The pundits have their say as Premier League champions Liverpool round off their title-winning season at home to Crystal Palace
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Alan Shearer thinks Liverpool will round off their season with a win
Alan Shearer thinks Liverpool will round off their season with a win
The day Liverpool have dreamed of has finally arrived. The Reds will get their hands on the league title in front of supporters for the first time in 35 years this afternoon.
Arne Slot's side were crowned Premier League champions after the 5-1 thumping of Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on April 27. But they've had to wait a month to lift the trophy.
That will happen later today after the final game of the campaign at home to FA Cup winners Crystal Palace. But will Liverpool, after three matches without one, sign off with a victory? The pundits have been having their say.
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Alan Shearer, speaking to Betfair, believes the Reds will get the job done. The Newcastle United legend said: "The trophy parade at Anfield!
"Arne Slot sort of switched teams around, hasn't he, but I think he'll go back to his first XI, if he can get that.
"Palace, I know they continued the party in midweek after their brilliant win against (Manchester) City, but I think Liverpool will take this at home to Anfield because with it being in the trophy parade everyone will be up for it."
Shearer famously won the Premier League title at Anfield with Blackburn Rovers 30 years ago. His strike-partner in that historic campaign, Chris Sutton, is going for a 3-1 Liverpool victory.
Writing for BBC Sport, Sutton said: "This is an example of an end-of-season game which is impossible to predict. It is the champions versus the FA Cup winners but I have no idea what kind of teams both managers will put out.
"Liverpool have pretty much been on the beach since they secured their title at the end of April, while Palace left out several first-team players in their win over Wolves on Tuesday, with Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta only coming on for the last 10 minutes.
"Palace are on a high after their Wembley win last weekend and if Eze and Mateta start against a weakened Liverpool side then I'd fancy the Eagles' chances. They have got some good players, and the pressure is completely off them.
"You have to think that Arne Slot will go with a strong side here, though, to finish a great season with a win in front of the Anfield crowd before Liverpool get their hands on the Premier League trophy at full-time.
"That's what I am guessing Slot will do, but it's a big gamble by me with my predictions title on the line.
"Slot might do something very different and Eze and Mateta could cause carnage if Virgil van Dijk is left on the bench again, like he was in Monday's defeat by Brighton."
Paul Merson, the Arsenal great, also believes the Reds will run out 3-1 winners.
Writing for Sportskeeda, Merson said: "There will be goals in this game. Liverpool want to finish on a high at home and they are playing at home.
"There have been some sketchy results for Arne Slot's men since they won the league. A lot of doubters would say they only won the league because the others were poor, if they lose again on the final day of the season.
"I don't think that's a fair assessment because Liverpool have been brilliant. My only worry for Liverpool next season is what do they do if Virgil van Dijk gets injured? That would really test them in my opinion.
"Crystal Palace are coming off an incredible FA Cup triumph and backed it up with a win over Wolves. But I don't expect them to get another win here.
"Both sets of fans will be celebrating what has been a memorable season and the mood at Anfield will be brilliant."