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Both Alan Shearer and Paul Merson are expecting Liverpool to drop its first points of the season today against Crystal Palace.
Arne Slot’s side will be aiming to make it six wins out of six in the Premier League as they make their way to Selhurst Park later. The Reds have the chance to open up an eight-point lead over title rival Arsenal ahead of the Gunners’ game against Newcastle on Sunday, giving them plenty of motivation to keep their winning run going.
They face a tough test in the form of Palace though, with Oliver Glasner’s team the only other side in the league to boast an unbeaten record so far this season, and having already beaten Liverpool to the Community Shield last month, the visitors know just how difficult it will be today.
It’s perhaps not too big a surprise then that the pundits are expecting Liverpool to suffer its first slip-up in its title defense.
Former Newcastle and England striker Shearer is backing Palace to become the first team to take something off the Reds in the league, although he doesn’t expect the visitors to lose their unbeaten record.
“Crystal Palace have been a bit of a bogey team for Liverpool in the past and I think they've got a good chance to have a really good season, even though they got rid of [Eberechi] Eze. I'm going to go for a draw here,” Shearer told Betfair.
Merson, who has suggested the title race could already be over if Liverpool wins today, nevertheless agrees with Shearer, and has tipped Palace to claim a point against the champions.
“I told you last week that Liverpool should go back to Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai in midfield and they did that against Everton. I expect Slot to respect Palace and play the same midfield trio in this game,” Merson told Sportskeeda.
“You don't want Adam Wharton to be dictating things in midfield, so I'd be shocked if Florian Wirtz started this game through the middle.
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“If you get three points away from home against Palace, it is a massive boost in the title race because they are a team that can upset one of your rivals. I think this will be a tight game and Liverpool could be forced to settle for a draw.”
Liverpool.com says: It doesn't feel like too much of an overstatement to say this could be one of Liverpool's toughest tests this season.
Palace, as Liverpool already knows well, are a very good side under Glasner, and having already drawn against them in the Community Shield, it wouldn't come as a huge surprise if the Reds had to settle for a point today.
If they can claim another victory though, that would be a huge boost ahead of Arsenal's game against Newcastle tomorrow. Even at this early stage of the season, holding an eight-point lead would be a massive statement.
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