Usually, meetings between Crystal Palace and Liverpool have rarely carried the same weight as some of the Premier League’s marquee fixtures; yet Saturday’s clash between these clubs feels different for several reasons.
The Community Shield may fade from memory once the league season kicks into gear, but Liverpool will be eager to correct that August loss to Palace—a setback that added to a frustrating run at Wembley in recent months.
Fate has also paired the two sides in the next round of the Carabao Cup, ensuring even more head-to-head battles with the reigning FA Cup winners.
Then there’s the added layer of tension from the collapsed transfer saga involving Palace defender Marc Guehi, who came close to joining Liverpool before the transfer deadline—adding another edge to the contest.
And, perhaps most intriguingly, Palace and Liverpool stand as the Premier League’s last two unbeaten sides, setting up the possibility that one will lose that coveted status this weekend.
With all of this context, Saturday’s match carries far more gravity than usual. So who are three players to keep an eye on when these squads collide?
Alexander Isak
Liverpool’s record signing is poised to be a central figure in the weekend's matchup.
Already a strong candidate to start after gaining valuable minutes and match fitness against Atlético Madrid, Everton, and Southampton, the Swede is now virtually guaranteed to be in the Starting XI at Selhurst Park.
This is because Hugo Ekitike will be unavailable, serving a suspension after his reckless red card in the Reds’ midweek Carabao Cup win over the Saints.
Given that his 58 minutes against Atlético marked his longest outing in a Liverpool shirt so far, it will be fascinating to see how long Arne Slot keeps the No. 9 on the pitch without Ekitike available as a sub.
Depending on how his training has gone, Saturday could be the first time we see Isak complete a full 90 minutes for the Reds.
Conversely, if he can only manage around 75 minutes, Slot will face a decision on how to reshape the attack without a natural striker available on the bench.
For me, the ideal option would be Federico Chiesa. Fresh off his MOTM display last time out—and given Slot’s willingness to finish games with three wingers, as he did late on at St. James’ Park—there’s every reason to believe the manager trusts the Italian to close out a match even without a traditional No. 9 leading the line.
It was encouraging to see the former Magpie finish his tailor-made chance against Southampton, and with Ekitike off to a flying start despite his costly red card on Tuesday, Liverpool fans will be eager to see both strikers in top form at the same time.
For Isak, the perfect statement would be making it two goals in his last two games.
Virgil van Dijk
Virgil is always a player to watch whenever he steps onto the pitch, but perhaps more than ever this season, it feels like a moment for the Dutchman to reaffirm his role as both captain and the steady anchor of Liverpool’s backline.
There’s no question that Liverpool’s defense may be dispirited by Giovanni Leoni’s brutal injury, and with only Joe Gomez available as an alternative center-back, Crystal Palace will surely look to target that vulnerability.
That puts the responsibility squarely on the Dutchman—both as a player and as a leader—to keep his defensive partners sharp and focused against a Palace side that has already scored six goals in their first five Premier League matches.
Liverpool have managed just two clean sheets across their seven competitive matches this season, and what better way to prove that the defense remains solid then by shutting out Palace on their own turf?
Fortunately, our No. 4 has already helped keep Saturday's opponents scoreless five times in his 17 career Premier League appearances against the Eagles, demonstrating his ability to handle their attack effectively.
The imperious defender should be brimming with confidence after his last two outings.
He scored the winning goal against Atlético in the Champions League and delivered a rock-solid performance in the Merseyside Derby (two interceptions, eight clearances, and 92% pass completion)—suggesting he’ll be at his best once again on Saturday.
VVD described Liverpool’s Community Shield loss to start the season as disappointing, and there'd be no better way to avenge a deflating defeat than by delivering the kind of commanding performance Liverpool fans have come to expect from their all-time great defender.
Florian Wirtz
After coming off the bench against Everton and resting against Southampton, Florian Wirtz is likely to return to the starting XI against Palace; and it feels as though there will be significant pressure on the Reds’ £116 million man to make an impact on the scoresheet.
Still without a goal or assist in his first five Premier League games, it’s no secret that some fans are growing impatient with his lack of tangible output.
This visit to London presents the perfect opportunity for the young German to remind doubters that he’s worth every penny of his price tag.
Truthfully, it is surprising to see Wirtz struggling to hit the ground running in the Premier League.
Naturally, English football presents its own challenges after moving from the Bundesliga, but the midfielder has shown that offseason rust hasn’t slowed him before—he recorded an impressive seven goal contributions in his first five matches for Leverkusen last season.
In addition to his own challenge of making an impact, Wirtz must be taking note of his fellow midfielders, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch, who have been hugely influential for the Reds so far this season, producing moments of magic that have defined the early campaign.
Fortunately for Wirtz, Liverpool have already shown that Palace can be vulnerable to goals from players outside the forward line.
Fellow Leverkusen signing Jeremie Frimpong, albeit somewhat fortuitously, delivered a clever finish past Dean Henderson to open his scoring account in the Community Shield. Could Deja vu strike and see Wirtz net his first goal as a Red?
This isn’t to say the expensive signee hasn’t shown value—his movement and ability to exploit space have certainly been observed.
But in an era where goals and assists often define greatness, as Mohamed Salah demonstrated in his record-breaking 2024/25 season, Saturday could represent a pivotal moment for Wirtz to make a concrete impact on matches.