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Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace: Match Preview, Team News, and Ways to Watch

Liverpool welcome Crystal Palace to Anfield in the last game before the November international break.

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Ever since that fateful 3-3 draw at Selhurst Park that put the final nail in the coffin of Liverpool's title hopes, games against Crystal Palace have been a largely painful experience. Last season in the league, Crystal Palace did the double over Liverpool in style, winning both games 3-1, including Steven Gerrard's final home game with the team. (You're welcome for forcing you to re-live those fantastic memories.)

But it's a new era for Liverpool Football Club, and after just six games, Klopp has already started reversing some of the bad juju that had marred the team. Hadn't beaten Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in three years? Klopp manages it on his first attempt (let's forget for a moment that beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the new cool thing to do this season). Hadn't won a European game away from home in three years? Once again, it only took Klopp's Liverpool side one crack at it. With any luck, the Crystal Palace mental block that this team possesses will be eradicated on Sunday when Liverpool host them at Anfield.

Liverpool are on a twelve game unbeaten streak, having won their last three in a row, one in each of the competitions they're currently playing in. Crystal Palace, on the other hand, haven't won a game since their 3 October match against West Brom after a strong start to the season. They've picked up only a single point from their last three league games, in a 0-0 against visiting Manchester United, and suffered a 5-1 shellacking against Manchester City in the Capital One Cup. In their defense, however, they've had the misfortune of playing two of the league's in form sides, Leicester City and West Ham, one after the other. Still it would appear that Liverpool have the edge in this one when it comes to current form, but bad juju don't care 'bout form.

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Liverpool are coming off of a midweek game in Kazan that could lead to some additional fatigue, though the victory that they earned should give them confidence going into this match. I'm also not deep enough into my Klopptimism to forget about all of the times in recent memory that Liverpool have heroically snatched a draw or worse from the jaws of victory.

Klopp put out a strong team for their Europa League clash, but he also rested key players Martin Škrtel, Philippe Coutinho, and Lucas Leiva, all of whom you should expect to see back in the starting XI on Sunday. The biggest question will be whether match-winner Jordon Ibe gets rewarded with another start after an excellent performance in Russia. Additionally, Lucas currently sits on four yellow cards, and one more in this game would ensure that he misses Liverpool's trip to the Etihad Stadium to take on Manchester City after the international break. It's unlikely that this will dissuade the gaffer from starting him, but it is something that will surely be in the back of his mind.

The key player for Crystal Palace has been Yohan Cabaye, the France international and former Newcastle man, who Palace snapped up from PSG over the summer. He has four goals so far this season and always looks a threat. They'll need him to be in good form because they're currently without Connor Wickham, Lee Chung-yong, and Marouane Chamakh, while forward Dwight Gayle faces a late fitness test for a hamstring injury and is unlikely to start either way. This will come to some relief to Liverpool fans, since Gayle somehow transforms into Cristiano Ronaldo when he plays against Liverpool, scoring four goals in the past three league games. Pape Souaré, on the other hand, has been deemed fit and is available for selection by Alan Pardew.

Liverpool will also be welcoming back former Red Martin Kelly to Anfield. Midfielder Yannick Bolasie, about whom Reds will also not have fond memories, may move up to play forward if Gayle doesn't start.

For Liverpool:

Mignolet
Clyne/ Škrtel/ Sakho/ Moreno
Can/ Lucas
Lallana/ Coutinho/ Milner
Benteke

Roberto Firmino has been in fantastic form for the team, but given the fact that he just returned from injury and that he played 80 minutes on Thursday before being replaced by Lucas, he may start this one on the bench and serve as an impact sub in the second half. There is, as briefly mentioned above, the possibility that Ibe has earned himself another start for the team, possibly in place of Adam Lallana or vice captain James Milner. While the pairing of Lovren and Sakho kept a clean sheet on Thursday, expect to see Lovren back on the bench for this game.

Liverpool are still without captain Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge, though both are expected to be in contention by the end of this month (!!!), assuming that Danny's knee doesn't go Full Sturridge in the interim. Jordan Rossiter, Joe Gomez, Kolo Touré, Danny Ings, and Jon Flanagan all remain out of commission for the time being.

Kickoff is set for 4:00PM BST/11:00PM EST Sunday. Television coverage will be on NBC Sports Live Extra for the US. Elsewhere, Fox Sports 1 in Australia, Sportsnet in Canada, Star Sports 4 Asia in India, SuperSport 3 Africa in Kenya, Astro SuperSport 2 in Malaysia, and 103 (hd) mio Stadium in Singapore are carrying the match. You can find other listings at LiveSoccerTV. It doesn't look like this one will be on television in the UK -- sorry, guys. Online streaming is also available with Sky Go Extra in the UK and NBC Sports Extra in the US. For Online radio, fans worldwide can check out LFCTV GO and TalkSport Radio World.

We'll be keeping you updated with all the buildup to the game, including team news as it's released, our live matchday thread and post-match recaps from The Liverpool Offside staff. If you want to join the discussion, sign up for an SB Nation account to have your say on all the action as it happens.

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