Liverpool vs Crystal Palace: Football Previews & Free Football Betting Tips
Liverpool vs Crystal Palace opens the English season in the Community Shield at Wembley (Sun 10 Aug 2025, 15:00). It’s champions vs cup winners: Arne Slot’s Liverpool looking to plant an early flag after a title-winning year, and Oliver Glasner’s Palace arriving as historic FA Cup holders.
Expect a big, boisterous crowd: Liverpool’s end in full voice after last season’s triumph; Palace’s first Shield appearance adds genuine occasion with a lively, optimistic away following.
Tactical snapshot: Slot’s Liverpool have largely been a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 hybrid—front-foot pressing, aggressive width, and plenty of central rotations around Salah, Mac Allister, and runners beyond. Glasner’s Palace are a drilled 3-4-2-1: strong wing-backs (Muñoz, Mitchell), compact double pivot, and vertical counters aimed at Mateta with Ebere Eze knitting the breaks.
Liverpool
- Likely available again: Virgil van Dijk (recent illness), Alisson (returned to training).
- Potential doubts: Conor Bradley (minor injury), Joe Gomez (recently unavailable).
Crystal Palace
- Out: Cheick Doucouré (knee), Chadi Riad (ACL).
- Further issues noted recently: Eddie Nketiah (injury), Caleb Kporha (back).
Predicted XI — Liverpool (4-3-3)
Predicted XI — Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1)
Liverpool — last 10 competitive
W-D-L: 5-2-3 PL
Goals (GF/GA): 20/15 Averages: 2.0 GF / 1.5 GA per match
Clean sheets: 2
Trend: Heavy-scoring run with eight BTTS in the last ten; still potent but not invulnerable in transition.
Crystal Palace — last 10 competitive
W-D-L: 4-4-2
Goals (GF/GA): 15/17 Averages: 1.5 GF / 1.7 GA per match
Clean sheets: 3
Trend: Cup surge under Glasner; sturdy out of possession, dangerous on counters and set-plays.
| Metric (last 10 competitive) | Liverpool | Crystal Palace |
|---|---|---|
| Clean Sheets | 2 | 3 |
| BTTS (Both teams scored) | 8/10 (80%) | 6/10 (60%) |
Liverpool — recent home (within last 10)
Results: W, W, W, W, D, D (6 games)
GF/GA: 14/6 Averages: 2.33 GF / 1.00 GA
Clean sheets: 1
Strong Anfield control carried into spring — four wins then two draws to close.
Crystal Palace — recent away (subset of last 10)
Results: W, D, D, L, L (5 games)
GF/GA: 7/13 Averages: 1.4 GF / 2.6 GA
Clean sheets: 1
Palace’s away spikes came at Spurs (2-0) and a gritty 1-1 at Anfield on the final day.
Liverpool
- Mohamed Salah — still the primary chance-finisher and creator in the right half-space. Palace’s back three must protect cut-backs to the penalty spot.
- Virgil van Dijk — aerial control vs Mateta and the launch point for switches into wide runners.
Crystal Palace
- Eberechi Eze — carries through pressure, draws fouls, and supplies final-third quality in transition.
- Jean-Philippe Mateta — target for early crosses; movement across the near-post channel can disrupt Liverpool’s centre-backs.
Prediction: Liverpool 2–1 Crystal Palace
Liverpool’s attacking rhythm (2.0 goals per game over their last ten) and eight BTTS games suggest chances at both ends. Palace’s structure under Glasner travels well, but with Doucouré out and Eze carrying a heavy creative load, Liverpool’s extra shot quality should tell late on.
- Main pick: Both Teams To Score — Yes Data-led
Liverpool BTTS 8/10; Palace BTTS 6/10 across their last ten competitive games. - Value angle: Over 2.5 Goals
Recent averages: LFC 3.5 total goals per game, Palace 3.2 in their last ten — finals can cage up, but these two create. - Anytime scorer: Mohamed Salah
Shot volume and penalty duty tilt the probabilities his way.