Stevie set to overtake 'Anfield Iron'

If the inspirational skipper starts on Saturday, he will eclipse Smith's 638 games for the Reds in all competitions.

The sides last met in the Barclays Premier League in April 2005, with Palace winning 1-0 at Selhurst Park. Andy Johnson scored the winner, with only Gerrard currently at either club on duty that day.

Liverpool had won the fixture at Anfield 3-2, with Milan Baros scoring a hat-trick. His winner came from a penalty (one of two he netted) in stoppage time.

Baros is the only player to score a hat-trick in a league game for Liverpool against Palace.

Liverpool have an identical goal record against Palace in the Premier League both home and away - having scored 10 and conceded three at Anfield and also in London.

In the 13 Anfield league clashes, the Reds have found the net 38 times and conceded only seven.

There have been two goalless draws in the 26 league meetings between the teams - in 1979-80 at Selhurst Park and in December 1994 at Anfield.

Liverpool's biggest league win of the 20th century came in September 1989, when the Reds won 9-0. They set a league record when eight different men found the net - only Steve Nicol scored twice. John Aldridge came on as substitute and scored a penalty with his first touch in his final game for the club.

Victor Moses played 69 times in all competitions for Palace, scoring 11 goals, with all of those goals coming in 58 league appearances.

Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez have scored 14 goals between them for Liverpool while both have been on the pitch together - at an average of one every 71 minutes.

Steve McManaman, with five, has scored most goals for Liverpool against Palace in the Premier League, while Ian Rush has scored most for the Reds against Palace in all league fixtures - six.

Liverpool, with 48, have scored more goals in the Premier League this calendar year than any other team. Arsenal are next with 46.

Palace's only league win at Anfield came in November 1991, when Geoff Thomas and Marco Gabbiadini scored in a 2-1 victory after Glenn Hysen had given Liverpool a half-time lead.

They did win on their visit to Anfield in February 2003. They won an FA Cup fourth round replay 2-0 thanks to Julian Gray and a Stephane Henchoz own goal. Palace finished the match with 10 men following the dismissal of Dougie Freedman.

Palace have scored in five of their 13 league visits to Anfield.

This is Palace's fifth spell in the Premier League - each of the previous four has lasted one season - 1992-93, 1994-95, 1997-98 and 2004-05.

Last season, Palace came up via the play-offs. They accounted for Brighton (2-0 on aggregate) in the semi-final and Kevin Phillips' 105th-minute penalty beat Watford in the final.

The Eagles have won one of their last eight league clashes with Liverpool - in the last meeting in 2005.

On the road in the Premier League this season Palace have lost all of their fixtures -  at Stoke (1-2), Manchester United and Southampton (both 0-2) and were beaten in the League Cup at Bristol City (1-2).

They have been beaten in five of their six Premier League fixtures, but beat Sunderland 3-1 in the other.

Palace have won two of their last 16 league games.

Glenn Murray was Palace's leading scorer last season with 30 league goals. He has not kicked a ball this season due to injury.

Eagles boss Ian Holloway has a 100 per cent record against Liverpool in his managerial career. His Blackpool side won both league meetings 2-1 in 2010-11.

Holloway has used 23 players in the six league games this season, with four - Julian Speroni, Danny Gabbidon, Dean Moxey and Mile Jedinak - starting all of them.

Referee Anthony Taylor has awarded five penalties in the last two Crystal Palace games he has taken charge of, including three for the Eagles.