LIVERPOOL VS PALACE
Sunday 12th April, 2:00pm
Liverpool @ 1/5
Palace @ 5/1
Draw @ 11/1
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“The world is grown so bad, that wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch”
William Shakespeare’s Richard III there, bemoaning a world that no longer makes sense; a place where eagles are scared of wrens. There is an intriguing ornithological confrontation in the Premier League this weekend too; where ‘The Eagles’ of Crystal Palace take on the ‘Liver Birds’ of Liverpool in a 2pm kick-off on Sunday.
What exactly is a liver bird, I hear you squawk? Well, originally, it was probably supposed to be an eagle as well; but so poorly was the bird rendered on the seal which granted the city its charter back in 1207, that many people assumed it was a cormorant. And, as the centuries passed, it evolved to become neither – a completely unique creature; and a fitting symbol for a town that prides itself on being different.
But of the two football teams that meet this weekend, who, in terms of threat and stature, are really ‘The Eagles’? It’s clearly Liverpool, isn’t it? Despite being prodded on their perch by Manchester United last weekend, they are still level on points with Arsenal at the top of the table. Feathers were rustled, but they remain impressive in the air and potentially deadly in attack.
Crystal Palace, consequently, despite their nickname, must be ‘The Wrens’ – lightweight, unintimidating, infinitesimal. Since Oliver Glasner assumed the reins from Roy Hodgson in mid-February, they have won just one game; and that was against fellow strugglers Sheffield United.
Palace aren’t soaring like an eagle, or even darting nimbly like a wren, they are – if I can persist with the bird analogies – flapping inelegantly just above the relegation zone…like an intoxicated goose.
So, this fixture should make complete sense. A comfortable win for the dominant outfit. The wren will not scare-off the eagle on Sunday afternoon. Right? Well…
Liverpool and Crystal Palace have collided with wildly differing outcomes over the course of the last 35 years, which is the length of time the latter has been an established upper-echelon club.
A famous 9-0 win over a newly-promoted Palace in 1989 helped Liverpool boost their goal-difference and subsequently reclaim the league title from Arsenal. But the South Londoners managed to re-group and exact sweet revenge – knocking Liverpool out of the FA Cup in a semi-final classic later that season.
2001 begat a 5-0 League Cup thumping in Liverpool’s favour, with Danny Murphy bagging a rare brace.
May 2014 saw Crystal Palace stage a remarkable late comeback to salvage a draw and fatally derail Liverpool’s Luis Suarez-propelled title charge. And the following year Palace again profoundly pooped the party; defeating Liverpool 2-1 in Steven Gerrard’s emotional Anfield farewell.
For a decent chunk of the last 35 years, then, Crystal Palace have fared reasonably well against Liverpool. But we are now approaching 8 years since their last win; back when Sam Allardyce was at the helm. Those famous upsets are becoming a distant memory.
Is it time for another unexpected eye-catching scoreline? Can ‘The Wren’s’ dare to dream, draw upon the past, and assume their rightful form; once more become ‘The Eagles’? Reclaim their status as an unlikely scourge for Liverpool and inflict a defeat that buckles another title charge; exposing Anfield for a potentially chaotic summer of discontent?
Liverpool will be favourites to maintain order, but pressure is building; players are tiring, mentality monsters could suddenly transform into weak-willed spring lambs. Was their Europa League humbling at the hands of Atalanta a prelude to more disappointment too? Or can they use it to spur another Premier League title tilt?
Manchester City will seek to add to this pressure and lay down an early, contender’s marker on Saturday afternoon; they host Luton Town at 3pm. And Arsenal round out the weekend’s action by welcoming Aston Villa to North London for a 4:30pm kick-off on Sunday.
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