Liverpool line-ups for Crystal Palace as Jones and Gakpo decisions made

But in order to stay on course the Reds are now going to have to get a positive result against Crystal Palace, who they have lost to three times already this season.

Liverpool go into the weekend five points clear of sixth-placed Brighton & Hove Albion, and with games against fellow top-five challenges Manchester United, Chelsea and Aston Villa to come.

The visit of the Eagles looks a crucial content, then.

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But how would our Reds writers play it if they were picking the team?

Buckle down for what is likely to be a real war of attrition against a team that has beaten Liverpool three times already this season.

What, though, is Reds boss Arne Slot to do? With no midweek game, full concentration has been on the visit of Crystal Palace and there really shouldn't be much rotation.

Freddie Woodman is going to have to start in goal. In front of him are Ibrahima Konate and skipper Virgil van Dijk, while Curtis Jones can continue at right-back. Milos Kerkez, however, should return at left-back.

In midfield, no change, with Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai the double pivot and Florian Wirtz the No. 10.

And up top, it stays as Alexander Isak down the middle, Cody Gakpo on the left and Mohamed Salah on the right.

My team (4-2-3-1): Woodman; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.

Curtis Jones put in such a good performance at Everton that he has to stay in the side, but does he stay in at right-back? I'm going to say yes.

He's there to the right of the usual centre-back pairing of Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk, with Milos Kerkez returning to the side at left-back in place of Andy Robertson. That is a solid enough back four to play in front of Freddie Woodman, who will obviously need some protection.

Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai can then form the two-man central midfield that it seems as though we're going to be seeing a lot of next season, with Florian Wirtz ahead of them as the No. 10, which is where he should be playing.

Then Mohamed Salah starts on the right, Alexander Isak gets another go in attack and I'll go with Cody Gakpo on the left after he too impressed at the weekend. That means Rio Ngumoha is again on the bench, but he can make a vital contribution from there.

My team (4-2-3-1): Woodman; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.