Roy Hodgson told his pre-match press conference that Crystal Palace ‘might not get out of Anfield’ if they beat Liverpool today.
Liverpool need a win against their former manager to secure Champions League football for next season, so a lot is on the line for those on Merseyside.
And whilst Palace don’t have anything to play for, in terms of the Premier League table, this is Hodgson’s last game in charge of the London side.
So, there will no doubt be some extra spice to this fast-breaking Palace team, who have a fully fit Wilfried Zaha on their hands, including an in-form Christian Benteke.
Nonetheless, this is what Hodgson had to say about Palace’s trip to Anfield.
“Well, we might not get out of Anfield if we win,” said Hodgson. “That could be the only problem.
“We might be locked in the dressing room for a good while. But we are an honest bunch here, there’s no doubt about that.
“I don’t know if we can be good enough to go up to Anfield and win. But I do know that whatever 11 players put that Palace shirt on, they will be busting a gut to win and if we don’t win then it will probably be because Liverpool played better than we did.”
Given how Liverpool’s season has panned out and where they were during one point of the season – losing six home games on the bounce – then someone like Jurgen Klopp perhaps would have taken such a scenario on the final day.
At one point, some were even questioning whether Liverpool would miss out on Europe altogether, but they are on the charge once more.
And with Mo Salah chasing that Golden Boot, Diogo Jota in with a chance of playing, Fabinho in top form in midfield, Trent Alexander-Arnold back to his best and Nat Phillips heading everything that comes in his way then Liverpool should do the business today.
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