PREM: Crystal Palace v Liverpool preview

Crystal Palace v Liverpool preview

Wilfried Zaha can become Crystal Palace's all-time Premier League top scorer as they face Liverpool on Monday evening.

Zaha will make Crystal Palace history if he can find the back of the net at Selhurst Park on Monday night, less than a week after he signed a new five-year contract with the Eagles.

The news came as a relief to Roy Hodgson, who admitted he had been concerned the club's top scorer from last season could have left during the summer.

"He's very, very good; all players have got qualities of course, and there aren't many players who can literally do every single thing," he said.

"But he scores top marks in so many aspects of the game, and when it comes to dribbling and manipulating the ball and going past opponents, I put him up there with the very best.

 

"I think it's been obvious to Wilf all the way through that as far as I and my coaching staff were concerned, we were very anxious for him to sign a new contract and to be happy going into the new season with his new contract.

"We've made it clear to him that we were grateful of course for what he did for us last season. He did a lot for us last season with his goals and his assists and the way he played and we've tried to make it clear to him we need a lot more of that going forward."

For their opponents Liverpool, Sadio Mane scored twice as Liverpool thrashed West Ham 4-0 at Anfield last weekend, taking an early lead ahead of Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino in the goalscoring stakes early on - even if the Egyptian will be favourite to overturn that soon enough.

Manager Jurgen Klopp said the trio operate more in a spirit of co-operation than competition, however, with each bagging at least 20 goals in all competition last season.

 

He said: "They don't have a real competition, they don't count the other guys or whatever. They enjoy playing together and that's very good. I really love the fact we have the possibility to bring other players in with similar qualities. It is really nice.

"It is not about having a competition between strikers, it's about them really loving working together. That is what is obvious I would say. I don't think they are bothering at the moment about specific numbers of goals, they only want to win football games."

 

Max Meyer could make his Crystal Palace debut against Klopp's side.

The summer signing from Schalke missed last weekend's 2-0 win at Fulham as he fought for full match fitness.

But Hodgson has no fresh injury concerns so can pick from a full-strength squad.

Liverpool could bring Joel Matip and Fabinho into their squad for the trip to south London.

 

Defender Matip has not played for the club since March but is back in training after hip trouble and may feature on the bench, with Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez in place.

Fabinho is also pressing for his debut after failing to make the season-opener against West Ham but Dejan Lovren is out.