C. Palace – Liverpool

Liverpool can’t afford to make any more wrong steps if they are to have a chance for the title, but Crystal Palace has been brilliant under Tony Pulis lately and will surely prove to be tough opposition.

A run of 11 consecutive Premier League victories saw Liverpool in with a huge chance to win the title after almost 20 years, but the Reds blew it all up when they lost 2-0 at home to Chelsea last round. Now ‘Pool must win the remaining two games and hope that City does not defeat both Aston Villa and West Ham in Manchester – something which is rather unlikely. The visitors will hope to get back to winning ways today but it remains to be seen how much the Chelsea defeat affected them mentally.

Crystal Palace (9th place) might not have anything left to fight for, but they are in scary good form since Tony Pulis took over and will surely try to get a result both for pride and for the chance to finish as high as possible in the table. The hosts lost against Manchester City 2-0 last round after a run off 5 consecutive Premier League wins, 4 of them coming with a clean sheet as well. For a long time Palace looked like a lock for relegation, but the team really transformed in the last couple of months and is actually one of the hardest sides to beat in the league right now.

Bet with the best odds and highest limits at Pinnacle.

Team news & lineups

Crystal Palace will be happy to report a clean bill of health, with no injuries or suspensions. Liverpool will continue to miss Henderson, Coates and Enrique, while Sturridge is again struggling for fitness.

Crystal Palace: Speroni – Mariappa, Dann, Delaney, Ward – Bolasie, Ledley, Dikgacoi, Jedinak, Puncheon – Jerome.

Liverpool: Mignolet – Johnson, Skrtel, Sakho, Flanagan – Gerrard, Lucas – Sterling, Sturridge, Coutinho – Suárez.

Just like in their last away game at Norwich (3-2), the odds on Liverpool are way too low. Indeed, the visitors remain in great form even if they lost against Chelsea and are desperate for a win to stay alive in the title race, but Palace is no easy team to play against. Lack of motivation is not really an argument in the Premier League, where a better placement means millions of pounds, and especially not when you are hosting a side of Liverpool’s caliber. I expect the hosts to play their hearts out today and with their excellent form they might well end Liverpool’s title hopes, especially if the visitors will still lament over the heartbreaking Chelsea loss. Liverpool is also much more dangerous at home than on the road and their last 2 away games were very close against lesser opposition than Crystal Palace (2-1 vs. West Ham, 3-2 vs. Norwich). Even if the Reds will edge this, a 1 goal handicap on Palace seems like a safe bet and also has a lot of value at these odds. My tip is Crystal Palace +1,5 handicap. Prediction: Crystal Palace – Liverpool 1-1.

Pick: Crystal Palace (+1,5 handicap)
Odds: 1.95 @ Bet365
Stake: 8
Possible profit: 7.60
Event date: 5 May