“So they are under pressure, Alan Pardew is under pressure”.
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Following the win of West Ham against Everton, Manchester United will have to win if they want to get that final Europa League spot, to the expense of Liverpool, who are eight points behind it.
“Palace will take heart from the four goals Connor Wickham has scored in the last two games – assuming the striker is fit – and from playing against a Liverpool side they have beaten in their last three meetings”.
Jurgen Klopp joined Liverpool as a replacement for the previous manager Brendan Rodgers and so far he has been trying to bring out a winning team in the Reds with the squad assembled by Rodgers.
Crystal Palace have won six of their last 11 meetings with Liverpool in all competitions (W6 D2 L3). Souare’s return could mean former Liverpool defender Martin Kelly is sacrificed, but one player Pardew will certainly start is Wilfried Zaha, who the manager insisted will not be transferred to China regardless of speculation suggesting otherwise.
Liverpool will be without Lucas Leiva for the trip to Crystal Palace this weekend after the midfielder was ruled out for 5 to 6 weeks with a thigh injury.
Liverpool have had a tough time against Palace over the last few seasons and the Eagles effectively ended Liverpool’s title challenge back in 2013/14. Firmino’s overall record of seven league goals and eight assists, with 11 games remaining, is a good return for his first season in England. We should not have lost that game. This would have done nothing but hamper their confidence and to be honest I don’t think they will be able to do anything other than lose here. “He is smart enough to go behind the line, use his speed and is technically good enough to play with us and be an option and that is a really good situation”.
Therefore, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp knows only a win tomorrow will keep alive any slim hopes of making a late push for the Champions League qualification places during the closing stages of the season.
Alan Pardew’s team are yet to win a Premier League game this year; the club’s last league victory came in the form of a 2-1 win over Stoke City on 19th December.
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‘Connor has done terrifically and the four goals he got were fabulous. Dwight Gayle was on hand to equalise before two goals in four second half minutes won it for Palace as Joe Ledley capitalised on poor defending to slot home before Mile Jedinak curled in an excellent free-kick. “The fans were right behind us”, enthused Flanagan.
