🔊 Will the final round of the English Premier League serve as a dress rehearsal for the Community Shield? These very teams will compete for the trophy in August. It's a familiar scenario for Liverpool, but not so for Crystal Palace, who will make their debut in such a match. However, both teams are unlikely to be looking that far ahead, as their lineups are bound to change. More likely, players from both sides will celebrate a successful season for each club with a stellar performance at Anfield. On our part, we'll explore various scenarios to make an insightful prediction.

Head-to-Head

📊 Over the course of 33 head-to-head matches, Liverpool hold the advantage with a 61 percent win rate. They also came out on top in the first round at Selhurst Park, thanks to Diogo Jota's decisive goal in the ninth minute.

However, in their last two matches at Anfield, Crystal Palace have picked up four points. Additionally, they have not lost by more than one goal in their last five encounters. Considering the Eagles' impressive form, it might be worth considering a bet on the visitors with a (+2) handicap.

Liverpool Team Overview

🔴 Liverpool seem to be struggling to regain their form after clinching the Premier League title. They secured the championship back in April with a commanding 5-1 victory over Tottenham. However, in their next three matches, they managed to collect just one point from a draw with Arsenal (2-2). Nonetheless, it's unlikely that this has caused much concern among the Merseyside camp.

🔗 In the previous round, Liverpool traveled to face Brighton. Once again, they only managed to perform well in the first half, similar to their match against Arsenal. It was during this period that Arne Slot's side scored both of their goals. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to secure a win (2-3).

❗ The team's standout star is Mohamed Salah, who has extended his contract for another two years. He's having an outstanding season, breaking various Premier League records and being in contention for the Ballon d'Or. However, following their Champions League exit, the Egyptian is no longer the favorite. In his last three matches, he hasn't been involved in any goals or assists. Nevertheless, with 28 goals, Salah remains the Premier League's top scorer. Despite his recent underwhelming performances, the forward maintains a high seasonal rating of 7.61.

Crystal Palace Team Overview

🔵 Crystal Palace have significantly improved over the course of the season. While they sit mid-table, they were flirting with the relegation zone earlier on. In the fall, it seemed unlikely they would end the season with silverware, especially after selling Michael Olise. Yet, the Eagles did just that, defeating Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup final last weekend. Now, they're set to compete not only in the Community Shield but also in the Europa League.

🔗 Just three days later, they faced Wolverhampton in a rescheduled match from round 37. Crystal Palace players showed their professionalism, maintaining excellent form despite their cup victory. They played a much more open style of football. Oliver Glasner rested Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta, bringing them on late in the game. Nevertheless, Eze made his mark, scoring to seal a 4-2 victory. Eddie Nketiah, who rarely starts, bagged a brace.

❗ Eberechi Eze stands out as Crystal Palace's best player this season, emerging as a true leader. He has netted seven goals in six matches, all of which were crucial. It was his goal against Manchester City in the FA Cup final that secured the club's first trophy in their long history. In his last six matches, his rating hasn't dipped below 7.7. Although he was named Man of the Match only twice during this stretch, those performances came in London derbies against Arsenal and Tottenham.

Latest news

Liverpool

🎙 Liverpool manager Arne Slot reflected on the defeat to Brighton: “Two very good teams wanted to play football, avoid wasting time, and not dive. I expected us to score a third goal, which could have settled the match, but they equalized. It was great football, just not the result we were looking for. We played against a team sitting eighth in the Premier League, yet they managed to sign Mitoma. This speaks volumes about the strength of this league.”

🔝 Mohamed Salah has been awarded the Football Writers' Association Player of the Season in the Premier League. The Egyptian has won this accolade for the third time, matching Thierry Henry's record.

📝 Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer) has completed a medical in Liverpool. It is likely that once the transfer window opens, the club will officially announce the signing of the Netherlands international.

📌 Darwin Nunez is ready to move to Atletico. However, the clubs have yet to agree on a transfer fee.

❌ In the last round, Alexis Mac Allister was given a rest. His participation in the upcoming match is uncertain. Liverpool have no other potential absences.

Crystal Palace

🎙 Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner isn't keen on splashing the cash for quick success: "We've grown since 2013, always taking it step by step. Now is not the time to engage in a 'mad race' with an unpredictable ending where everything could collapse... This success [qualifying for the Europa League] will help us attract players who were previously difficult to lure. But we will build the team with a long-term vision."

❌ In the upcoming match, Cheick Doucouré and Chadi Riad will be sidelined due to long-term injuries. They've been joined by Adam Wharton, who missed the last round. Marc Guéhi also didn't play against Wolverhampton, and his participation at Anfield remains doubtful.

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

The main referee for the match is Darren England, who has officiated 19 Premier League games this season. On average, he issues 4.32 yellow cards per match. His most card-heavy game was between Nottingham Forest and Brentford, where he handed out eight cautions. However, in his most recent match between Fulham and Everton, he showed just one yellow card.

Liverpool average 1.9 yellow cards per game this season. Their disciplinary stats haven't changed much since their championship win. While they avoided any bookings in the last round, they picked up a card against Arsenal and two in the clash with Chelsea. Therefore, a bet on Liverpool to receive over 0.5 yellow cards is reasonable, especially since they've played seven consecutive head-to-head matches.

⚽️ Goal Predictions

Liverpool have netted 85 goals in 37 matches this season, leading the league in this category. Even after clinching the title, they continue to score 1-2 goals per game. However, they concede even more frequently. It's unlikely they will keep a clean sheet against an in-form Crystal Palace. Thus, we suggest betting on both teams to score (yes), which has come through in six of Liverpool's last seven Premier League matches.

🚩 Corner Predictions

Liverpool hold an edge in corner statistics this season, averaging 6.5 compared to their opponents' 4.6. However, they've been less aggressive in recent matches. For instance, they managed only three corners each against Arsenal and Brighton. Similarly, Crystal Palace have had no more than three corners in seven of their last eight matches at Anfield. This leads to a bet on total corners under 10.5.

Crystal Palace, much like last year, are delivering a brilliant finish to the season. The same can't be said for Liverpool, but having already secured the title, the Reds don't really need to push themselves further. We doubt they'll rally for the final match to thrash such a resilient opponent suddenly. The last time the Scousers had a significant victory over the Eagles was in 2021, so we're suggesting a bet on Crystal Palace with a (+2) handicap.