Crystal Palace v Liverpool 20.08.2018 // 8pm
I AM EXCITED TO PLAY AT SELHURST PARK ON WHAT I THINK WILL BE A SPECIAL NIGHT FOR ALL EAGLES FANS
THE CAPTAIN 07
tonight we can get a good result It is nice to come into tonight’s game after beating Fulham, and I was very satisfied with the way we played to get the three points, which is the most important thing on the opening day.
There were many positives from the game, but for me Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s performance stood out. He is young so maybe it isn’t good to give him a lot of praise, but he was amazing. He’s only 20-years-old but in all the games he’s played in until now, he’s displayed a lot of quality. He just has to keep putting in the hard work in training and listen to the manager and us who are trying to help him, and then he’ll be a very important part of our team. We didn’t experiment too much before the start of the season, but we know each other already which is a big advantage, as well as the manager not changing before the start. We have just carried on where we ended last season when we had an amazing run, and in the last six games we took 14 points and were unbeaten in preseason. That gives us a lot of confidence because you believe in what you’re doing and do it well, and that win against Fulham has only helped that. On a personal note, it was also good to get another win over my friend Aleksandar Mitrovic. It’s now 2-1 to me, which makes me very happy! Another thing I’m pleased about is our transfer business towards the end of the window. In my last notes, I mentioned that we needed to bring in two or three players, and it’s very good we’ve done that. They will add more quality to the squad. I know Cheikhou Kouyate from Anderlecht and he is a quality player, and I spoke to some friends who have played
PALACE
v
LIVERPOOL
with Max Meyer in Germany and they said a lot of good words about him. We already know about Jordan Ayew as he’s played against us in the Premier League, so I think the recruitment staff have done a good job. It is very important to have a deep squad. Last season we had a lot of injuries, even 10 at the same time at one point, but a deeper squad will help us to switch the players in and out and change formation. We have a lot of quality players and I think we’ve improved this season. Because of that, I believe that tonight we can get a good result. I watched Liverpool play West Ham United and they were amazing, and they have improved from last season when they reached the final of the UEFA Champions League. They have brought in some new players and put some more pace in the team, and for me they are the favourites for the title this season. That means it’ll be a very tough game for us tonight, but I am excited to play at Selhurst Park on what I think will be a special night for all Eagles fans, and for us as players as well. Make some noise!
He has been labelled a wonderkid, one of European football’s brightest stars and even ‘the German Messi’, but one thing is for certain – Max Meyer is an Eagle. Here he speaks to Jonathon Rogers about how perhaps the signing of the summer came about.
82 STATISTICS
Seasonal Statistics Most Aerial Duels Won
Most Passes
Luka Milivojevic
Christian Benteke
10
37
Most Assists 01. Patrick van Aanholt
1
02. Aaron Wan-Bissaka
1
Total Goals
100%
Shooting Accuracy
Overall Discipline
0
2
1
Hit Woodwork
2
10
Shots on Target
0
Shots off Target
PALACE
v
LIVERPOOL
STATISTICS 83
Player In Focus
Pass Success Rate
75% Average Possession
5
34%
Patrick van Aanholt has had a hand in five goals in his last four Premier League games (three goals, two assists).
Top Goalscorers
Dribble Success Rate
Wilfried Zaha Jeffrey Schlupp
1
PALACE
v
LIVERPOOL
Patrick van Aanholt
100%
crystal palace √ liverpool Julian SPERONI Joel WARD Patrick VAN AANHOLT Luka MILIVOJEVIC James TOMKINS Scott DANN Max MEYER Cheikhou KOUYATÉ Alexander SØRLOTH Andros TOWNSEND Wilfried ZAHA Mamadou SAKHO Wayne HENNESSEY Jordan AYEW Jeffrey SCHLUPP Christian BENTEKE James McARTHUR Jonny WILLIAMS Connor WICKHAM Sullay KAIKAI Pape SOUARÉ Jason LOKILO Aaron WAN-BISSAKA Vicente GUAITA Martin KELLY Jason PUNCHEON Jairo RIEDEWALD
Referee Michael Oliver
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 20 21 25 27 28 29 31 34 42 44
Assistant Simon Bennett
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 22 23 24 26 27 29 32 50 54 66
Loris KARIUS Nathaniel CLYNE FABINHO Virgil VAN DIJK Georginio WIJNALDUM Dejan LOVREN James MILNER Naby KEÏTA Roberto FIRMINO Sadio MANÉ Mohamed SALAH Joe GOMEZ ALISSON Jordan HENDERSON Daniel STURRIDGE Marko GRUJIC Ragnar KLAVAN Alberto MORENO Adam LALLANA Alex OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN Simon MIGNOLET Xherdan SHAQIRI Rhian BREWSTER Andrew ROBERTSON Divock ORIGI Dominic SOLANKE Joël MATIP Lazar MARKOVIC Sheyi OJO Trent ALEXANDER-ARNOLD
Assistant Scott Ledger
Match Sponsors:
Fourth Official Chris Kavanagh