A pair of solid 2-0 victories over Newcastle United and Everton had Liverpool fans dreaming that just maybe Jürgen Klopp’s struggling Reds had finally shaken off the hangover of last season’s quadruple push and found their feet, maybe even in time to make a late push to secure a top four finish. Then came a mid-week European meeting with Real Madrid in the Round of 16 in the Champions League and, with it, a crushing, demoralizing, humiliating 5-2 defeat at Anfield.
They will need to shake off any ill-effects of that match quickly and take out any anger, disappointment, and frustration on Crystal Palace now as they return to league action. Failing to do so would all but end their season domestically days after their season all but ended in Europe and a few short weeks after they were knocked out of the FA Cup. Palace on the other hand seem comfortable in 12th, with the European places on one side and relegation on the other seemingly out of the question. Stick with The Liverpool Offside for full coverage of Saturday’s late kickoff.