Liverpool will host Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup fourth round at Anfield on Wednesday, with both teams eager to bounce back to winning ways.

Liverpool are in a poor run of form right now, with five defeats in the last six matches ahead of the EFL Cup clash vs Crystal Palace. The Reds are completely devoid of confidence and momentum right now.

The 2024/25 EFL Cup runners-up will need to raise their performance levels to get through to the next round of the competition. Crystal Palace have already beaten Liverpool earlier this season, and this will be a tough challenge for the home team.

Meanwhile, the visitors are in a disappointing run of form themselves after their recent outings. The Eagles are without a win in their last three matches in the Premier League. It will be interesting to see if they can get back to winning ways here.

Coincidentally, Crystal Palace’s last victory in domestic competitions was against Liverpool at the end of September. It will be interesting to see if they can bounce back here. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics

Liverpool

Arne Slot will be without Giovanni Leoni (knee), Ryan Gravenberch (ankle), Jeremie Frimpong (hamstring), Alexander Isak (groin), and Alisson Becker (thigh) on Wednesday. Liverpool are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Crystal Palace, with Giorgi Mamardashvili in goal.

Conor Bradley and Andrew Robertson will start as the full-backs. They will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Ibrahima Konate will form the central defensive partnership alongside Virgil van Dijk.

As for the midfield unit, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai could start in the double pivot. They will look to control the game from the deep and add creativity to the side. Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo will start on the flanks here. They will look to add goals and creativity from the wide areas.

Florian Wirtz will look to open up opportunities for his teammates in the attacking midfield role. Finally, Hugo Ekitike is set to lead the line for Liverpool vs Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup fourth-round tie at Anfield on Wednesday.

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvilli, Bradley, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike

Crystal Palace

Cheick Doucoure and Chadi Riad have been ruled out due to their long-term knee injuries. Crystal Palace will shape up in a 3-4-2-1 formation vs Liverpool, with Dean Henderson taking his spot in goal.

In the back three, Marc Guehi will start alongside Maxence Lacroix and Chris Richards. Daniel Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell will feature as the wing-backs. They will look to protect the central defenders and hit the Reds on the break.

As for the midfield unit, Will Hughes and Adam Wharton will add defensive cover and control in the middle of the park. Daichi Kamada and Ismaila Sarr will start as the attacking midfielders, and they will look to create opportunities for their teammates. Finally, Jean-Philippe Mateta will lead the line for Crystal Palace vs Liverpool on Wednesday.

Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Guehi, Lacroix, Richards; Munoz, Hughes, Wharton, Mitchell; Kamada, Sarr; Mateta

Key Stats

• Liverpool are undefeated in nine of their last ten home matches against Crystal Palace in all competitions.
• Crystal Palace are unbeaten in four of the last six meetings against Liverpool.
• 14 goals have been scored in the last six matches between Liverpool and Crystal Palace.
• Both teams have picked up just one win from the last four outings.

Player to Watch

Hugo Ekitike

Embed from Getty Images

The Liverpool striker is our key player to watch out for. The home team will be desperate for victory here. Crashing out of the EFL Cup would be a devastating blow for them, and they will be desperate to get through to the next round. Arne Slot needs their attackers to step up and produce a strong performance here.

Crystal Palace will look to make life difficult for the opposition. The French striker has done quite well since joining Liverpool, and he will look to create opportunities for his teammates and find the back of the net. Liverpool will need him to step up and produce a defining performance in the final third if they want to win this game.

Prediction

Liverpool 1-2 Crystal Palace

Both teams will be desperate to get through to the next round of the competition, and this is likely to be a close contest. Liverpool are in disastrous form right now, and it will be interesting to see if they can rise to the challenge here.

The two sides are likely to get on the score sheet, and this will be an open game with a fair few chances. However, Crystal Palace have been a bit of a bogey team for Liverpool in recent meetings, and they are likely to cause all sorts of problems for a struggling Liverpool side. A narrow win for the away team is on the cards. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Oliver Glasner and his charges.