Crystal Palace travel to face high-flying Liverpool in Premier League 2 on Sunday afternoon (22nd March, 13:00 GMT), aiming to strengthen their play-off position with just three games remaining - here’s everything you need to know.
The match will be streamed LIVE on Palace TV+ on Sunday (21st March), with coverage beginning at 12:45 GMT ahead of a 13:00 GMT kick-off – click HERE to find out more and subscribe.
Supporters can follow live commentary on our Academy X (Twitter) page, with a full match report and reaction published shortly after full-time in our Academy news section.
Highlights and extended reaction will be available on Palace TV+.
Palace sit 13th in Premier League 2 on 25 points, with three matches to play. The objective is clear: finish inside the top 16 to secure a play-off spot and a chance at the overall title.
Everton, just outside the play-off places, sit on 21 points, meaning Palace are four points inside the all-important positions. Palace also have a game in hand over many of the teams around them.
Last time out in the league, the young Eagles secured a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Wolves.
Palace fell behind inside two minutes but grew into the game, with Zach Marsh levelling before the break. Seb Williams struck the crossbar early in the second half, Wolves regained the lead on the hour mark, but substitute Jemiah Umolu quickly restored parity following an excellent half-volley.
There will be hopes Darren Powell's side can return to winning ways after defeat to Real Sociedad on Wednesday evening saw them bow out of the Premier League International Cup at the quarter-final stage.
Liverpool sit third in Premier League 2 on 35 points, level with Fulham, having won 11, drawn two and lost six of their 19 games – the most played by any side in the division.
The young Reds suffered their first defeat of 2026 on Monday, losing 2-0 at Manchester City, with goals in either half from Floyd Samba and Isaiah Dada-Mascoll ending their unbeaten run.
Since the turn of the year, Liverpool have been in impressive form, winning eight of 11 matches and drawing the other three.
Highlights include a 7-0 win over Arsenal, featuring a hat-trick from Kieran Morrison, 3-0 over Nottingham Forest, and 5-0 against Wolves. Across this period, they have scored 31 goals and kept four clean sheets.
A mixed start to the season reflected the frequent first-team call-ups of key players such as Rio Ngumoha, Trey Nyoni, and captain Amara Nallo.
Liverpool managed just one win from their first six matches but recovered before the Christmas break to register two wins in three. Last season, the Reds narrowly reached the play-offs, drawing in a winner-takes-all game against Leeds United before being edged out by Manchester City in the round of 16.
To minimise the impact of relegation on future groups of U21 players, the league has moved away from a traditional promotion and relegation structure.
Replacing the previous two-division system, the 29 Category One academies now compete in a single tier. Each team plays 20 regular season fixtures, after which the top 16 sides advance to a single-elimination play-off competition.
Regular season fixtures are determined by a draw, based on clubs’ performances over the last three seasons. Teams face 20 different opponents before the play-offs take place in April and May. These ties are seeded according to league position, with the higher-ranked side hosting each match.
The top 16 teams are also rewarded with qualification for the following season’s Premier League International Cup.
New for this season, the eight clubs finishing between 17th and 24th enter a cross-category play-off competition alongside the top eight teams from the Professional Development League (Category Two). This competition also follows a knockout format, beginning at the round of 16.
Liverpool U21s Expected XI: Pecsi, Ramsay, Pinnington, Nallo, Ewing, Kelly, Morrison, Laffey, Danns, Pilling, Onanuga
Jayden Danns made his first appearance since late September in Monday’s trip to Manchester City, but his return was cut short just shy of the half-hour mark.
Danns was one of three changes from last weekend’s 3-0 win over Wolves, with Michael Laffey and Afolami Onanuga also coming into Rob Page’s side. January arrival Mor Talla Ndiaye is included in the matchday squad for the first time.
Liverpool have been prolific this season, scoring the most goals in Premier League 2 aside from Manchester City, with 48 strikes to their name, while conceding 31. Their home form has been particularly strong, picking up 21 points from 10 games, including 15 points from their last five at Anfield.
19-year-old Kieran Morrison has been Liverpool’s standout performer, netting 13 goals and providing two assists this season. He is second in the Premier League 2 goalscoring charts behind Chelsea’s Shumaira Mheuka.
Morrison joined Liverpool’s academy from Manchester United in 2019, signed a three-year professional contract in 2024, and has already made his first-team debut in the Carabao Cup against Palace. He has also featured in FA Cup and European squads, training regularly with Arne Slot’s senior side.
Liverpool U21 manager Rob Page has praised Morrison since handing him the captain’s armband. “You see him work hard in training, and giving him the armband has given him another lift,” Page said. “He’s stepping up and leading by example – I’m so proud of him.”
Morrison has also been called into the senior Northern Ireland squad and could make his debut in the World Cup play-off semi-final in Italy on 26th March.
Rob Page was appointed Liverpool U21 head coach in June 2025, following the departure of Barry Lewtas.
Page arrived with extensive coaching experience, having managed Wales’ senior and U21 teams, as well as Port Vale and Northampton Town. He led Wales to the last 16 of Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the country’s first appearance at the tournament in 64 years.
A former defender, Page progressed through the youth ranks at Watford, making over 250 appearances and captaining the side to the Premier League in 1999-2000. He earned 41 caps for Wales and also played for Sheffield United, Cardiff City, Coventry City, Huddersfield Town, and Chesterfield before moving into coaching.
The match will be streamed LIVE on Palace TV+ on Sunday (21st March), with coverage beginning at 12:45 GMT ahead of a 13:00 GMT kick-off – click HERE to find out more and subscribe.
Supporters can follow live commentary on our Academy X (Twitter) page, with a full match report and reaction published shortly after full-time in our Academy news section.
Highlights and extended reaction will be available on Palace TV+.
Liverpool Under-21s v Crystal Palace Under-21s