Premier League: Robin Bairner looks for value in Liverpool's home clash with Palace

Monday Night Football returns with Liverpool playing host to Crystal Palace at Anfield. Will the Reds bounce back after drawing 2-2 against Fulham on the opening day?

Victory here will see Jurgen Klopp’s side stay within two points of early league leaders Manchester City and Arsenal and could prove crucial come the end of the season. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace will search for their first point after being beaten by Arsenal ten days ago.

The Reds are strong 1.24 favourites to get the victory in this match, with Palace considered outsiders at 17. The draw is on offer at 6.8.

Fortress Anfield

Liverpool will again look for their home form to underpin their success this season. It has been nearly 18 months since Chelsea picked up a 1-0 victory at Anfield - the Blues were the last Premier League club to depart the venue with maximum points. Last season, Liverpool posted 15 league wins at home and dropped points via draws on just four occasions.

They didn’t just scrape victories at home, either, with 13 of their 15 Anfield victories coming by more than a single goal. Among their easy wins, Liverpool posted a 3-0 drubbing of Crystal Palace almost 11 months ago.

Returning to Anfield under the lights should be the perfect conditions to see Liverpool bounce back from their disappointing start at Craven Cottage, where goals from Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez only rescued a point.

Battling the odds

Crystal Palace, meanwhile, haven’t been dealt any favours by the fixture list. They suffered a 2-0 home loss to an impressive Arsenal side on day one and now face last year’s runners-up. 

Anfield is undoubtedly the trickiest venue to visit in England, if not the world, at present, so anything Patrick Vieira’s side picks up would be considered as a bonus. It doesn’t relent for Palace, either, as in just two weeks’ time they will make the trip to visit champions Manchester City at the Etihad.

Patrick Vieira's Crystal Palace look for their first points of the season against Liverpool

Vieira would be well advised not to look at the head-to-head record between Palace and Liverpool. Palace have lost their last ten, with the aggregate score of their last four visits to Anfield standing at an eye-watering 13-3.

Palace to break Anfield duck

Between the history of this fixture and Liverpool’s strength at home, it’s difficult to give a decent Crystal Palace side much of a hope in this encounter. However, Liverpool’s win odds are predictably unappealing. Even supporting Liverpool (-1.5 goals) on the Asian Handicap market looks short with odds of 1.67 available at the time of writing.

However, goals are likely in this fixture and backing Liverpool to win and both teams to score could be the play. Palace may have failed to score on their last three Anfield visits but the Reds have conceded in six of their last eight Premier League matches dating back to last season.

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Liverpool to win and both teams to score - yes @ 3.3