Crystal Palace will face Liverpool at Selhurst Park on Sunday without Jean-Philippe Mateta, but manager Pierre Sage believes he has capable alternatives in attack. Mateta is suspended, leaving Jorgen Strand Larsen and Eddie Nketiah among the options to lead the line.
Sage highlighted both players' recent goalscoring contributions. Larsen scored against Ipswich and Lech Poznan, while Nketiah found the net against Fulham and Lech Poznan. Nketiah can also operate as a number 10, giving Palace another possible approach against Liverpool.
Larsen did not feature on Thursday because the match situation did not provide the right opportunity to introduce him. Sage said the forward should be able to manage between 60 and 75 minutes, with his mentality and stamina potentially allowing him to extend that time. He also stressed that Palace need their forwards to contribute to the press, link the play and finish attacks.
Ismaila Sarr remains unavailable after his groin problem, with Sage saying the winger is expected to return after the international break. The Palace boss also acknowledged that his side have struggled to maintain positive performances over a sustained period, but said he continued to back the players and their daily work.
Sage described the Liverpool fixture as a major challenge while also presenting it as a chance for the group to produce something special. He said Palace must establish the right conditions from the start, while declining to assess Liverpool's recent defeats by Arsenal and Fenerbahce in detail. Sunday's Premier League match at Selhurst Park kicks off at 14:00 GMT.
