First of all can I just say another final thank you to all of you who took the time to vote for me in the football blogging awards. I was over the moon to accept my award for the fans' vote for "Best Female Blog" last Thursday and really do appreciate your support, you're all awesome!
It always feels like months have gone by without me doing a post when there's an international break but we're back again and as always seems to be the case after these breaks, we're back with bad news. After suffering another injury in training it was revealed earlier this week that Daniel Sturridge will be out of the Liverpool squad for a further six weeks.
Gutted is an understatement. We'd waited so long for him to come back, he'd built himself up only to have his efforts crushed without mercy. Daniel Sturridge has always had his problems with injuries but nobody could have expected this to happen. Liverpool however cannot dwell on the fact we are still without our main goalscorer, the problem has existed from almost the season start.
One thing is for sure though, if Brendan Rodgers refuses to play a system that aids Mario Balotelli on Sunday, I'm gonna flip. It's been a recurring topic on this blog and my frustrations with Rodgers' refusal to play 4-4-2 are no secret. Now more so than ever though Brendan seriously needs to question his stubbornness. All his eggs were placed well and truly in Daniel Sturridge's basket, well guess what, he's not here until the new year so it's time for plan B!
Other injury news for Liverpool means Henderson, Enrique, Sakho and Balotelli will all be subjected to late fitness tests. Jon Flanagan is still out long term. Crystal Palace are very strong with just a concern hanging over the fitness of McArthur.
The last time the two sides met was in May last year. An unforgettable game for Liverpool fans as their dreams of an elusive Premier League title were all but crushed. Having gone 3-0 up in the game it looked like a walk in the park for Liverpool but a goal in the 79th minute from Delaney followed by a brace from Gayle left the Reds dumbstruck.
Liverpool actually have a pretty poor record at Selhurst Park. The last time they recorded a win there was in 1997 with McManaman, Owen and Oyvind Leonhardsen on the score sheet, haha, remember him?!
Stat Sandwich
- 10 out of Liverpool's 14 points so far this season have come from sides below them in the table.
- Crystal Palace have not won in their last five league games.
- Liverpool's top goalscorers so far this season are Raheem Sterling and "own goals" (3).
I asked you for your score predictions and here are a few of the tweets I received:
@LFCKirstyLFC If we play 2 up front & the diamond, we'll win 2-1. If we play 4-2-3-1 we'll get beat 2-1 imo
— Eathen.. (@hunter_troll) November 21, 2014
@LFCKirstyLFC 1-2 #LFC :)I'm excited for the match because we've been waiting ages with the international break but in terms of the result I don't think it's going to be a positive. The best I'm hoping for at the minute is a score draw. Our defence will almost certainly be penetrated by the Palace attack despite the fact they have not won a game in their last five they have still found the back of the net in three of them.
— Kávish (@KAV7SH) November 20, 2014
Liverpool themselves will probably create some half chances but if we go out 4-2-3-1 then our chances of scoring in my opinion are greatly diminished. If Balotelli is fit or not the system should still be changed, it's time for Brendan to try a different set of tactics and I seriously hope he does.
Enjoy the match folks, wherever you are watching!