Good afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's early Premier League kickoff as Crystal Palace host Liverpool at Selhurst Park. The hosts are in dreadful form and desperately need a win this afternoon, but Liverpool have won their last two in the league to keep their European hopes just about alive. Palace have been something of a bogey team for Liverpool recently, though, so this promises to be an intriguing encounter. Before we get into all that, let's take a look at the two teams on show...

CRYSTAL PALACE STARTING XI: McCarthy; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare; Zaha, Jedinak, Cabaye, Ledley, Bolasie; Adebayor

CRYSTAL PALACE SUBS: Speroni, Kelly, Lee, Mutch, Sako, Chamakh, Gayle

LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Mignolet; Flanagan, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno; Henderson, Can, Milner; Lallana, Firmino, Origi

LIVERPOOL SUBS: Ward, Toure, Clyne, Allen, Coutinho, Sturridge, Benteke

What can we make of those two sides, then? Well the biggest blow as far as Crystal Palace are concerned is the absence of Connor Wickham, who was just beginning to find a bit of form but misses today's match with a thigh injury. He has scored four goals in his last two games having only managed one from 18 top-flight outings before that, and that coming from the penalty spot. He is replaced in the starting XI by Emmanuel Adebayor this afternoon.

That is one of four changes made by Pardew to the side that drew with Sunderland on Tuesday night, one of which is also enforced at the other end of the field. McCarthy is given the gloves today after Hennessey failed a late fitness test, and the second-choice keeper will be desperate to make a positive impression. Hennessey place as number one is by no means set in stone in this Palace side, and a good performance from McCarthy this afternoon could be the catalyst for a prolonged run in the first team.

In defence, Pape Souare returns from his suspension at left-back, replacing former Liverpool man Kelly in the back four. Aside from that, though, there are no changes to the defensive unit, with Pardew seeing today's quartet as his strongest defensively. They also pose a big threat going forward, not least through Scott Dann, who scored the winner in the reverse fixture at Anfield back in November.

There is also a place for Joe Ledley in midfield as Jordon Mutch, who has scored three goals in four Premier League appearances against Liverpool, drops to the bench. He will join Jedinak in the holding midfield role while Cabaye plays a little further forward. The fit-again Bolasie scored at Anfield and has offered Palace more of an attacking threat since his return from injury, so he and Zaha on the opposite flanks will be two that Liverpool need to keep a particularly close eye on today.

As for Liverpool, there are a few surprises in Jurgen Klopp's side, not least with both Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge left on the bench once again. The pair both missed Wednesday's win over Manchester City and, as impressive as that performance and result was, they were expected to return to the side today. Sturridge had been suffering from cramp following the League Cup final, but it is more likely that Klopp has simply opted not to change a winning formula in those forward areas today.

That means that Lallana, Firmino and Origi once again provide the attacking trio for the reds, with the former two getting on the scoresheet against City. For Lallana, it is one of his best games in a Liverpool shirt, and his strike means that he now has three goals in his last four Premier League appearances - as many as he had managed in his previous 37 before that. His pressing and creative play was also impressive alongside Firmino, so much so that he keeps Coutinho out of the side today.

The three behind the front men is also untouched by Klopp, with Henderson, Can and Milner partnering up once again. The latter also got his name on the scoresheet against Manchester City in midweek, and Liverpool's win means that Milner has still not been on the losing side in any of the 41 Premier League games in which he has scored. The only player with a superior record is Darius Vassell, who was able to boast that record for 46 games.

There are, however, a couple of changes at the back. Flanagan's performance against City earns him another start on the right, while Clyne, who was switched to left-back in midweek, is replaced by the more natural left-sided player Alberto Moreno. Mamadou Sakho also returns having missed the City game with a head injury sustained in last weekend's League Cup final, which should help to temper the loss of Lucas Leiva to injury. He replaces Toure in the side, while Mignolet, as ever, is named between the sticks.

