'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Liverpool travel to London tomorrow as they prepare to face Crystal Palace in the fifth round of the FA Cup. The Reds have a Europa League tie with Besiktas coming up soon, but the FA Cup is perhaps Brendan Rodgers' best chance of steering his side to some silverware.
Injuries for Liverpool mean they will, unfortunately, be without captain Steven Gerrard for this tie who is out for three weeks after picking up a hamstring injury against Spurs. Also unavailable is Lucas Leiva while Jordan Ibe is cup-tied. Raheem Sterling will undergo a late fitness test.
For Crystal Palace, they are unable to call upon Jedinak and there are doubts hanging over the fitness of Sanogo and McArthur.
Crystal Palace are currently behind Liverpool in the Premier League sitting in 13th place with the Reds in 7th. Palace drew their last fixture in the league after a 1-1 draw with Newcastle whilst Liverpool notched up a late win over Tottenham thanks to a Mario Balotelli winner.
The last time the two sides met was in November last year. It was a sorry affair for Liverpool when the Reds fell to a 3-1 defeat at Selhurst Park. Rickie Lambert found the back of the net in just two minutes but it wasn't enough for the Reds to collect any points.
In the meeting prior to this, again at Selhurst Park it was even worse for Liverpool. In the midst of a title run and desperately needing a win Brendan Rodgers' side somehow managed to throw away a 3-0 lead to eventually draw the game. It was devastating to watch and that's not an exaggeration.
So on the whole, we haven't exactly been in brilliant form away at Palace of late. In fact, the last time we won at Selhurst Park was in 1997.
Stat Sandwich
- Liverpool have only kept three clean sheets in their last 19 FA Cup games.
- The Eagles have only won six of their last 29 matches in the FA Cup.
- Sturridge has scored nine goals in his last 11 FA Cup starts.
I think it's going to be a tough but exciting game tomorrow. With so many injuries as well it's a good excuse for Brendan to try something new with the team, whether he will is a different story.
For me I am of course hoping to see Balotelli after his goal in the week. I think this would be the perfect opportunity to pair Mario and Sturridge together but once again I doubt we will see that.
Enjoy the match folks, wherever you are watching!
