Frimpong targets payback against Crystal Palace

Jeremie Frimpong says Liverpool are determined to respond in style when they host Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday, with the defender calling the run-in “five finals” for the team.

“We won the derby obviously after us (going) out of the Champions League, it was an important game for us and the fans,” he reflected, noting how that result has lifted the mood in the dressing room.

“The spirits are good now, everyone is excited to go for the match on Saturday because Crystal Palace have beaten us three times this season. Obviously we want to show that we can beat them. We’re looking forward to the match.”

Frimpong stressed that Liverpool’s aim is clear in the closing weeks of the season. “I feel like the matches coming up are really important – five more matches and we want to win all of them. I feel like we can do that. Obviously not finish the season on a ‘high’ but we can finish the season on wins. That’s what we want to do so we’ll go for it. We want to finish strongly and get Champions League. These matches are like finals so we’re going to give it our all, 100 per cent.”

He also admitted Palace are due a defeat from Liverpool. “Yeah, 100 per cent [we owe them a defeat]. My first match for Liverpool, they beat us in the Community Shield and they knocked us out of the Carabao Cup, and obviously they beat us at their house. It’s not good getting beat three times so this is another meaningful game. We have to go and show what we’ve got,” Frimpong added.