Mansion Sports – The fourth-round clash of the 2025/2026 Carabao Cup between Liverpool and Crystal Palace is set to take place at Anfield on Wednesday, 29 October 2025, at 19:45 local time.

This fixture will serve as a crucial test for both teams as they aim to recover from recent inconsistent performances.

For Liverpool, this match presents an opportunity to break their poor run of form and rebuild confidence under the management of Arne Slot. 

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace enter the contest with a solid record against the Reds over the past two months, adding further intrigue to this highly anticipated encounter.

Team Conditions Ahead of the Match

Liverpool

Liverpool find themselves in a troubling period, having suffered five defeats in their last six matches across all competitions.

A 2-3 loss to Brentford last weekend further highlighted the defending Premier League champions’ ongoing struggles.

Although they showed glimpses of their potential with a commanding 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League, that momentum failed to carry over domestically. The Reds have appeared disjointed, uncertain in their play, and vulnerable defensively.

Four consecutive league losses have made them only the fourth defending champions in Premier League history to endure such a slump.

The main weakness lies in their defensive organization — Liverpool have managed just two clean sheets in 14 games this season.

Former captain Jamie Carragher described the team’s performance as “a disaster,” adding further pressure on Arne Slot, who must find swift solutions to prevent the situation from worsening.

Despite edging past Southampton 2-1 in the previous Carabao Cup round, Liverpool’s display was far from convincing.

Statistics do not favor them either, as they have been eliminated twice at this stage in the past five seasons. However, their history as two-time champions (2022 and 2024) and last season’s finalists offers some encouragement ahead of this match.

Injuries remain a significant issue for the Reds. With several key players sidelined, Slot is expected to rotate heavily and give opportunities to younger squad members in an effort to reignite the team’s energy at Anfield.

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace are also navigating a difficult spell. A 0-1 defeat to Arsenal last week extended their winless streak to four consecutive matches.

This downturn came after a remarkable start to the season under Oliver Glasner, where they went 19 matches unbeaten in all competitions.

Nevertheless, Palace maintain high confidence heading into Anfield, having beaten Liverpool twice over the past two months — once in the Community Shield and again in the Premier League.

Adding to their confidence, the London club have not lost at Anfield since September 2021, a record that provides a psychological advantage.

Glasner is expected to make minor rotations to preserve player fitness, though the team’s determination to return to winning ways remains undiminished.

Palace view this Carabao Cup encounter as a valuable opportunity to restore belief and momentum within the squad.

Both sides enter the match in need of victory, not only to progress to the next round but also to regain confidence amid an intense fixture schedule.

Predicted Lineups for Liverpool vs Crystal Palace 2025

Liverpool (Formation: 4-2-3-1)

Arne Slot is likely to make significant changes to his starting eleven, given the injury crisis within his squad. 

Curtis Jones remains doubtful due to a minor knock, while Alexander Isak and Ryan Gravenberch are still in recovery. Alisson Becker, Giovanni Leoni, and Jeremie Frimpong have already been ruled out.

Predicted Starting XI:

Crystal Palace (Formation: 3-4-2-1)

Crystal Palace travel to Anfield with a relatively stable squad, though they remain without Caleb Kporha, Chadi Riad, and Cheick Doucoure due to injuries.

Eddie Nketiah is expected to start after scoring the decisive goal against Liverpool in a recent encounter, while Nathaniel Clyne could feature against his former club.

Predicted Starting XI:

Match Overview

The Liverpool vs Crystal Palace clash in the 2025/2026 Carabao Cup represents a defining moment for both managers.

Arne Slot faces the challenge of rescuing a season that is quickly unraveling, while Oliver Glasner aims to prove that his side can remain competitive despite mounting pressure across multiple competitions.

With several young players likely to feature and both sides adopting contrasting tactical approaches, this encounter promises an intense contest.

The projected Liverpool vs Crystal Palace lineups reveal that each team is preparing for a demanding battle, both seeking a crucial morale-boosting victory under the lights at Anfield.