Liverpool must beat Crystal Palace if they want to win the Premier League title this season.
That is according to Chris Sutton, who has told the Reds that three points against Palace on Sunday is essential in their bid to win the title for the second time in four years. After drawing 2-2 at Manchester United last weekend, Liverpool sit second, level on points with third-place Manchester City and one behind leaders Arsenal.
Jurgen Klopp's side might not be able to afford to drop many more points in the run-in, considering how relentless Arsenal and City have been over the past couple of months. In fact, neither of those two have lost a Premier League match in 2024 and are in fine nick going into the last seven matches.
Although this is a perceived "must-win" game, Sutton is adamant this will be a straightforward victory for the Reds. However, the former Celtic forward has warned Klopp that he needs to get Mohamed Salah back to his best after struggling for form since returning from an injury last month.
He told BBC Sport: "This is a must-win for Liverpool following their slip-up at Old Trafford. They have got some tricky games in their run-in but I don't see this being one of them, even though they play in the Europa League against Atalanta on Thursday. One issue for Jurgen Klopp's side is that Mohamed Salah has not been at his sharpest since he has come back from injury - he has been missing chances that you expect him to put away.
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"Crystal Palace have now gone five games without a win since beating Burnley in Oliver Glasner's first match in charge. They need to pick up some points, and quickly, to avoid being dragged into the relegation battle but they are not getting anything at Anfield." Sutton has predicted a 3-0 victory to the Reds, which would leave them in second as he felt Arsenal and City would win their matches against Aston Villa and Luton respectively over the weekend. It would be a welcome return to maximum points for Liverpool after their defeat to Atalanta on Thursday.
Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool slumped to a dismal defeat to Atalanta on Thursday evening (Getty Images)And Klopp has promised a reaction from his players against Palace after losing 3-0 to the Serie A side in the Europa League quarter-final first-leg. He said: "First and foremost, this tonight must feel bad, and it does. I told the boys, 'Take it home, nobody will sleep great and then tomorrow we come together.' The boys who started recover and all the others get a proper session and then you go from there. And then on Saturday we will start preparing for Palace.
"Yes, we have to show a reaction. Definitely, 100 per cent, that is clear. But I cannot plan the reaction 20 minutes after the game. I will think about that. It is now not the first time in my life that I lost a football game, unfortunately. And yes, we will show a reaction, I can promise."
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