Liverpool v Crystal Palace predictions: Reds should seal top-four spot in style

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Liverpool v Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event, 4pm Sunday

Best bet

Liverpool to score in both halves
3pts 4-6 Hills

Team news

Liverpool
Diogo Jota is a doubt and the Reds are still missing Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita, Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Ozan Kabak.

Crystal Palace
Christian Benteke, Tyrick Mitchell, Scott Dann and Luka Milivojevic will be assessed. Eberechi Eze (Achilles) faces a long spell on the sidelines.

Match preview

Just two weeks ago, Liverpool were bigger than 2-1 to finish in the top four of the Premier League but they are just 1-7 to seal Champions League qualification with a final-day win over Crystal Palace at Anfield.

Last season's champions left themselves with a huge amount of work to do after a run of eight defeats in 12 league games between January and March.

However, wins at Manchester United, West Brom and Burnley in the space of a week mean Jurgen Klopp's men are poised to salvage a tumultuous campaign.

Liverpool kick off the final day in fourth place, one point behind Chelsea and ahead of Leicester on goal difference.

However, bookmakers rate their last fixture as by far the easiest of the three top-four contenders as Chelsea head to Aston Villa and Leicester host seventh-placed Tottenham.

Klopp's men demolished Palace 7-0 in December's reverse fixture thanks to a ruthless display of finishing in which they scored with seven of their eight shots on target.

Departing Palace boss Roy Hodgson can expect no mercy from his former club at Anfield and backing Liverpool to score in both halves could be the best bet.

The Reds scored three in the first half at Selhurst Park and four after the break and they have found the net at least once in each of their last eight halves of football in the Premier League.

Wednesday's 3-0 victory at Turf Moor gives Liverpool a crucial goal-difference cushion of four over Leicester but they are still unlikely to sit on a 1-0 lead if they make an early breakthrough.

Even with Eberechi Eze sidelined and in-form striker Christian Benteke doubtful, Palace should still pose a threat on the counter-attack.

The Eagles have scored seven times in their last four league games, coming from 2-1 down to beat Aston Villa 3-2, and the only one of their last ten league opponents to prevent them scoring were champions Manchester City.

Liverpool have had plenty of late drama during their nine-game unbeaten run, conceding equalisers in the 87th and 90th minute against Leeds and Newcastle and scoring late winners through Trent Alexander-Arnold against Villa and goalkeeper Alisson at West Brom.

Palace have a tendency to fade late on in games, as they showed when conceding twice in injury-time to lose 3-1 to Arsenal on Wednesday, and only Southampton and the relegated Baggies have conceded more goals than their tally of 64 this season.

Key stat

Liverpool scored in both halves of their last five Premier League victories.

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