Overview
In fact, Liverpool's 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Champions League was just a brief moment of brilliance, when they immediately suffered their fourth consecutive defeat in the Premier League. Their hopes of defending their title are becoming more fragile than ever.
Arne Slot's side drew 2-3 with Brentford, in a match where they struggled to deal with long balls and strong throw-ins. Meanwhile, the home team had their most impressive performance since the beginning of the season, making the atmosphere at Gtech Stadium explosive.
Liverpool have now lost four Premier League games this season, equal to the total number of defeats in the previous season. 7 points behind Arsenal, Arne Slot's team may be looking for another way to win the title. And the Carabao Cup could be the clearest opportunity.
Liverpool will host Crystal Palace at Anfield to compete for a ticket to the quarter-finals. This is a visit that they probably did not want. Palace are Liverpool's champions this season, having defeated The Kop twice.
The first was a penalty win at Community Shield after a 2-2 draw in August. Then there was a 2-1 win in the Premier League in September with Eddie Nketiah scoring the winner.
Since the start of the 2022-23 season, Liverpool have won just two of their eight meetings with Palace in all competitions (D4 L2). They have also won just one of their five games since Oliver Glasner took charge of the "Gunners" in February 2024.
Palace - who lost 1-0 to Arsenal last weekend - won the FA Cup last year and are aiming to go further in the Carabao Cup. If Ismaila Sarr is in the starting lineup, Liverpool need to be especially cautious. He has scored 5 goals in 8 matches against The Kop, only behind the record against Aston Villa (8 goals).
However, Palace have unimpressive statistics in the Carabao Cup. They have been eliminated in 6 of the last 8 times they reached the 4th round, except for last season's 2-1 victory over Aston Villa. They have only reached the quarter-finals twice in a row, from 1991-1992 to 1992-1993.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have shown more experience in this arena, having won 12 of their last 14 Carabao Cup matches against Premier League teams. They have only lost to Man City (2022-2023) and Newcastle (last season's final).
As of this match, 10 of Liverpool's last 11 matches in the Carabaao Cup have been against a Premier League opponent, the only exception being a victory over Southampton in round 3.
In terms of force, Arne Slot hopes Alexander Isak will return in time after a groin injury, while Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch are still doubtful to play. Key players such as Alisson, Jeremie Frimpong and Giovanni Leoni are certain to be absent.
Notably, Isak is in good form in the Carabao Cup, scoring in 4/6 recent matches, starting from round 4 of the 2024-2025 season with a goal against Chelsea. His only goal for Liverpool this season also came in the 2-1 win over Southampton in round 3.
Head-to-head record
Liverpool's two wins over Crystal Palace since the start of the 2022-23 season were their worst tally against any opponent they have met four or more times during this period. That number is equal to the two wins The Kop had against Man United and Arsenal.
At Anfield, Liverpool's form against Palace was not very positive. They have not won in their last three home matches, with 2 draws and 1 loss.
The last time Liverpool went 4 consecutive home games without a win against a team outside the "Big Six" was more than a decade ago - from 2012 to 2014, when they drew 2 and lost 2 against Aston Villa.
The upcoming match will mark the fifth time the two teams have met in the Carabao Cup. After four previous confrontations, each side has won 2 victories.
Score prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Crystal Palace
The match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace takes place at 2:45 am on October 30 (Vietnam time).
