Jurgen Klopp might have an impressive record against Crystal Palace, but Liverpool have endured some days to forget against their Sunday afternoon opponents.
The Reds have lost just twice in 17 meetings with the Eagles since their manager took the reins in 2015, with both of those losses coming in Klopp's first two seasons at the helm. Harvey Elliott's late winner at Selhurst Park in December made it 11 wins and two draws from the last 13 encounters, and another three points at Anfield this weekend would be very welcome.
Klopp will be after an instant response after Thursday's defeat at home to Atalanta. The 3-0 Anfield reverse means that, barring a miracle in Bergamo next week, the Premier League offers Klopp his last chance of a second trophy in his farewell season.
Despite his own success against the Eagles, Klopp should be wary of Palace spoiling the party. That's exactly what they did nine years ago, when Steven Gerrard was the one denied the winning farewell many fans felt he deserved.
A year and 11 days after the infamous 'Crystanbul' game which helped deny Liverpool Premier League glory in 2014, Palace were the opponents once more. A league title wasn't part of the conversation after a tough campaign under Brendan Rodgers, while Champions League qualification was all but mathematically impossible with two games to go.
That's not to say Liverpool had nothing to play for. This was Gerrard's final game at Anfield, with the club captain having agreed a summer move to LA Galaxy, and everyone at the club will have wanted to give him the ideal send-off.
Less than half an hour in, it looked as though that's exactly what would happen, with Adam Lallana seizing on a loose pass from Palace's former Liverpool defender Martin Kelly and bursting through to beat Wayne Hennessey. After that, though, things started to go very wrong.
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After Liverpool survived warning shots from Joe Ledley and Jason Puncheon, they were undone by the latter shortly before half-time. Simon Mignolet's wall was ill-equipped to deal with a Puncheon free-kick, which sailed to the left of the keeper and nestled in the back of the net.
Palace introduced Wilfried Zaha for Lee Chung-yong just before the hour mark and the Ivorian made an instant impact as he tapped home a Yannick Bolasie cross with his first touch. Gerrard tried to force a leveller, testing Hennessey from range, but Palace remained a threat with Bolasie firing against the bar.
The London club sealed victory late on with their third goal of the afternoon. Lucas Leiva's foul on Zaha might have been just outside the area, but referee Jonathan Moss pointed to the spot and Glenn Murray tapped home the rebound after Mignolet saved his penalty.
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"It was a wonderful send-off for [Gerrard] and thoroughly deserved," manager Rodgers said of Gerrard., who was warmly applauded by the home suppot late on. "He's produced heroic performances in his time here as a Liverpool player, and he got the acclaim that he deserves.... we're obviously disappointed we couldn't finish it off with a victory
"Obviously this being the last game at Anfield was going to be special for that reason and that reason only. The result puts a dampener on it, but the overriding feeling is of celebration for Steven and the wonderful career he's had at Liverpool.
"[The result] will disappoint him because he's a winner and his standards are so high, but going away, he'll expect that from the Liverpool supporters because of that great support that they've given him in his time here. It was a really special praise for him."
This time around, Liverpool will hope the fact that there's more immediately at stake works in their favour. However, Oliver Glasner's side need the points just as urgently as Klopp's men.
After winning his first game in the dugout, Glasner has taken just two points from the next five games to leave Palace just five points above the relegation places. With their final seven games all coming against teams above them in the table, things could get hairy between now and May.
They do pose a goal threat, though, scoring in 13 of their 15 outings since losing to Liverpool in December. After shipping three goals to Atalanta on Thursday night, Klopp will be wary of his opponents' ability to spoil the party.
"At the start of 2023-24 season, nobody saw us as title contender for the Premier League," Klopp said of his team's title charge before their Europa League defeat. "But now we're told we have everything to lose. I don't understand it."
"We are who we are, we are how we are and that is why we are in the race and I am absolutely fine with that. I knew it would be super tricky until the end. That's all. Again, until yesterday, we were top of the table and now it is Arsenal.
"We want to be there after 38 [games], after the last matchday. It's always better to be there the whole time and get some distance between you [and the other teams]. We are fine with our situation. I wish we would have more points, but I am absolutely fine - and I am actually over the moon."
Liverpool have seven cup finals as they look to deliver the perfect send-off for Klopp before his summer exit. They ought not to underestimate any opponent, least of all the team who have already ruined one big goodbye.
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