Despite encountering obstacles, Liverpool has maintained its flawless start across all competitions, securing a victory against Southampton in the EFL Cup. However, this win was not without further complications for Arne Slot and his squad. Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike was sent off following a moment of indiscretion. After scoring the winning goal, he forgot he had already received a yellow card and was consequently shown a second, leading to his dismissal and making him unavailable for the away fixture against Crystal Palace.
How to Watch Crystal Palace vs. Liverpool, Odds
- Date: Saturday, Sep. 27 | Time: 10 a.m. ET
- Location: Selhurst Park — London
- Live stream: Peacock
- Odds: Crystal Palace +300; Draw +270; Liverpool -115
Ekitike`s red card creates fresh opportunities within the Liverpool squad. Not only might new signing Alexander Isak be in line for his inaugural Premier League start, but Federico Chiesa also has a chance to integrate into the rotation. Due to his transfer saga with Newcastle, Isak lacked a proper pre-season, so Liverpool has gradually introduced him, with the Swedish forward accumulating only 126 minutes this season so far. He started against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League and followed that with a half-match appearance in the EFL Cup, where he netted his first goal for the club.
Chiesa has found playing time challenging to secure, yet when opportunities arose, he capitalized on them. Having scored against Bournemouth on the opening day of the season and now delivering two assists against Southampton, Chiesa could finally flourish after struggling to define his role during his first season with the club. An unfortunate ACL tear suffered by 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni in the EFL Cup will sideline him for the remainder of the season, but it also frees up a spot for Chiesa in the Champions League squad.
Slot is still in the process of identifying his optimal starting XI this season, making performances like this one crucial. Crystal Palace has shown improvement under Oliver Glasnar, even after losing Eberechi Eze. With Liverpool facing an away trip and then preparing for a Champions League encounter against Galatasaray, these are moments where points could be dropped if Slot cannot fully trust his entire squad. However, if such chances lead to player development, as seen with Chiesa, it will be key to retaining the Premier League title.