It is a Liverpool side that should be full of confidence following their midweek win, but their record against Palace recently is poor and the hosts will look to take full advantage of that today. To be honest, Palace need to look anywhere and everywhere for positives at the moment, because they aren't finding many in their form. It wasn't long ago that they were being touted for Europe, but right now relegation is not even out of the question for the Eagles.

It would, of course, be a surprise if Palace were to drop into the mire, with nine points still separating them from the bottom three, but there is no doubt that their form over the last few months has been relegation form. It is now 11 league matches without a victory - a run that stretches back to before Christmas and from which they have managed only four points from the last 33 available. Things have been even worse since the turn of the year, with Palace picking up two points from nine games heading into today's match.

They are, in fact, the only team in the top four tiers of English football still looking for a league victory in 2016, with all three of their most recent wins having come in the FA Cup. I mentioned Palace looking for positives, and the FA Cup is perhaps the biggest of the lot at the moment. Pardew's side face Championship outfit Reading in a quarter-final at the Madejski Stadium on Friday night, leaving them just 90 minutes away from a Wembley appearance in the semi-final. It is a big chance for the Eagles to get their hands on some silverware, and even with their current league form, is probably their priority right now.

Pardew even admitted yesterday that it was possible his side could be distracted from today's game by that looming FA Cup quarter-final, which also suggested that he too had one eye on the game. He has made no secret of his desire to go far in the competition, and should his side secure their Premier League status relatively comfortably by the end of the season, and go on to win the FA Cup, then it would be considered a memorable season in the club's history. They cannot take their eyes fully off the first part of that, though, with seven points still the gap between themselves and the 40-point mark.

It will be easier said than done reaching that 40-point mark too. Even when Palace were in their pomp this season, challenging for the European places, it would have been a tough run of fixtures that they face coming up. No fewer than eight of their final 10 league games this season, including today's, come against teams currently in the top 11 of the table. With Palace is such dire form, that it a worrying spell and one that could see them sink further and further down the standings until they can finally grab an elusive victory.

They have conceded in all nine of their Premier League games so far since the turn of the year, and at home their record really is a concern. Only rock-bottom Aston Villa have amassed fewer points in front of their own fans than the Eagles this season, while no team - not even Villa - have lost more games on home soil. Palace have picked up more points, scored more goals and conceded fewer away from home this season, and while their away form has been admirable at times, they simply must do better at Selhurst Park if they are to stop the rot.

They come into this match on the back of four consecutive home league defeats, and another this afternoon would make it five on the bounce in the top flight for the first time since 1998. Their winless run does currently stand at five games, during which they have scored only three goals. Their last league win in front of their own fans came way back on December 12, almost three months ago, when they beat Southampton 1-0.

Most of the stats, then, point to this match going in Liverpool's favour, and the visitors will certainly fancy their chances today. Palace's dreadful form aside, Liverpool showed signs on Wednesday of a team who can beat anyone on their day. They bounced back from a League Cup final defeat to Man City by thrashing the very same opponents on home soil, putting in what Jurgen Klopp described as their best home display since he arrived at the club.

It was a result that thrust Liverpool back into European contention, with the gap to the top four at that point being closed to six points. Man City's win over Aston Villa yesterday means that it has now grown to nine once again, but with the top four faltering regularly there is certainly a glimmer of hope for the Reds. Of course, there are a few teams better placed than them as things stand, but an away victory this afternoon would lift Liverpool up to seventh in the table and keep up the pressure on those above them.

The biggest stumbling block for Liverpool's European ambitions this season has been their lack of consistency - a problem the likes of Klopp and Henderson acknowledged following the win over Man City in midweek. While they can have days when they look unstoppable - as City will testify to on two counts this season - they have also struggled to even get going on far too many occasions. The main thing this afternoon is to follow up that City result with another win and another good performance, and if they can start to find a bit of consistency then the top four is certainly not an unreachable goal.

