So we meet again.
On Wednesday, Liverpool face Crystal Palace once more, this time in the Carabao Cup—they're currently a team the Reds haven’t beaten in over a year, following recent setbacks in both the Community Shield and Premier League at the hands of the Eagles.
It doesn’t help that Arne Slot’s men are mired in a dreadful four-game Premier League losing streak, which will certainly still be on the players’ minds.
While optimism remains essential, their title defense grows more uncertain by the day, making survival in other cup competitions all the more important.
Still, every rough stretch turns a corner somewhere, and exorcising their Palace demons could go a long way toward reversing fortunes in the league.
With such a pivotal match ahead, which four players must unquestionably take the field to ensure a win at home?
1. Andrew Robertson
Despite turning back the clock with a vintage performance against Frankfurt in last week’s Champions League match, Arne Slot opted to start Milos Kerkez over Robertson at fullback—a decision that yielded mixed results at best.
Yes, the young Hungarian did score his first goal as a Red, but overall his display reflected the early struggles he’s faced at Liverpool: lacking conviction on the ball, rushing play, and, perhaps most damningly, failing to defend set pieces, as Dango Ouattara converted Brentford’s opener from a long throw Kerkez couldn’t clear.
Given how crucial this game feels, for both staying alive in the competition and for pride’s sake, Robertson should get the nod over Kerkez, ideally offering the calm, veteran presence the backline so desperately needs right now.
Robbo’s leadership feels all the more vital amid whispers that fellow Scotsman Calvin Ramsay, just 22, could be starting on the backline.
What better way for the youngster to make his introduction than alongside a seasoned mainstay and compatriot?
Sure, there have been moments this season and last when Robbo’s defending has looked off, but if Liverpool’s fullback dilemma is to sort itself out soon, another class performance from him against a tricky opponent could underscore the areas where this position has faltered throughout the campaign.
I still believe Kerkez can ultimately adapt to the level fans and management expect, but for this contest, Robertson remains the wiser choice.
2. Wataru Endo
Liverpool’s backline simply hasn’t looked the same since Ryan Gravenberch went down with an injury, so could Arne Slot turn to another defensive-minded midfielder, Wataru Endo, to help turn the tide?
Beyond giving the regular midfielders a rest during a secondary competition, Endo feels like an overlooked asset in this squad, especially at a time when Liverpool need a versatile midfield presence to help keep the ball out of their own net.
Having logged just 145 minutes across all competitions, he also offers a valuable set of fresh legs, hopefully ready to inject energy into a midfield that’s struggled to maintain its defensive sharpness since Gravenberch’s absence.
It’s true that Endo doesn’t offer much going forward, but during a stretch in which the club hasn’t kept a clean sheet since Sept. 14, they should be seeking every defensive edge available.
The Japanese international has proven to be a reliable option in that regard.
Palace’s midfield is no joke, either as budding star Adam Wharton has reportedly drawn interest from major clubs like Manchester United, highlighting the threat they pose in the middle of the pitch; Endo’s presence could help neutralize that danger.
It’s nearly impossible to replace the impact Gravenberch brings to this team, but in a match where keeping the opponent off the scoresheet feels more crucial than ever, I’d be willing to bet on Endo to do what he does best—disrupt and frustrate a dangerous Palace attack.
3. Dominik Szoboszlai
If Endo starts as the defensive midfielder, Arne Slot can choose between Florian Wirtz and Curtis Jones to join him, but deploying Dominik Szoboszlai feels like an absolute must on Wednesday.
In my view, Szobo remains the Reds’ most complete and consistent player this season, and if the club is to turn a corner with a crucial win over Palace, they’ll need the Hungarian to continue delivering as the elite box-to-box player he’s proven to be.
While his surreal start to the season has slightly cooled as the Reds have struggled overall, he reminded Europe of his quality with a lovely outside-the-box strike against Frankfurt.
Even in the recent loss to Brentford, he remained one of the sharpest players on the pitch, completing over 85% of his passes and delivering four successful crosses.
Especially if Endo gets the nod, Szobo can concentrate more on his preferred attacking role—a promising prospect as his clinical finishing could prove decisive, made all the more poignant by Wirtz’s costly close-range miss against the Bees on Saturday.
My only concern about starting Szobo is overworking him, as he’s already logged a hefty 1,170 minutes in all competitions for Liverpool, in addition to his key role with the Hungarian national team.
Still, his seemingly unstoppable engine and impressive durability (knock on wood) should give Slot confidence to keep trusting the remarkable stamina he consistently displays.
I’ve long seen Szoboszlai as a potential future team captain, and if Liverpool are to secure a crucial win against Palace, they’ll need their best player so far this campaign to make it happen.
4. Federico Chiesa
Despite a sublime finish late against the Bees, Mohamed Salah delivered another overall lackluster performance on Saturday, generating few meaningful scoring opportunities and registering just eight touches in Brentford’s box.
I previously argued he should have started that match, but for Wednesday, that role should now go to Federico Chiesa.
Like Endo, Chiesa has often been overlooked by Slot during his time on Merseyside, but he has shown flashes of real quality including an equalizing goal as a substitute in Liverpool’s recent Premier League clash with Palace, demonstrating his ability to make an impact against a team that has long been a thorn in the Reds’ side.
Chiesa’s most recent Carabao Cup outing provides further reason to trust him against the Eagles: his Player of the Match performance against Southampton featured two exquisite assists that played a major role in securing the win for the Reds.
If there’s a silver lining to Chiesa performing well while Salah continues to struggle, it’s the hope that Salah will be inspired by his teammate’s displays and push himself in training to reclaim his spot as the team’s regular right winger, rather than allowing his confidence to completely falter.
Seeing the Egyptian King oscillate in and out of the Starting XI has been nothing short of shocking this season.
But despite the shared desire—both from him and the fans—to see him regain form, giving Chiesa a nod feels more than deserved.
I'd even go as far to say that keeping him on the bench in favor of an out-of-form Salah risks edging into disrespect, given how loyal Chiesa has been to this club.