Rory Fitzgerald

I know when my missus has something unusual lined up when she says "What time is your football at the weekend" - I cant help but think you've been sloppy over the years and now she's taking liberties !

This Palace team/set-up/player profile has not changed much in the last few seasons and we've beaten them in the last 3 away games. All of those games have seen us score 1 goal after the 84th minute. Knowing what's coming is no guarantee of anything except that Klopp will not be surprised by what Palace do so he has picked a team based on that. If they are at the end of 3 games in a week and we have a history of late goals and we expect this will be attritional - maybe he's planning also for the last 25mins. I'm just trying to make sense of a line up that I didn't see coming. I'm also interested if Keita is placed on the right for energy and we try go at their right with Robbo, Gini, Mane.

I doubt any opposition team has ever prepared for a match based on social media speculation. Unless Klopp guaranteed to an opposition manager that he was playing a certain team, then I don't think much changes for how the opposition starts.

The range of multiple choice answers are limited

If he does start Minamino over Salah, I am trying to think of the positives. VanAanholt, Eze on the left with Zaha floating that side too. Palace at the end of 3 games in a week too. We've had no one off the bench of any significance since Jota injury. Minamino can put in a shift on that side for 60mins and we can freshen up with Salah against Palace team that might use more energy down that side of the pitch ???

The only consistent thing I have seen on Twitter is people saying Keita and Minamino are starting. Some are just saying that, whereas others are putting both into a team and coming up with different teams e.g. some have Minamino/Firmino/Mane whereas others have Minamino/Firmino/Salah. The Minamino thing could be people taking Klopp's piece in the Spurs programme and taking an "ITK" punt. "......I'm not usually a fan of singling people out but I think Taki is someone I want to highlight. Taki has been sensational for us since he came. His attitude is of the highest level.......His lack of starting opportunities is not because of anything he is not doing well, it is because of how consistent the players in his position have been. Taki points the way for everyone when it comes to setting an example."

Interesting choice of players to use by the Official Twitter account given the rumours Or else Robbo's getting a rest too

Yeah. And the added bonus of being first so we can enjoy all the other battles if we get our 3pts

Still 14 hours to kick off. Let’s get through the next 8 hours and see how he is after breakfast. He could have a bad dream or something and put him out until next year.

I’ve seen a few different teams. Two trying to be cryptic - one posting just flags. The other posting just shirt numbers. Mind you, their teams are different.

I’ve no idea who it is on Twitter so I’m searching. Did the lad post the team using just national flags of the team ?

I was looking at the exact same thing Kane hasnt a clue that Dier is on the ground but when he spins around after the ball is in the net and sees some sort of appeal then he's switched-on and joining the protest along with Alderweireld.

I think they will. But I think they see Cahill as their better defender to partner Kouyate as opposed to Scott Dann. I havent heard what Hodgson has said in his press conference but I imagine he was resting both Clyne and Cahill for this match when he left them out of the squad for West Ham during the week. Cahill is preferred over Dann and Joel Ward at RB got his first start in about 2 months - so I think Dann/Ward drop back out and Clyne/Cahill come back in. Guaita Clyne Kouyate Cahill Van Aanholt [Townsend/Schlupp] Milivojevic McArthur Eze Zaha [Ayew/Batshuayi/Schlupp] I

The availability of players is impacting his mad December selection - in previous seasons there were players like Shaqiri, Milner, Lallana, Ox, a 3rd senior CB - and Fabinho was a midfield option. The 5 most played players in the league are Robertson, Wijnaldum and the front 3. With Jota and Shaqiri injured, he's down to Minamino and Origi from the front places and for other positions, he doesn't have alot of fit options.

Being the first game of the weekend it would be lovely to pick up 3 pts and have the rest of the weekend to enjoy and watch the other teams with tough games

Or if she likes to see a big tackle from behind nice and early to liven things up.

The bit I find hilarious about this is that the result of Aston Villa is of relevance to Man Utd.

By law of averages, Sheffield United are due another point. Played 12, lost 11, drew 1. Its a terrible run, it has to stop sometime. I'm clinging to this.

If she knows that Villa and Burnley are playing now then you're in trouble, thats next-level interest.

Will have Palace have fans for Saturday ?

You're safe mate, you need to be worried if she starts to take an unusual interest in that stuff to try take the edge off the guilt for wanting a change of jockey

Were we all seeing the same TV feed - them showing a replay of Mane's attempted overhead kick and then cutting to Son on the 18 yard line about to take his shot.

Thats now Chelsea & Spurs that have just decided to sit very deep and hope to hit with pace, also Leicester too. 3 of the main challengers. Southampton are humming along nicely, it will be an interesting game on Saturday at home to City and then we get them at the end of the Christmas period.

Did anyone else only half celebrate the winner? I was watching the players in the box as Robertson was about to take it so knew someone was on the ground as Bobby was heading it so knew there was potentially a foul to he looked at. Then Mo gives it the "side to side" movement with his hand (which I took to mean as 'blocking'). It was about then the crowd cheered louder so it was only then I knew it was confirmed. I celebrated Bergwijn hitting the post though. Literally celebrated.

He has missed games in every December he has been here. Some of it was not muscle related so it would not be right to draw the conclusion that his muscles might fatigue at this point of the season - but still - since he has been here he has never been available for the whole of December.