That is a big 'if', though, with Liverpool not having won three league games in a row in just under a year. Their last two league outings certainly look impressive and seem as though they are starting to find a bit of form, with the 3-0 win over City being preceded by a 6-0 rout of Aston Villa, but in between those games they also put in two rather tepid displays against Augsburg and another under-par performance in the League Cup final, despite taking Man City all the way to penalties.

Liverpool haven't actually lost a match inside 90 minutes since February 2, though, with their only two defeats in seven outings since their loss to Leicester coming in extra time against West Ham and on penalties against City. even so, they have also only won three of their last 10 games in all competitions, which is not a good enough record for a side who have ambitions to reaching the top four and beyond.

The Reds are today bidding for back-to-back away league wins for the first time since they picked up the scalps of both Chelsea and Manchester City in succession in October-November, which is the only previous time that they have managed it this season. They have, though, picked up more points on the road this season than they have at Anfield, while their best performances have largely been away from home under Klopp. Their record in London is not great recently, though, with only one win in their last seven visits to the capital.

Just as Palace could have one eye on the FA Cup, Liverpool may well be distracted by a huge European clash with Manchester United next Thursday. English football's two biggest clubs, and two biggest rivals, will meet for the first time on the continental stage when they take on United in the last 16 of the Europa League, with the first leg of that taking place at Anfield on Thursday night. It promises to be a special occasion, but if Liverpool want to catch the Red Devils, and others, in the league then they can't afford to take their eyes off this game today.

PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at Selhurst Park, which means that it is time for a prediction! Palace can't seem to buy a win at the moment and, while their last two games have shown signs of improvement - or at least their last one-and-a-half games - they are missing the in-form Wickham today, which could be key. Liverpool, on the other hand, seem to be finding a bit of form in the league, and I can see them making it three wins on the bounce today. I'm going for a 2-1 away victory.

I have already mentioned that Palace have been a bit of a bogey team for Liverpool in recent years, so how about some stats to back that up? Well, The Eagles have won each of the last three league meetings between these two sides and have only lost one of the last six, with four wins and a draw in that time. Over the past 11 meetings in all competitions, Palace have won six and only lost three.

It all started so well for Liverpool against Palace in the Premier League era, with five wins and no defeat from their first seven meetings, but since then they have picked up just the one win in six. They have conceded 11 goals in the last four meetings, which is the same amount as they had shipped in their previous 15 league clashes against the Eagles.

Liverpool did actually win on their most recent visit to Selhurst Park, with Sturridge and Lallana on the scoresheet in the fifth round of the FA Cup last season, but their record here in the league leaves a lot to be desired. They have not won a league game away to Palace since December 1997, when Steve McManaman, Michael Owen and Oyvind Leonhardsen were on the scoresheet in a 3-0 triumph. They have particularly bad memories of their last two visits in the league too, taking the lead only to lose 3-1 last season and, the season before that blowing a three-goal lead to effectively hammer the final nail into their title hopes.

The reverse fixture at Anfield in November dealt Jurgen Klopp his first defeat as Liverpool boss, with Bolasie and Dann both on the scoresheet for the visitors and Coutinho registering for the hosts in a 2-1 defeat. Klopp admitted in his pre-match press conference that he has not forgotten that defeat, and he will be eager for a slice of revenge this afternoon!

KICKOFF: Here we go! Liverpool get us underway at Selhurst Park as they look to end their Palace hoodoo and make it 12 without a win for the hosts.

Two important pieces of defending from Sakho in quick succession as he halts Bolasie on both occasions. The latter saw the winger almost race through on goal having been played onside, but Sakho got across well.

You can often tell inside the opening few minutes whether Liverpool are up for a game under Klopp, and the early signs here have been encouraging. They are pressing well off the ball and enjoying a decent amount of possession too.

Liverpool string their first good move together as a few quick one-time passes release Firmino down the right channel, but his ball back across goal is intercepted by McCarthy.

