We caught up with Liverpool fan Joe Bransby, from Tonbridge, Kent, ahead of the big clash at Selhurst Park on Monday…This is a must-win game for Liverpool. Could it be a case of scoring as many as possible in terms of goal difference to land the title?
The most important thing is for us to do our job and first get the three points. You never know what can happen in football and it's definitely not guaranteed that City will win all their remaining games (although they are back in the driving seat). If we perform well and go ahead early then of course it's important to keep going until the end and score as many as possible. Looking back at the previous meeting in October, Palace were out of sorts. You must be impressed with their turnaround?
Tony Pulis has done a great job and I have been very impressed with the turnaround. He bought clever in January and also raised the spirits of the current squad and got them believing again. Remarkable job as I believed they were nailed on for relegation before Christmas.Is this Steven Gerrard's final chance to win the title?
It could well be. He is reaching the twilight of his career, although saying that I think Brendan Rodgers has extended his career by at least two years by moving him into the Xabi Alonso/Andrea Pirlo role. It's hard to think Liverpool will have a better chance than this year – but that's because it has been such a long time since we challenged for the title, and like all Liverpool fans we are desperate to get there as soon as possible. Next year will have new challenges to cope with Champions League involvement, the inevitable spending sprees of City, Chelsea and Man Utd so it will be tough as it always is. But Brendan Rodgers has got us believing again, got us playing great football and has added hope. Can you see Brendan Rodgers being at Liverpool for many years to come?
Definitely, without doubt. He has implemented his footballing philosophy very quickly and it is great to watch and more importantly is winning matches. We have blown lots of teams away this year with our fast, attacking football and Anfield is a fortress again. If he can keep the momentum and continue to sign players like Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho, I can only see us getting better and better. He is young, hungry and still learning his trade in many respects but with every match he will be learning more and more. Which player(s) should Palace look out for on Monday?
I think Luis Suarez will be on a high after picking up the PFA Players' Player of the Year award. He is always a threat but we have so much attacking threat if we are at it. I think Raheem Sterling can do real damage if we can get him running in behind the Palace defence and Coutinho has the ability to create something out of nothing.What are your memories of facing Palace down the years?
I was at Anfield for the previous meeting in October and my lasting memory was watching Suarez and Gerrard at Anfield. Watching two world class players in the flesh was brilliant. And finally, a score prediction?
I'm praying for a 2-1 Liverpool victory.
