Liverpool
Liverpool vs Crystal Palace: Team News and Predicted Lineups Amid Isak Update
đ´Would give Kerkez, Gomez, Wirtz, & Ngumoha minutes from to bench to rest Robertson, Bradley, Szoboszlai & Ekitike.
What do we think reds? Would you change anything?đ¤
Liverpool and Crystal Palace will go head-to-head in the Carabao Cup fourth round at Anfield on Wednesday night, with both teams struggling for form right now.
Arne Slot’s side have lost five of their last six in all competitions and fell to a 3-2 defeat against Brentford on Saturday night, making it four-in-a-row in the Premier League. Oliver Glasner’s side, on the other hand, are winless in their last four games, and fell to defeat against Arsenal this past weekend.
Both sides have some injury concerns to deal with, leaving the managers with some decisions to make, and this is how onthegoal expects the teams to line up.
Liverpool Team News
The Reds will once again be without Alisson Becker, Giovanni Leoni and Jeremie Frimpong due to injury issues, but Alexander Isak and Ryan Gravenberch could return after missing the weekend defeat with knocks.
Curtis Jones was forced off injured in that game and is a doubt for this clash, while young goalkeeper Freddie Woodman could get the nod ahead of Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Liverpool Injuries and Suspensions
Player
Injury
Potential Return Date
Giovanni Leoni
Knee
03/08/2026
Jeremie Frimpong
Hamstring
22/11/2025
Alisson Becker
Hamstring
09/11/2025
Alexander Isak
Groin
29/10/2025
Slot Drops Team News Update
Slot didn’t hold a pre-match press conference for this game, but did share a small injury update following the Brentford defeat.
“He [Jones] asked to be taken off, but he walked off instead of needing a lot of treatment, so I have to wait and see.
“Of course we have already faced Palace in the Premier League this season, and the result on that occasion was not what we would have hoped for. Credit to Palace for that.
“Their winning goal came very late on that occasion, after we had equalised, following a difficult first half for us, so we should be aware not just of the problems they can cause but also of their ability to keep going until the final whistle.
“At the time of writing these notes, I have not made a final decision on the squad that we will use for this game – there is a need to train and to check on availability – but whichever players we use have to be ready to face a team like Palace.”
Liverpool Predicted XI
Liverpool Predicted XI: Mamardashvili; Bradley, Gomez, Konate, Robertson; Endo, Mac Allister; Chiesa, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike.
Liverpool Predicted Substitutes: Woodman (GK), Williams (DEF), Van Dijk (DEF), Kerkez (DEF), Nyoni (MID), Wirtz (MID), Salah (FWD), Ngumoha (FWD), Isak (FWD).
With some injury concerns in the squad, and with the Carabao Cup not at the top of Liverpool’s priorities, Slot is expected to make some changes to the side, which could see the likes of Joe Gomez and Federico Chiesa come into the side.
That could see captain Virgil Van Dijk named on the bench for rest, alongside £550,000-a-week duo Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.
Crystal Palace Team News
The Eagles are dealing with a number of injury issues themselves, but Glasner has already confirmed that summer arrivals Walter Benitez and Jaydee Canvot will both start the game in the back line.
Cheick Doucoure, Caleb Kporha and Chadi Riad remain long-term absentees, while the likes of Eddie Nketiah are pushing for a rare start.
Crystal Palace Injuries and Suspensions
Player
Injury
Potential Return Date
Glasner Drops Team News Update
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Glasner has shared an update on his squad ahead of the game.
â[We came through] Very well, to be honest.
âWeâve just one issue: Chris Richards has a little bit of an issue with his calf, so he ownât wonât make the trip to Liverpool tomorrow.
âAll the others are fine and recovered well. The players showed at the Emirates that they are fit and they could try to get the equaliser until the final whistle, so it looks positive.
âI donât think so at the moment, but we donât take any risks because Chris didnât play against AEK Larnaca â we rested him for that game â so itâs not that his load is high. Letâs see â I canât tell you more at the moment.
“Jaydee [Canvot] will start, and also Walter BenĂtez will start â they are the two players I can mention today.
âItâs not a gift â they deserve it. Jaydee, I spoke to him and said I donât care about [his error against Larnaca last week], itâs part of football. He won a lot of duels, and heâs doing well in training. We trust him, and thatâs why he will start tomorrow in the back three.
âWalter is the same. Heâs doing so well in training, and he deserves to get some minutes as well.â
Crystal Palace Predicted XI
Crystal Palace Predicted XI: Benitez; Canvot, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton, Lerma, Sosa; Sarr, Nketiah, Uche.
Crystal Palace Predicted Substitutes: Henderson (GK), Mitchell (DEF), Clyne (DEF), Hughes (MID), Devenny (MID), Cardines (MID), Esse (FWD), Mateta (FWD), Pino (FWD).
