Crystal Palace stand in the way of Liverpool and their hopes of an extended FA Cup run, as the two battle it out in a Fifth Round tie at Selhurst Park on Saturday evening.
With only 16 teams left in the competition, of which only Arsenal, Manchester United and West Ham United and Stoke City are in the top 10 of the Premier League, there is a real chance for Brendan Rodgers' side to challenge for his first piece of silverware as Anfield boss. But the challenge that awaits is far from easy, no matter how much things have changed since these two last met.
Crystal Palace, managed by Neil Warnock when they crushed the Reds 3-1 on home turf in November, are now under the guidance of former midfielder and ex-Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew - who has lost only one of six since being appointed Eagles' boss.
Pardew has got his side playing well but in their last run-out, Palace could only take a point away from his former employers. Substitute Frazier Campbell came on to equalise with 15 minutes to go, after Demba Papiss Cisse gave the Magpies a first-half lead, meaning they have taken 10 from the last 15 points under the 53-year-old boss.
Meanwhilst, Rodgers' Reds have had a huge upturn in form since their loss at Selhurst Park. Unbeaten in the league since mid-December and having lost only twice in normal time in their last 21 encounters, Liverpool are slowly but surely working their way up the table and closing the gap on the Champions League places.
They come into the game off a monumental 3-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday evening, where Mario Balotelli turned super-sub - scoring his first Liverpool goal to hand them the three points after Spurs had twice cancelled out the leads Lazar Markovic and Steven Gerrard handed the home team, thanks to efforts from Harry Kane and Moussa Dembele.
Yet, Rodgers and his side will still have dark memories of their last two visits to East London to face Palace. The humiliating 3-3 needs little explanation, whilst Liverpool's 3-1 loss earlier this term was one of their biggest lows of the season.
That defeat helped signal the death of Rodgers' 4-2-3-1 system, abandoning the use of Steven Gerrard as a deep-lying playmaker in the holding role, which has seen a resurgence in form for the team as a whole. Since switching to a 3-4-3/3-4-2-1 formation, aside from the 3-0 loss against Manchester United, the first time Rodgers implemented the system, the Reds have yet to lose inside 90 minutes.
They stood up well to Chelsea home and away in the Capital One Cup semi finals recently, a fine demonstration of their mettle, but this will be one of their toughest tests yet since they turned the corner. Pardew, who scored Crystal Palace's winner against Liverpool in the 1990 FA Cup semi-final, has the fans and the players on his side and is sure to have his team fired up for the occasion.
Both sides have done well to reach the current round. The hosts overcame Southampton 3-2 in a tense game, Marouane Chamakh striking twice and Yaya Sanogo netting his first goal in red and blue stripes in a thrilling win, after thrashing minnows Dover Athletic 4-0 away from home in the Third Round. Liverpool meanwhile, overcame League Two outfit AFC Wimbledon thanks to a Gerrard brace, but spluttered to a 0-0 draw at home to Bolton Wanderers in the next round. Fortunately, they survived a scare in the replay when they scored two last-gasp goals through Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho at the Macron Stadium to win 2-1, after Eidur Gudjohnsen's penalty had handed Neil Lennon's side the lead.
As a result, the two teams go into the game fairly balanced - despite the 15 points difference between them in the Premier League table. Whether Liverpool can avenge their past embarrassments on this ground, or if Palace can inflict yet more pain by denying Brendan Rodgers another opportunity to win his first trophy, remains to be seen.
Team News:
Palace could be without captain Mile Jedinak, who scored a stunning free-kick against the Reds in their last league meeting. The Australian midfielder missed his side's trip to Newcastle on Wednesday night after returning from the Asia Cup with a sore ankle and his official return date is stated as the 21st of February, unless he proves his fitness enough to earn a place in Pardew's side.
Another facing a late fitness test is Scott Dann, after the central defender suffered a head injury in an aerial duel with Wes Morgan in their 1-0 win over bottom-of-the-table Leicester City.
On-loan striker Yaya Sanogo picked up a hamstring injury in the mid-week draw against Newcastle United and as a result, is out of action for a few weeks and Lee Chung-yong (leg) and Shola Ameobi (fitness) remain out.
January addition Pape Souare could make his debut though after the £3.4million Senegalese left-back received his work permit, but Pardew may be without midfielder James McArthur, who has a thigh problem and will face a late fitness test.
Pardew will also have a decision to make on his goalkeeping situation, with back-up Wayne Hennessey having started all the previous cup games, but the Eagles' manager may opt to bring in number one Julian Speroni as the London-side look for another scalp in the competition.
Marouane Chamakh was another who did not feature against Newcastle as he recovers from a broken nose, but he could be back into contention on Saturday. As is electric winger Yannick Bolasie, who returned from helping DR Congo to a third-placed finish in the 2015 African Cup of Nations last weekend and is expected to return to the starting line-up.