CHANCE! Palace immediate launch one of their trademark breaks as Bolasie flicks the ball on to Adebayor before carrying his run on into the middle. Adebayor charges down the left before playing it across to Bolasie, but Mignolet comes out bravely to smother the shot from the Palace man. Very good goalkeeping.

Good pressure again from Liverpool as they win the ball back inside the Palace half and eventually work it out for Henderson to have a go. His effort looks good, but it is blocked before it can test McCarthy.

YELLOW CARD! Henderson goes into the book for a sliding challenge on Bolasie over on the left touchline. He can have no complaints with that one.

SAVE! Adebayor tries to catch Mignolet out with a curling effort towards the near bottom corner, but the Liverpool keeper gets down well to push it wide.

OFF THE BAR! Even closer from Adebayor as he comes within inches of giving his side the lead! He gets across his man well and nods the ball towards goal from close range, but his header comes back off the crossbar. He should've scored!

YELLOW CARD! Dann goes into the book for hauling down Origi on the break.

This match has been played at a frantic tempo so far, with play switching from end to end in the blink of an eye. Barely time to breathe so far!

I mentioned whether Liverpool looked up for this one earlier, but Palace are certainly up for it too. They have already come close on three separate occasions and have started the better in this match.

Adebayor and Bolasie are causing Liverpool real problems at the moment. A long ball from Cabaye over the top finds Bolasie, who knocks it back down to Adebayor. The strike breaks into the box and pulls out a rabona when trying to cross the ball, but it strikes Sakho and goes behind.

Now it's Liverpool's turn to come forward, with some sustained pressure as suddenly Palace can't get out of their own half. The hosts hold firm, though, eventually scrambling the ball clear from a corner.

Both teams look dangerous when they come forward at the moment, although it must be said that Liverpool look a bit more vulnerable at the back. Palace are looking to counter-attack, as they did so well in the first half of the season, and it is certainly on for them today.

Liverpool are playing some nice football, though, with the likes of Lallana, Firmino and Henderson linking up with each other well when they get in and around the Palace area.

We're midway through the first half and still neither side have been able to grab control of the match. It is still being played at a good tempo, though, and if it carries on this way then I can't see it staying goalless.

CLOSE! Palace come close again as Origi's pass inside is picked off inside the Liverpool half. Zaha slides a pass through to Cabaye, who takes his shot early and curls it towards the near post. It has Mignolet worried, but it ripples the side-netting on its way behind.

Lovely play from Zaha as he squares Moreno up, drawing a foul from the full-back to give Palace a free kick in a very good crossing position, just outside the box on the right side of the field...

CHANCE! Half a chance comes from the free kick as Cabaye swings it to the back post, where Delaney has just peeled a yard away from his man. He seems to be a bit surprised by it, however, and can only send a header well off target.

CLOSE! Liverpool come close this time as Origi plays the ball inside for Can, before taking the ball back off the midfielder after a heavy touch. He goes for goal with a curling effort that has McCarthy worried, but it lands on the roof of the net.

Firmino picks the ball up in a dangerous position and draws a foul from Cabaye to give the visitors a free kick in a very promising position...

It is Milner who goes for goal and it looks to be a decent effort, but it hits Bolasie in the wall and goes behind for a corner, which comes to nothing.

Brilliant play from Bolasie as he manages to engineer space to cross the ball despite being surrounded by white shirts. It is a great ball from a difficult angle to pull it off too, but Adebayor can't take advantage at the back post.

There have been a lot of free kicks in this game so far, which is disrupting the flow of it. Andre Marriner has been a busy man and I'd expect a few yellow cards to follow in the second half if this carries on.

SAVE! Another half-chance for Palace as Cabaye floats another free kick into the box. It is slightly behind Dann, though, and he can't generate the power needed to really trouble Mignolet as the ball loops into the keeper's arms.

Some more nice build-up play from Liverpool to work the ball down the right for the overlapping Flanagan, but the full-back's cross is dreadful and goes into the crowd behind the goal.

