Liverpool vs Crystal Palace – Premier League: Live score, team news and updates as Alisson gives Jurgen Klopp boost by returning to starting XI after being sidelined for two months – plus West Ham vs Fulham updates

50 up for Konate

Time really does fly, doesn’t it?

What a signing Ibrahima Konate has been for Liverpool, his partnership with Virgil van Dijk has to be one of the best in the league, maybe only second to Gabriel and William Saliba.

The fact he has reached 50 Premier League has surprised me, considering he has been hampered by injuries during his time at the Reds.

Will he mark the occasion with a clean sheet?

Jurgen Klopp: ‘Let’s be lively’

Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool boss, speaking to Sky Sports:

We have an opportunity to show a reaction in a different competition. Let’s just be lively, be us.Of course, you want to have Ali [Alisson] between the posts, it’s good news. With players back, we need them in the best possible shape. We have to make sure we find a way to beat Crystal Palace. It’s just one game, let’s go for it.The boys physically suffer from not getting a clean sheet. As long as you win the game you don’t make it too big a point but you try to work consistently on little things. I want to see that reaction, we have to defend as a unit.The skillset Palace has is always really impressive. The manager brought in a new system. [Michael] Olise back, [Eberechi] Eze we all know, [Jean-Philippe] Mateta is a real handful. They are direct but they play football as well. We don’t have to think about them too much but we have to be unplayable today.

Ings big opportunity

Today is a rare opportunity for Danny Ings, he has to grab it with both hands.

The striker has only started two league games prior to today, only scoring one goal in his 15 appearances in the division this campaign.

With Jarrod Bowen out injured, it’s a chance for him to show David Moyes that he can be trusted.

Will he find the back of the net today?

Jamie Carragher: ‘Liverpool need to get back on track’

Jamie Carragher, former Liverpool defender, on Sky Sports:

Liverpool have to put it right today, they need to get back on track. It’s a game where I am still expecting three points for Liverpool, but they need a performance as well.It would do Liverpool the world of good to not just get three points but have a resounding victory to give everybody belief and confidence.

Alisson returns

This has taken me a little by surprise.

I knew that Alisson was in the mix to return soon, but I thought he may be eased back into the setup.

That’s not the case though, he is straight back in from the start. How big of a boost could this be for Liverpool in their hunt for the title.

I think very big!

Fulham Team News – ONE change

Marco Silva doesn’t like to change much around, and he has made just the one today.

Sasa Lukic replaces Tom Cairney.

There could also be a 100th Fulham league appearance for Harry Wilson if he is brought off the bench today.

West Ham Team News – Ings STARTS

West Ham are going for it, they start with both Michail Antonio and Danny Ings.

David Moyes has made three changes to the side that lost 2-0 to Bayer Leverkusen, with Edson Alvarez and Nayef Aguerd coming in as well as Ings.

Crystal Palace Team News – Olise STARTS

Oliver Glasner makes two changes from the side that lost 4-2 to Manchester City last weekend.

the most notable of those is Michael Olise, who after coming off the bench last week, returns to the starting 11 after injury.

Former Liverpool full-back Nathaniel Clyne is the other change.

Liverpool Team News – Alisson STARTS

Well then, no messing around from Jurgen Klopp, Alisson is straight back into the mix.

The Brazilian keeper, who has been out for 10 weeks, is one of five changes to Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Mo Salah, Luis Diaz, Conor Bradley, and Andy Robertson are all back in the starting line-up.

Who will Klopp name in his starting XI?

What is Jurgen Klopp thinking right now, I wonder?

Everybody is waiting in anticipation to see who will start for Liverpool today after their disastrous defeat to Atalanta.

Klopp made six changes in midweek, and after some of the performances, I think he will be making quite a few today.

Could Diogo Jota start up front? We will find out in a few minutes.

Liverpool will go top with a win

I always say it, but the title race this season is simply ridiculous.

The fact we are at this stage in the season and we still have three teams battling it out for the title, is insane.

If Liverpool win today, they will go top of the table once more, however, it may only be for a few hours as Arsenal face Aston Villa later.

Goal difference could prove pivotal too, so if Liverpool are to win today, they’ll want to do it in style.

35th Anniversary of Hillsborough Disaster

Today Liverpool fans are paying their respects to the 97 people who lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster on 15 April 1989.

This afternoon’s match is the team’s closest fixture to the 35th anniversary of the disaster and the club will mark the occasion with a tribute.

Liverpool chairman, Tom Werner, has laid a wreath by the Hillsborough memorial outside of the stadium.

West Ham aim to avoid European hangover

There is no doubt that Thursday night’s defeat to Bayer Leverkusen would have taken it out of West Ham.

David Moyes’ men battled extremely hard but came unstuck right at the end. It will have been tough to take.

The Hammers aren’t always fond of playing after their European exploits, the Hammers have dropped points in six of their eight league encounters that have directly followed a European game this season.

However, today could be the perfect opportunity for them to return to league action with a win as they face a Fulham side who have lost nine of their last 15 league matches away from home.

I always love a match between two tightly contested teams, so this will be a good one.

But which way will it go?

Pivotal day for Reds against Palace

Today feels like a crucial day for Liverpool and the rest of their season.

Their crushing 3-0 loss at Anfield to Atalanta in the Europa League shocked the footballing world, no one was expecting it, least their own supporters.

How they bounce back from that defeat today against Crystal Palace could define Jurgen Klopp’s farewell stint. Win in style today and all the question marks will be erased, however, drop points and their title hopes could be in danger.

While the stats suggest that recent meetings have been one-sided in favour of Klopp’s team, if you have watched the matches, you know the problems Palace cause them on a yearly basis.

Liverpool almost always concede, they only have one clean sheet from their last 14 games, and with Michael Olise set to make a return for the Eagles, I suspect it could become one in 15.

That won’t matter to them though if they end up with the three points.

I feel it could be a cagey affair at Anfield, what do you all think?

What’s in store

Today is huge. We are now closing in on the end of the season and the magnitude of each game keeps getting ramped up.

All three games today have huge ramifications for the rest of the season, so let’s have a look at them:

Liverpool vs Crystal Palace 14:00 BSTWest Ham vs Fulham 14:00 BSTArsenal vs Aston Villa 16:30 BST (separate blog)

Time to bounce back?

What a glorious day for football.

If you’re lucky enough to be going to a stadium, make sure you enjoy what sunshine graces the stands because tomorrow is not going to be so kind to us.

It’s a huge day for Liverpool in the title race. How will Jurgen Klopp’s side react after they were left with egg on their faces courtesy of Italian side Atalanta on Thursday night?

Questions have rightly been asked of the Reds after that performance, so if they are serious about staying in the hunt for silverware, they need to provide a response against Crystal palace today.

West Ham have not had the best of weeks either, their loss to Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League was devastating after the effort they expelled trying to fend them off.

Today they have the chance to aid their European prospects for next season, as they face off with fellow Londoners Fulham who are not the biggest fans of away days.

Two fixtures that could have a big impact on the table, sounds good to me, so hopefully you enjoy following the games as much as I do covering them.

Right, that’s enough of an introduction, so let’s get cracking, shall we?