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Crystal Palace has received an injury boost ahead of Saturday’s Premier League meeting against Liverpool, with two key players returning to training.
The weekend clash at Selhurst Park will see the division’s only two unbeaten sides this season lock horns. Palace has taken eight points from its first five games, conceding just two in that run, while Liverpool has, of course, won all five so far this campaign.
For the two sides competing in Europe this season, both should be relatively fresh heading into the game. Liverpool made 11 changes for Tuesday’s Carabao Cup win over Southampton and gave several key men the night off.
Palace didn’t play at all in midweek and has had seven days to prepare for Liverpool. Those preparations were boosted on Wednesday with news that Ismaila Sarr and Yeremy Pino returned to training following recent injuries.
Sky Sports reporter James Savundra said via X that both are in line to play against Liverpool.
Sarr sustained a thigh injury in the win over Aston Villa at the end of last month and has missed Palace’s last three matches.
The 27-year-old’s return will not be well-received at Liverpool, given he has typically been a thorn in Liverpool’s side and has scored six goals across seven previous encounters, including a goal in August's Community Shield.
As for Pino, he was replaced at half-time in last week’s win over West Ham and has started the last three games following his summer move from Villarreal.
However, Palace will be without Chadi Riad, Cheick Doucoure, and Odsonne Edouard this weekend, while back-up goalkeeper Walter Benitez is expected to be unavailable due to injury.
As for Liverpool, it will be without the suspended Hugo Ekitike and, most probably, Giovanni Leoni. Both managers are set to provide an update on team news in Friday’s press conferences.
Arne Slot and Oliver Glasner have become well acquainted in recent months. In fact, Saturday’s meeting will be the third time in Liverpool’s last nine competitive fixtures that it has faced Palace, a run stretching back to last season.
The teams are also due to clash again in a few weeks, having been paired together in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
The tie at Anfield will be Slot’s fifth game against Palace, the most of any side since he took over Liverpool last year.
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