Liverpool vs Crystal Palace: Roy Hodgson hails Premier League's oldest active player Julian Speroni

Speroni, Palace's third choice goalkeeper, steps up after both Wayne Hennessey and Vincente Guaita were injured against Watford last Saturday

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson yesterday paid tribute to the “professionalism with a capital P” of third choice goalkeeper Julian Speroni as he prepared to make him the Premier League’s oldest active player by selecting him to face Premier League leaders Liverpool at Anfield today.

Speroni, 39, last played a first-team game in a 3-2 home defeat by Arsenal on December 28, 2017, but Hodgson was left with little choice after both Wayne Hennessey and Vincente Guaita were injured in last Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat by Watford. He confirmed an interest in taking Sao Paolo goalkeeper Lucas Perri, 21, on loan with a view to a permanent deal but insisted that no transfer was imminent.

That left Speroni as the club’s only viable option to face Liverpool’s Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, arguably the most potent attacking trio in the Premier League. Speroni conceded three on his last appearance at Anfield in October 2013 but Hodgson is confident in the Argentinian’s capacity to do a job.

“To have a goalkeeper of his quality and experience as the third goalkeeper is pretty fortunate,” Hodgson said.

“Many teams that lost two goalkeepers in one game to muscle strains would be forced to go to their under-23 academy goalkeeper and throw him in probably without any experience. We’ve someone who’s played over 400 times for Palace and is in very good shape. It’s a tough ask, there’s no question of that. In an ideal world you’d not be thrusting him in, you’d hopefully be easing him in, but we’ve no choice.”

Many beyond Selhurst Park and the club’s Beckenham training ground would probably be surprised to learn that Speroni is content to be third-choice at Palace if he is capable of playing at the top level, but Hodgson regarded his continuing presence at a club where he is very much a fan favourite as more evidence of a strong character than a lack of ambition.

“[Backup goalkeepers] keep themselves in contention by being excellent characters and good professionals,” Hodgson said. “That is an area of professional football where the word ‘professional’ has to be spelled with a capital P. He has made a very, very good impression on me – his dedication to his job and his serious attitude to being a top class professional goalkeeper. It is something that many young goalkeepers could aspire to.”

Hodgson was slightly taken aback to learn that Speroni is only four months shy of his 40th birthday.

“Really? I would have put him as younger than that, and that is also great credit to him. Because if you were watching our training sessions and there was him at one end and a young goalkeeper at the other, you might recognise that he looks a bit older but would be very hard pushed to differentiate between them in any other way. He keeps himself remarkably fit and the qualities he always had as a goalkeeper he still has.

Roy Hodson’s side travel to Anfield as heavy underdogs (Getty)

“I don’t notice any difference in him from when he played a year ago. He’s looking forward to it, he has confidence in himself, and he’s got great pride in what he’s achieved, particularly with this club where he’s an absolute legend in every respect. I’m pretty sure he’ll be working very hard to make certain he stays in contention, even when the other two are fit again.”

Hodgson would not be drawn on whether his side will be facing the eventual champions today. “I don’t like to add my voice to those who are saying that Liverpool are favourites,” he said.

“If I was asked ‘do I think Liverpool are a good team this year with the capacity to win the league?’ I would have to say yes, but Jurgen Klopp is more than aware that the quality is there but he is also facing unbelievable competition. If they keep on winning games, then it is for the other teams to knock them off the perch.