Premier League Tips

Christian Benteke's third goal in as many games looked to have put Crystal Palace on course for an away day victory at capital rivals West Ham on Wednesday night but Sebastien Haller's spectacular overhead kick equaliser saw the spoils shared. There were few clear-cut chances in a tightly fought encounter that saw Benteke sent off with 20 minutes to play.

The Belgian forward beat Issa Diop to Joel Ward's superb delivery to plant a diving header beyond Lukasz Fabianski. But the Hammers levelled when Haller showed wonderful technique to beat Vicente Guaita. But Benteke, who had earlier caught Angelo Ogbonna with his elbow, was dismissed for a second yellow card for a similar offence late on.

Palace boss Roy Hodgson was incensed with the decision post-match, saying: "It was a ludicrous decision. He only tried to use his arm for leverage and honestly win the ball. Decisions like that are ruining the game." In-form Benteke will now serve a suspension and miss out on Saturday's renewal with old club Liverpool at Selhurst Park.

Liverpool leave it late against Spurs

Roberto Firmino's last-minute header broke Tottenham's stubborn resistance at Anfield and sent Liverpool to the top of the Premier League table on Wednesday night. An entertaining encounter looked set to end in a 1-1 stalemate before - with the game entering stoppage time - the Brazilian soared to flash a header home from Andrew Robertson's corner.

Liverpool flew at Spurs in the opening exchanges and went ahead when Mohamed Salah's shot took a big deflection off Eric Dier and looped over Hugo Lloris. Spurs had barely left their own half but struck with a counter punch seven minutes later, with the visitors growing into the game, particularly in the second-half, creating a few clear-cut chances.

However, the visitors was left to regret those missed opportunities as a late Liverpool surge saw the defending champions move three points clear at the top of the table and inflict Spurs' first Premier League loss since the opening weekend home defeat against Everton. Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp hopes to have Joel Matip available again for Saturday's clash.

Reds hot favourites at Selhurst

Liverpool have tended to come out on top in recent skirmishes with Crystal Palace. The Eagles were the last Premier League side to succeed at Anfield but that is the hosts' only triumph in nine recent meetings with the Reds, the Merseysiders proving victorious in eight of those match-ups. Jurgen Klopp's charges have won their last five trips to Selhurst Park.

Crystal Palace 6.6011/2 come into this contest unbeaten in three league games, their best spell of the season thus far. Nevertheless, the Eagles tend to fall short when welcoming elite opposition to their capital home. Indeed, under Roy Hodgson's guidance, Palace have returned W1-D5-L14 against top-six finishers here, recording a solitary clean sheet.

No Premier League side has posted a greater disparity between home and away results than Liverpool 1.564/7 in 2020/21. The Reds boast a 100% return at Anfield, whilst collecting just seven points and a sole success in six games as guests (W1-D4-L1). Performances at Fulham, Brighton and Aston Villa can also be described as questionable at best, for Liverpool.

Both sides can oblige

Crystal Palace have only once failed to notch here against Liverpool in league action since 1997, and whilst Christian Benteke's suspension is a blow, the Eagles have enough attacking inspiration from Eberechi Eze and Wilfried Zaha to pose the Merseysiders problems. Roy Hodgson's outfit have only once failed to score at Selhurst Park this season.

Unfortunately for Roy's boys, Palace haven't been at their watertight best in 2020/21. The hosts are without a clean sheet since the opening day of the campaign and it's difficult not to see Liverpool extending their streak of scoring in every Premier League encounter thus far. With that in mind, I'm happy to take the 1.784/5 on Both Teams To Score on Saturday.