Liverpool face a different threat in Crystal Palace

Liverpool have a lot of momentum right now. Having not lost a league game since November, the Reds are currently placed first in the form table having earned 25 points from the last 36 available. That’s 7 wins, 4 draws and 1 loss.

However, most of those opponents were teams already below us in the league by that point, so now our next run of games becomes crucial in the race for the top 4. We’ve already beaten Spurs, but in the weeks to come we also have to play Southampton, Man City, Man United and Arsenal; all of whom are currently ahead of us in the table.

It’s a daunting fixture list, but it also means that we have our fate in our own hands. If we go up just one more gear and carry our current momentum into every match, all those games are winnable.

The biggest challenge is keeping that momentum going. We overcame a difficult test against Spurs; we had just come off a dull 0-0 derby draw a few days earlier, they were coming off a fantastic 2-1 derby win against Arsenal. And they were 1-0 down.

So not only did they have confidence, they would always have the belief that if we scored first, they would be able to get back into the game. Which they did, twice. Luckily we persevered and came out on top. Our belief and determination won us that game.

Our next match offers a completely different challenge, as this weekend we take a break from the league to return to the FA Cup where we’ll be playing Crystal Palace away. It’s a different, and potentially tougher, challenge for a couple of reasons.

Obviously Selhurst Park is where many believe Liverpool lost the title last season after their 3-3 draw (which isn’t true, we lost it when Chelsea beat us at Anfield the game before). A lot was made of it when we returned there in the league back in November, and we lost that game 3-1 after taking an early lead.

We actually have a terrible record at Selhurst Park; you have to go back 7 games in all competitions to find our last victory there – 3-0 back in 1998 – and since their return to the Premier League it stings even worse in light of recent events. The best result we’ve had there since was a 0-0 draw back in 2003.

So not only do we face a Crystal Palace side in impressive form under new manager Alan Pardew – who will probably be champing at the bit as he’s now allowed to actually win FA Cup games, unlike his previous situation at Newcastle – we also have to overcome a real mental battle as well.

While I’d be surprised if the players were aware that the club’s last victory there was 17 years ago, the two most recent results will still be praying on their minds and the media certainly won’t let them forget it. After all, that’s the big draw for the neutrals; while it’s a chance for us to get revenge for last season, there’s also a real possibility that Palace will deny us a win for the third time in a row and become our bogey team.

Yes, all these other teams have better squads and will be a bigger challenge on paper. But if we’re to keep our momentum going in the league, we first must put this mental problem to rest before it starts to become a real issue and ruins all the progress we’ve made.

It’s a good thing we’re not the same side we were back in November.