newfound threat from set pieces, with Mateta scoring in two of the last three games. In terms of the outcome of the game, both a draw and a Liverpool win are possible: Palace are unbeaten in 17 games, drawing ten of them, while Liverpool have won five of their last five games, albeit all by narrow margins. Marc Guehi, who almost joined Liverpool, will try to stop his potential former teammates, but without Sarr and Nketiah, Palace lack the necessary depth in attack against van Dijk and Konaté, who have conceded only three shots on goal in their last three league games.
