Liverpool enjoy a decent spell of possession inside the Palace half, but can't slice open the organised home side. That comes to an end when Philippe Coutinho shanks a left-footed cross out for a goal kick. And that delighted the Holmesdale End as you can imagine.

Image source, Getty Images

If Palace want to beat Liverpool tonight then it would be handy if they could keep a clean sheet. Something they have not done for 14 games.

But there could be an omen for superstitious Eagles fans - their last clean sheet came against another Liverpool-based team, Everton.

"Clean sheets are a concern for all managers. We need a little more concentration to get us over the line," said Palace gaffer Alan Pardew.

"Liverpool will be looking for consistency and if you catch them on the wrong day they can be very difficult."

Selhurst Park is rocking. But the noise on the pitch has been turned down a touch after a promising start.

David Pleat
Former Tottenham boss on 5 live Sport

I'm sure Palace will have a tactic of putting the ball into the box as much as possible, and for Benteke to pull onto Clyne on the far post.

But it's going to be a difficult game for Palace. They're going to have to resist Liverpool.

Palace pour forward for the first time - and they instantly show their hand to Liverpool. We all guessed it anyway. It's the long diag up to Christian Benteke. An away head beats the Belgian to the ball though.

Liverpool straight on the front foot. Not surprised seeing as the Palace players are probably dazzled by the glow of the Liverpool kit. Roberto Firmino tries to flick a cross from the right goalwards, but it doesn't fool Scott Dann who clears.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool have the honour. Roberto Firmino is the man tasked with getting the game underway.

Not much room in that tight Selhurst Park tunnel is there?

Liverpool are wearing what they describe as their 'Toxic and Thunder' away kit. No I don't have a clue what that means either... I'd describe it as lollipop lady chic. A retina-burning luminous green with a patch of black across the shoulders.

Image source, Getty Images

Despite shoving Christian Benteke towards the Anfield exit door, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been very complimentary about the Crystal Palace striker.

The Belgian meets his former employers for the first time since his summer switch. Probably worth throwing a couple of quid on him scoring... 

"Every player needs space to perform, to develop and to show things. For different reasons we couldn't give him the time he needed, you lose a little bit of confidence, you feel pressure," said the German.

"We couldn't change it and it made sense (to move). He made the transfer so, for Crystal Palace, what a player. We know it best because we had him all the time in training and in all moments he showed his quality."

Simon Brotherton
Match of the Day commentator

Christian Benteke scored the winning goal in this fixture last season for Liverpool, but will be trying to add to an impressive scoring rate against them this weekend; when he was with Aston Villa, the Belgian managed four goals in five appearances against the Reds.

Benteke is up against his old team-mates for the first time since being deemed surplus to requirements over the summer. , external

He'll be hoping for better luck than in the last couple of games though.

He hit the woodwork against both West Ham and Leicester, also missing a penalty against the Hammers and had a shot cleared off the line against the Foxes.

Image source, #bbcfootball

Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson - our resident Mystic Meg - has gone head-to-head with England rugby league captain Sam Burgess this week.

Don't worry Lawro fans, he hasn't had to take on Slammin' Sam in a scrum. No, he's on the safer ground of predicting Premier League football scores.

Read how Lawro and Burgess have called this weekend's games.

Only one change for Liverpool from last weekend's Premier League win against West Brom. Makeshift left-back James Milner is out with illness, Alberto Moreno comes back in.

Image source, Opta

Palace skipper Scott Dann returns from a hamstring injury to partner James Tomkins at centre-back. Andros Townsend drops to the bench as Lee Chung-yong starts instead.

Image source, #bbcfootball

The odds on Christian Benteke sending social media into meltdown with a cheeky celebration might be a stretch of my overactive imagination. 

But the burly Palace striker scoring to stop Liverpool going joint-top of the Premier League tonight is far from fanciful.

He starts for the hosts against the side who sold him for £27m little over two months ago...

Image source, Getty Images

Denis Law ended up in tears. Emmanuel Adebayor ended up getting showered with coppers. Coming back to haunt your former club by scoring can lead to some wild emotions.

The chances of Christian Benteke running down the touchline in front of the travelling Liverpool fans with his hand cupping his ear? Slim. 

The Belgian going over to Jurgen Klopp and celebrating by pretending to be one of Harry Enfield's permed, mustachioed, shellsuit-wearing Scousers? Even slimmer...