It has been a rough summer for Crystal Palace.
The Eagles feel they should be playing UEFA Europa League football after winning the FA Cup, but are instead having to handle a two-legged play-off just to reach the League Phase of the UEFA Conference League.
These games were Nottingham Forest’s to play, before UEFA bumped them up a competition in place of Crystal Palace due to alleged breaches of multi-club rules.
Liverpool have now made life a little bit harder for Crystal Palace ahead of the second leg of this UEFA Conference League play-off against Fredrikstad.
Liverpool have handed Fredrikstad detailed analysis of how Crystal Palace play under Oliver Glasner
The Athletic believe Andreas Hagen – manager of Fredrikstad – has been sent “video analysis and tactical details” by Liverpool which show how Crystal Palace operate under Oliver Glasner.
It is said that, without this assistance from those at Anfield, the Norwegian outfit may have entered this crucial European clash with little knowledge on the south Londoners.
Therefore, Steve Parish will surely be a bit annoyed to hear that Liverpool have given Fredrikstad a helping hand, as they attempt to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg.
Ultimately, Liverpool should reassess their own analysis on Crystal Palace, as they failed to beat the south Londoners in the FA Community Shield, and have also failed to beat them in the last three meetings at Anfield.
Liverpool presumably set for awkward talks with Steve Parish after helping Fredrikstad
TBR Football understand Parish has been speaking to Liverpool about Marc Guehi in recent days.
The Crystal Palace chairman is eager for the Reds to make a bid for the England international – valued at £40m – before the transfer window closes at 7pm on Friday, or else he is likely to leave for free when his contract expires at the end of the season.
Guehi is open to joining Liverpool, but due to his contract situation, those at Anfield are unwilling to spend more than £30m when they can get the 25-year-old on a free transfer next summer.
Presumably, Parish will be even less likely to sell his captain to Liverpool for £30m after hearing that they did Fredrikstad a favour.