YELLOW CARD! Milner is the third player in the book today, being shown yellow for a scything challenge on Cabaye that irked the Palace players. No complaints once again.

Palace win a corner, which could be a likely route of a goal for them today, but Lovren defends it really well when Adebayor looked for one moment to have the upper hand. The ball comes straight back into the box, forcing Lovren to concede another corner.

That one is again well dealt with and Liverpool have a chance to break, but Can overruns the ball when he had teammates in support. Waste of a good attacking platform, there.

There will be one minute of added time at the end of this first half.

Andre Marriner blows for half time at Selhurst Park, then, and we're still level at the break. Liverpool have seen the lion's share of possession in the opening 45 minutes, but they failed to have a shot on target and it is Palace who had created the better chances. The hosts have looked dangerous on the break and may feel that they should be ahead at the halfway stage.

The closest we have come to a goal arrived in the 11th minute when Adebayor got in front of Sakho and directed a header towards goal, only to see it come off the crossbar. The striker had threatened moments before with a curling effort towards the bottom corner that Mignolet turned away, but he would have felt that he should have scored the second chance.

The other big chance of that first half arrived just moments before, again for Palace as they hit Liverpool with a trademark counter-attack. Bolasie flicked the ball on for Adebayor down the left and the strike drove forward before playing the return ball into the middle. Bolasie was unmarked, but Mignolet came flying out of his goal to smother the winger with a brave save.

Palace have had a few other sights of goal, although none that have troubled Liverpool too much. Cabaye curled a first-time effort just wide that rippled the side-netting on its way past, while both Delaney and Dann have had half-chances from Cabaye deliveries. The first of those was probably the better chance, but it seemed to take Delaney by surprise, while Dann had to created all of the power on his own effort himself and could only loop it into the arms of Mignolet.

As for Liverpool, the closest they have come was an Origi effort that landed on the roof of the net. There hasn't been much for the visitors to shout about in an attacking sense so far, despite getting into some decent positions. It would not be a surprise to see Klopp turn to either Coutinho or Sturridge sooner rather than later.

KICKOFF: Crystal Palace get us back underway at Selhurst Park as they look to end their 11-match winless streak.

What a start to the second half for Palace! They take the lead against Liverpool through Ledley, who drills a shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. It stemmed from a corner which Liverpool failed to clear despite having a few occasions to do so, eventually falling to Ledley, who left an unsighted Mignolet no chance.

Liverpool look for a quick response to going behind with a bit of pressure. Milner, Lallana, Origi and Flanagan are all in the mix, but it eventually ends up in only a goal kick following a mini-scramble.

It can't be long before we see Coutinho and Sturridge now. Klopp kept faith with the side that performed so well against Man City, but it hasn't really worked today. Inconsistency rears its ugly head once again for the Reds.

Liverpool are conceding a lot of set pieces to give Palace a chance to get the ball in the box today. On the whole they have defended them well, even if the goal stemmed from one, but Palace have a great record of scoring from such circumstances this season so it is bound to cost them again if they continue to give so many away.

Liverpool have made a decent enough response to falling behind, but while they continue to link up fairly well at times, there is no end product at the moment. McCarthy still hasn't been tested on his first Palace start for six months.

Still the visitors continue to control the possession, but that may even suit Palace. They can afford to let Liverpool come on to them now, which will give them even more room on the counter-attack.

LIVERPOOL SUB: Klopp does turn to his bench here, and it is an attacking change as Philippe Coutinho comes on for his 100th Premier League appearance, replacing Flanagan.

Liverpool's task has just got a lot more difficult! Milner, who may have just about to be moved to right-back following that sub, is shown a second yellow card. He can't have any complaints having slid in on Zaha to halt a break, although it was just outside the Palace box so there was no real need to do it. Liverpool need to rescue this one with just 10 men now!