The Eagles are likely to make some changes to their team in order to turn their fortunes around too, and that could see fellow summer signing Borna Sosa come in alongside Canvot and Benitez.
Nketiah scored the winner last time these sides met and will be pushing for a start up front, which will likely see Jean-Philippe Mateta and Yeremy Pino, who earn a combined ÂŁ137,000-a-week, on the bench
Dutch pundit reveals Liverpool manager Arne Slot is a big fan of Japan international
Liverpool manager Arne Slot is a big fan of his former player, Feyenoord striker Ayase Ueda, and backed him when others doubted. Thatâs according to Dutch pundit Hans Kraay Junior.
Heâs been speaking to Voetbal International, relayed by Voetbal Primeur. During that conversation he revealed the Liverpool manager remains a firm fan of his former striker.
Ueda has been in fine form this season, with 19 goals in 21 games in all competitions for Feyenoord to date. He has 18 in 15 in the Eredivisie alone.
Heâs already doubled the nine goals in 31 he managed last season, firmly establishing himself as a key man in this Feyenoord side.
Itâs been a steady rise for the 27-year-old, who initially played a back up role behind Santiago Gimenez after arriving in an âŹ8m deal in 2023. His first season saw him score just five goals in 37 games as a result, with his second seeing him improve on that, albeit just by four with nine in total in 31.
Arne Slot faith vindicated
ďżźGRONINGEN, NETHERLANDS â SEPTEMBER 28 2025: Ayase Ueda of Feyenoord celebrates after scoring his sides first goal with Jordan Bos of Feyenoord during a Dutch Eredivise at Euroborg
Five of his goals came in 36 appearances under Arne Slot, before his eventual move to Liverpool in the summer of 2024. But, according to Kraay Junior, the Reds boss had no doubts the striker would come good.
âMisjudged, misjudged; of course, he was behind Santiago Gimenez, who was often in top form and therefore also found the net quite often,â he said.
âSo, whether we were wrong isnât important, but Arne Slotâcredit where credit is dueâhas told us and me several times when we asked about Uedaâs potential.
Hugo Ekitike has sent a clear and confident message ahead of Liverpoolâs clash with Brighton and Hove Albion, boldly claiming that he would score a hat-trick if Mohamed Salah supplies him with the chances.
Speaking ahead of the highly anticipated Premier League encounter, the forward expressed his belief in both his own finishing ability and Salahâs creativity. According to Ekitike, playing alongside a world-class creator like the Egyptian winger could be the key to unlocking Brightonâs defense.
> âWith a player like Salah, you only need the right movement,â Ekitike reportedly said. âIf he passes the ball to me in the right moments, I am confident I can score three goals against Brighton.â
The statement has quickly grabbed attention among Liverpool fans, especially as Salah continues to be the Redsâ main attacking outlet. The Egyptian has been in fine form this season, consistently creating chances and leading the line with experience and quality. Ekitike believes that a partnership between them could be devastating.
Brighton, known for their structured build-up play and high defensive line, could be vulnerable to quick transitions and sharp runs in behindâan area where Ekitike feels he can thrive. His pace, movement, and confidence in front of goal make him a potential threat if given the service.
While some may view Ekitikeâs comments as ambitious, others see it as the mindset of a striker hungry to make a statement on the big stage. Liverpool supporters will be eager to see whether this confidence translates into goals on matchday.
All eyes will now be on Salahâs right footâand whether Ekitike gets the chances he believes will lead to a memorable hat-trick against Brighton and Hove Albion.
Liverpool
Liverpool made concrete offer to sign right-back ârevelationâ last summer and could try again in 2026
Liverpool have so far failed to fully nail down a new starting right-back following Trent Alexander-Arnoldâs summer exit.
The Real Madrid star was a shoo-in across almost a decade with the Reds and has proven difficult to replace for Arne Slot.
Liverpool signed Jeremie Frimpong as a nominal successor to Alexander-Arnold, but the Dutchman has run into a series of injury problems during his first months at the club.
Liverpool ready to try again for Marco Palestra
Given how little has been seen of Frimpong since his arrival, it is slightly difficult to judge exactly whether Liverpool need to sign another new right-back.
However, the feeling is that Liverpool could have probably done with looking at a more orthodox player for the position last summer.
As per Italian outlet Calciomercato, Liverpool did actually attempt to do this in making an offer for Atalantaâs Marco Palestra.
They claim the Reds made a ÂŁ17.5m bid to sign Palestra before the season started. Keen to send the 20-year-old out on-loan instead, Atalanta rejected the offer.
The attempt to buy Palestra â who ultimately joined Cagliari on a temporary basis â was said to have been part of a wider initiative from Liverpool to scout promising young Italian players, one which led to the signing of Giovanni Leoni.
Despite being knocked back, the Reds are reportedly still interested in Palestra, but have now been joined by âalmost all of Europeâs top clubsâ as the youngster impresses with Cagliari.
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