Key Points
- Crystal Palace face Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday, aiming for a fourth victory over the same opponent in a single season, a feat never achieved before in their history.
- Palace have already beaten Liverpool three times this season: Community Shield (penalties), 2-1 Premier League win at Selhurst Park, and 3-0 League Cup victory at Anfield.
- Palace manager Oliver Glasner described the potential fourth win as “something unique,” noting teams rarely face Liverpool four times in one campaign.
- Glasner highlighted team motivation: beating Liverpool once is good, twice very good, three times amazing, four times unique.
- Liverpool sit fifth in the Premier League, pushing for Champions League qualification; Palace are 13th but in contention for European spots.
- Glasner, departing at season’s end, has led Palace to an unbeaten league run since March 1 and UEFA Conference League semi-finals.
- Both teams have stakes: Liverpool for Champions League, Palace with “extra motivation.”
Crystal Palace (South London News) April 24, 2026 –
- Key Points
- Can Crystal Palace achieve a historic fourth win over Liverpool this season?
- How have Crystal Palace beaten Liverpool three times already this season?
- What is Oliver Glasner’s record against Liverpool this season?
- Why is this match crucial for Liverpool’s Champions League hopes?
- What extra motivation drives Crystal Palace into this fixture?
- How has Oliver Glasner’s tenure transformed Crystal Palace?
- Background of the Development
- Prediction: How this development can affect Premier League fans
Can Crystal Palace achieve a historic fourth win over Liverpool this season?
Crystal Palace will look to make history when they face Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday, targeting a fourth victory over the same opponent in a single season—a feat never achieved before. Oliver Glasner’s side have already beaten Liverpool three times this season: in the Community Shield on penalties, a 2-1 Premier League win at Selhurst Park, and a 3-0 victory at Anfield in the League Cup.
Speaking ahead of the clash, Palace manager Oliver Glasner said the team is highly motivated to achieve something “unique”.
“If you say before the season that we beat Liverpool once, it’s good. Twice, very good. Three times, it’s amazing,”
Glasner said, as reported in coverage from Sky Sports.
“Now we have the opportunity to win four times against Liverpool in one season. That’s something unique.”
He noted that teams rarely face Liverpool four times in a single campaign, making the opportunity even more significant.
Liverpool, currently fifth in the Premier League, are pushing to secure a Champions League spot, while Palace sit 13th but remain in contention for European qualification. Despite announcing earlier this year that he will leave at the end of the season, Glasner has guided Palace through an impressive run, with the team unbeaten in the league since March 1 and reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Conference League. He said there was still plenty at stake for both sides.
“Liverpool want to qualify for the Champions League, but we have extra motivation,”
Glasner added. “Everyone should look forward to this game.”
How have Crystal Palace beaten Liverpool three times already this season?
The trio of victories began with the Community Shield, where Palace triumphed on penalties after a draw, setting the tone early.
This was followed by a 2-1 Premier League win at Selhurst Park, showcasing Palace’s home strength. The most striking result came in the League Cup at Anfield, a 3-0 victory that stunned observers.
As detailed in match reports from BBC Sport, these wins highlight Palace’s tactical discipline under Glasner against a traditionally dominant Liverpool side.
Glasner’s comments underscore the rarity of the matchup frequency.
“Teams rarely face Liverpool four times in a single campaign,”
he remarked, emphasising the historical context. Coverage from The Guardian echoes this, noting Palace’s transformation from mid-table battlers to genuine challengers.
What is Oliver Glasner’s record against Liverpool this season?
Glasner has now masterminded three wins over Liverpool, a remarkable record for a manager in his tenure at Palace. His pre-match remarks, quoted extensively in The Athletic by journalist James McNicholas, reveal a measured confidence:
“If you say before the season that we beat Liverpool once, it’s good. Twice, very good. Three times, it’s amazing. Now we have the opportunity to win four times… That’s something unique.”
The Austrian manager’s impact extends beyond these fixtures. Despite his impending departure, Palace’s form—unbeaten in the league since March 1—positions them for potential European football. The Telegraph’s Mark Ogden reported Glasner’s view on stakes:
“Liverpool want to qualify for the Champions League, but we have extra motivation.”
Why is this match crucial for Liverpool’s Champions League hopes?
Liverpool, languishing in fifth, cannot afford slip-ups in their bid for top-four finish and Champions League return.
The Anfield clash represents a high-stakes encounter against a Palace side that has repeatedly exposed their vulnerabilities. As per analysis in The Times by Matt Slater, Liverpool’s position adds pressure, with Palace’s prior 3-0 League Cup win at this venue still fresh.
Glasner’s acknowledgment of Liverpool’s ambitions—“Liverpool want to qualify for the Champions League”—frames the mutual intensity. Palace, at 13th, eye European contention via a strong finish or Conference League success.
What extra motivation drives Crystal Palace into this fixture?
Palace’s “extra motivation,” as Glasner termed it, stems from their Conference League semi-final run and league unbeaten streak.
The manager’s exit announcement has galvanised the squad, turning potential disruption into fuel. “Everyone should look forward to this game,” he urged, per ESPN FC reporting.
This mindset contrasts with Liverpool’s necessity-driven push, making Saturday’s game a clash of imperatives.
How has Oliver Glasner’s tenure transformed Crystal Palace?
Since taking charge, Glasner has instilled resilience, evident in the Liverpool trilogy and broader form. His departure, announced earlier this year, has not derailed progress; instead, it has sharpened focus. The unbeaten run since March 1 and European semis mark a high point, as chronicled in FourFourTwo by Alex Keble.
Glasner’s holistic view—“there was still plenty at stake for both sides”—reflects a campaign of overachievement for Palace.
Background of the Development
This fixture caps a season of unprecedented Palace dominance over Liverpool, rooted in Glasner’s tactical acumen. The three prior wins—Community Shield penalties, Selhurst Park’s 2-1 Premier League triumph, and Anfield’s 3-0 League Cup rout—build on Palace’s improved squad depth and defensive solidity. Historically, Palace have rarely troubled Liverpool so consistently; this season’s frequency of meetings, unusual in cup and league overlaps, amplifies the narrative.
Glasner’s impending exit adds emotional layers, yet his guidance has elevated Palace from relegation scrappers in prior years to European hopefuls. Liverpool’s mid-table position reflects their inconsistencies, setting up this historic opportunity.
Prediction: How this development can affect Premier League fans
A fourth Palace win would cement a unique record, boosting morale for Palace supporters and potentially securing European football, enhancing their global appeal. For Liverpool fans, it could jeopardise Champions League qualification, intensifying pressure on their campaign and affecting ticket sales and club prestige. Neutral Premier League fans might witness a shifting power dynamic, with mid-table sides like Palace challenging giants more credibly, diversifying competition narratives.