Is there any way back for Liverpool in this game now? As long as the deficit remains one goal, there is always a chance, but in truth the visitors have not really looked like scoring all game so far.

SAVE! Finally a shot on target for Liverpool! Coutinho slides a pass through a defender's legs for his compatriot Firmino, who drills one down the middle. It bounces just in front of McCarthy, but it is still fairly comfortable for the keeper.

How long before we see Sturridge? We may well have seen him already had Liverpool been at their full complement, but Klopp may need to throw caution to the wind soon.

CHANCE! Chance for Liverpool to level things up as Lallana reaches the byline on the right side of the area and plays his low cross in past the keeper. Origi is there, but he is flanked by both Dann and Delaney, who do enough to prevent the striker from tapping home.

CRYSTAL PALACE SUB: Change for the home side here as Cabaye trudges off to be replaced by Jordon Mutch.

Liverpool needed a helping hand today, and they've got a big one from McCarthy here! In for the injured Hennessey, the keeper slips when trying to clear the ball and it goes straight to Firmino. The Brazilian keeps his composure to take the ball into the box before slotting it past McCarthy to level things up.

Could that be the boost Liverpool need? They have been far short of their best so far today, but are now level with 15 minutes remaining courtesy of that gift. They are still a man down, of course, but even a draw may be considered a decent result under the circumstances.

It will be interesting to see how Palace approach the final stages of this game too. They may have taken a draw before kickoff considering Liverpool's midweek result, but now they have a chance to end their winless streak against 10-man opposition, and it would be a big scalp too. Surely they have to go for it?

LIVERPOOL SUB: Perhaps Sturridge is not yet fully fit, as Klopp has turned to Christian Benteke for the closing stages here. He replaces his compatriot Origi.

CHANCE! Almost an immediate impact from the sub! Lovren flicks a corner on to Benteke, who has peeled away from Delaney and steers his shot towards goal. It is straight at McCarthy though, and the Belgian probably should have done better.

CRYSTAL PALACE SUBS: A double change for the home side as Dwight Gayle and Bakary Sako replace Adebayor and Ledley.

Dominant play from Can at both ends of the field in the space of a few seconds as he strides forward and shouts at Benteke to get in the box for his cross. Palace win the ball back and look to break, but Can is there again to make the tackle and win the ball back for his side.

YELLOW CARD! Moreno has been a little fortunate not to go into the book already today, but his name is taken here for barging into Zaha.

OFF THE POST! Liverpool are inches away from taking the lead! The ball breaks out to Moreno, who drives a strike towards the far bottom corner from range. It beats McCarthy, but bounces right against the foot of the post and back out.

LIVERPOOL SUB: A late change for the visitors as Kolo Toure comes on for Firmino.

There will be four minutes of stoppage time at the end of this match.

CHANCE! Another good chance for Liverpool late on as Coutinho slides a pass to Benteke, who takes it in his stride, cuts back inside, but they sees his finish pushed away by McCarthy.

Huge late drama at Selhurst Park here! Delaney dives in on Benteke inside the area deep in stoppage time, but he appears to pull out of the challenge and not make much contact with Benteke, who goes to ground. The referee takes an age to make his decision, seemingly getting word from his assistant before pointing to the spot. Up steps Benteke, who coolly slots his spot kick past McCarthy with the last meaningful action of the match.

Wow, what late drama here! I must say it is a very contentious penalty that gives Liverpool the win - Delaney appeared to pull out of the challenge and, while he may have made contact with his knee on the trailing foot of Benteke, it was minimal. Liverpool don't care, though, as they come from behind with 10 men to steal a victory after Firmino had earlier cancelled out Ledley's opener, leaving Palace now 12 league games without a win.

That is all we have time for this afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for this dramatic match, as ever, between these two. It is Liverpool who are celebrating at the final whistle having stolen a late, late victory over Crystal Palace through a controversial Benteke penalty. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction from both camps - I'm sure the two managers will have plenty to say! From me, though, it is goodbye for now!