Liverpool have historically found Crystal Palace difficult opponents. Not exactly always – they’re 36-16 up on wins, and beat Palace 7-0 on their own turf five years ago – but when the Eagles perform a hit on the Reds, they really hit, and hit hard. The 1990 FA Cup semi-final. Crystanbul. This season’s Charity Community Shield. The game at Selhurst last month that triggered this astonishing collapse of Arne Slot’s champion side, Liverpool’s first loss in a sequence of five in six.

Now let’s fold another couple of sequences into the mix. Of the last eight meetings between the clubs, Palace have won three (we’re counting the Community Shield as a win), Liverpool just two. What’s even more worrying for the Reds are the recent results at Anfield: Palace have won one and drawn two of the last three. The Eagles have a strong upper hand over tonight’s hosts at the moment.

Having said all that, Palace are in...