There are no current return dates for Jerome Thomas and Jonathan Williams, both of whom are suffering from knocks but Dwight Gayle could come back into the side, having scored four in his last three games against Liverpool.
The visitors will be without skipper Steven Gerrard, who suffered a hamstring injury in his side's mid-week victory over Spurs. The 34-year-old could be out for up to three weeks, adding to the midfield injury problems with Lucas already out for up to six.
That leaves Rodgers with a dilemma, with only Jordan Henderson and Joe Allen the real midfield candidates. The impressive Emre Can, a natural midfielder but current deputising right-sided centre-back, could be utilised further forward after an impressive cameo there late on against Tottenham.
19-year-old Jordon Ibe, who has started the last two games as a right-wing back, is unavailable after featuring in the competition on loan at Derby County earlier this season, but Raheem Sterling may return to the side after missing his side's win over Mauricio Pochettino's side on Tuesday night with an ankle injury. Philippe Coutinho could also feature despite having played in 33 of his side's 39 games this season.
Daniel Sturridge could start his second successive game after playing for an hour against Spurs and could be paired by Balotelli, who will be looking to build upon his first goal for the team. Elsewhere, Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert could also get a look-in after not featuring for several games.
Long-term absentee Jon Flanagan has returned to full-speed unsupported running in training and is hopeful he can feature for the U21s as he looks to regain fitness. The 22-year-old, who excelled as a makeshift left-back last season, has not featured at all in the 2014-15 campaign after a pre-season knee injury but he could be back in the near future. Back-up goalkeeper Brad Jones is still out with a thigh problem.
Head-to-head (all competitions):
Total: Crystal Palace - 11 wins, Draws -9, Liverpool - 19 wins.
At Selhurst Park: Crystal Palace - 8 wins, Draws - 6, Liverpool - 6 wins.
At Anfield: Liverpool - 13 wins, Draws - 3, Crystal Palace - 2 wins.
Most recent meeting: Crystal Palace 3-1 Liverpool, 23rd November 2014.
Last Five:
Crystal Palace
Form in Premier League: DWLW
Form in all competitions: DWLWW
Liverpool
Form in Premier League: WDWDW
Form in all competitions: WDWWD
Match Facts:
None of the previous four FA Cup meetings between Palace and Liverpool have been settled over 90 minutes. Three have gone on to replays whilst current Palace manager Alan Pardew scored the winning header in the 109th minute of the 1990 semi-final between the two teams at Villa Park.
The clubs have an identical record in the FA Cup with two wins and three draws apiece. The Eagles won the last game in this competition between the two, a fourth-round replay victory at Anfield in 2002/03.
Alan Pardew was the manager of West Ham in the FA Cup final that Liverpool won in 2006 after a stunning 3-3 draw, that was their last time winning the competition.
Since their league defeat to Crystal Palace, Liverpool have lost just one of their 13 league games - whilst they have kept seven clean sheets in this time.
Liverpool have won the FA Cup seven times, most recently in 2006. Palace have never won it, coming closest as runners-up in 1990 when they beat Liverpool in the semi-final.
Both teams top goalscorers have 10 in all competitions - Dwight Gayle for Palace and Steven Gerrard for the Reds.
Palace have only won six of their last 29 matches in the FA Cup against top flight opposition (W6 D11 L12).
There have been 14 goals, evenly split in the last three meetings between Palace and Liverpool.
Daniel Sturridge has scored nine goals in his last 11 FA Cup starts.
Liverpool have reached the FA Cup fifth round in successive seasons for the first time since 1995 & 1996.
Liverpool have kept only three clean sheets in their last 19 FA Cup games
Pre-match comments:
Palace assistant manager Keith Millen: "The fans will remember getting to the final (in 1990). That’s the emotions you go through in the FA Cup and we want to have another day like that tomorrow (they beat Liverpool 4-3 in the 1990 semi-finals). I was watching. I was cheering Palace on and I’ll be doing the same tomorrow. I remember the occasion and getting to Wembley. We’re getting closer now and each round that goes by you’re getting closer to Wembley so it’s a big incentive for us. That’s what we feel as staff and players, the excitement is there now and we’re looking forward to it. The confidence has grown since Alan has come back and our squad is the strongest I've ever known it since I've been at the club. There's a real buzz at the training ground."
Liverpool assistant manager Colin Pascoe: "When we lost to Palace it was a real low in the camp. You look for a reaction and we tweaked the system and the players have responded. From that day it was a great reaction and the lads are playing attractive football. Palace is a tough place to go, we know that. We'll go there positive and looking for the win. Pardew's done a fantastic job at Palace since he's gone in there. They've only lost once. He's an excellent manager, he's a hero at Palace and he's galvanised the whole group together and they are in a good moment. It's a great atmosphere at Selhurst Park. The last couple of games have been tough down there. If we're not on our game, it will be tough. We want to win the FA Cup. We'll go there with a strong side and it will be a tough place to go. As Palace have shown many a time, they are a good side. But we'll look to be positive there and hopefully win."