
Anfield Index
·23 maggio 2025
Liverpool vs Crystal Palace: Match Preview, Latest Team News and TV Watching Guide

Anfield Index
·23 maggio 2025
As the Premier League curtain falls on Sunday, Liverpool will finally lay hands on the trophy they secured weeks ago in emphatic fashion. With Anfield poised for celebration, all eyes turn to a vibrant clash with Crystal Palace — a fixture now layered with meaning beyond mere points.
It’s been a season of renaissance at Liverpool. Under Arne Slot, in his debut campaign, the Reds reclaimed the Premier League title, brushing aside their challengers with a blend of tactical precision and attacking flair. Their crowning moment came in a 5-1 dismantling of Tottenham Hotspur, an emphatic confirmation of their superiority.
Sunday’s match is about more than the result. It’s a homecoming celebration, a victory lap for a squad that has navigated the long and winding road of an English top-flight campaign with style and steel. But don’t expect them to coast — not with Anfield in full voice and the trophy awaiting its rightful presentation.
Photo: IMAGO
Across the pitch, Crystal Palace arrive on Merseyside buoyed by their own piece of history. Oliver Glasner’s side clinched the FA Cup last weekend — the club’s first major trophy — and followed it up with a spirited 4-2 victory over Wolves. They now aim to punctuate this dreamlike campaign by toppling the newly crowned champions.
For a club so often cast as mid-table dwellers, Palace’s leap into the European conversation is a testament to belief, organisation, and boldness. Qualification for the Europa League is already secure, but a win at Anfield would elevate their story to fairytale levels.
Team news brings mixed emotions. For Liverpool, Alexis Mac Allister will sit out with a hip issue. Slot was pragmatic about the decision, noting:“Alexis will not play for us this season anymore. He needs rest at this moment in time to recover completely and to be ready for the start of next season…”
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, travel without midfield dynamo Adam Wharton after a head injury in the FA Cup final. Marc Guehi remains a doubt, although Glasner suggested he could recover in time. Long-term absentees Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure are unavailable, which could stretch Palace’s defensive options.
On form alone, Palace have the edge. Liverpool, perhaps understandably, have taken their foot off the pedal since clinching the title — a draw and two losses their record since that night in April. Palace, conversely, look spirited and unified, with momentum firmly in their grasp.
That said, Anfield isn’t a venue that tolerates apathy. The home support, the occasion, and a manager keen to end his inaugural campaign with authority will demand a performance of substance. Expect an open game, with goals likely at both ends.
Prediction: Liverpool 4-2 Crystal Palace
Liverpool dominated the reverse fixture at Selhurst Park thanks to a solitary goal from Diogo Jota. Historically, the Reds have held the upper hand with 35 wins to Palace’s 15, alongside 12 draws.
As both sets of supporters prepare for post-match parades in opposite corners of the country, this fixture feels like a finale befitting the Premier League’s global theatre — champions versus cup heroes, with pride, emotion, and legacy all in play.