For a number of weeks Liverpool had looked like Premier League title certainties, but now, with two matches left to play, the destination of the trophy is out of their hands.
Manchester City's 3-2 victory away at Everton on Saturday evening has seen Manuel Pellegrini's side hit the summit on goal difference, while depending upon the result that Chelsea achieve against Norwich City at Stamford Bridge later today, Brendan Rodgers's Liverpool could be third by the time that their match against Crystal Palace gets underway on Monday night.
As far as the Merseysiders are concerned, they must win at Selhurst Park and hope that leaders City drop points from one of their final two home encounters against Aston Villa and West Ham United.
In terms of personnel, manager Rodgers will still be without midfielder Jordan Henderson because of suspension, but Daniel Sturridge is fit again following a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring complaint.
His return is likely to come at the expense Lucas Leiva, with skipper Steven Gerrard and Joe Allen operating in the centre of midfield.
In Palace, they face, along with themselves, the Premier League's in-form team. Although they lost last time out to Man City, Tony Pulis's men have collected 15 points from a possible 18 in recent weeks.
The likes of Thomas Ince, Glenn Murray and Dwight Gayle are all pushing for inclusion, but Pulis could well stick with the same starting lineup that took to the pitch against City.
Liverpool have not won away at Palace since December 1997 when goals from Steve McManaman, Michael Owen and Norwegian midfielder Oyvind Leonhardsen sealed a 3-0 victory.
Recent form
Palace: WWWWWL
Liverpool: WWWWWL
Possible starting lineups
Palace: Speroni; Mariappa, Dann, Delaney, Ward; Bolasie, Jedinak, Ledley, Puncheon; Chamakh, Jerome
Liverpool: Mignolet; Johnson, Sakho, Skrtel, Flanagan; Gerrard, Allen; Sterling, Coutinho; Suarez, Sturridge
Sports Mole says: 1-2
Liam Apicella
