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Tag: crystal palace

  • Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi set for Premier League move

    Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi set for Premier League move

    Super Eagles Captain and former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel left the Premier League two years ago but could make a shock return with Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace.

    When John Obi Mikel left Chelsea to join Tianjin TEDA two years ago, few would have expected that we’d ever see him in the Premier League again.

    But, according to TEAMtalk, a shock return to England is on the cards for a player who is still only 31 years of age. It is understood that up to six Premier League clubs are interested in signing Mikel and one of those is Crystal Palace.

    It is no secret that Roy Hodgson wants to enhance his relegation-threatened squad and Mikel would add experience and class at the heart of his midfield.

    The Nigeria international might never have been one of Chelsea’s most heralded players but it speaks volumes that he played for The Blues for a decade, winning two Premier League titles, three FA Cups and the 2012 Champions League.

    Now, money is tight at Selhurst Park but Mikel is a free agent, having left Tianjin recently. This should only make him an even more viable target.

    Interestingly, the former Lyn Oslo midfielder is one of a number of Chelsea-linked players to have been mentioned in conjunction with a move to Crystal Palace this month.

  • EPL: Chelsea maintain top four in narrow win over Palace

    EPL: Chelsea maintain top four in narrow win over Palace

    N’Golo Kante gives Chelsea a 1-0 narrow win over Crystal Palace in a game of few chances at Selhurst Park.

    Kante scored the only goal of the game in the 51st minute when he broke forward from midfield to convert David Luiz’s throughball.

    Chelsea’s Willian came close to scoring with a free-kick that struck the post, and Ross Barkley also hit the woodwork with a hooked effort.

    The result sees Chelsea move to within a point of Man City in third and two behind second-placed Spurs.

    More crucially, they have opened up a five point gap between themselves in fourth and Arsenal in fifth.

  • EPL: Crystal Palace stun Man City in five-goal thriller

    EPL: Crystal Palace stun Man City in five-goal thriller

    Andros Townsend smashed home a sublime 30-yard volley as Crystal Palace stunned defending champions Manchester City 2-3 to leave Liverpool four points clear at the top of the Premier League.

    Defeat was City’s first in a home league match since 7 April, and came despite them going in front through Ilkay Gundogan’s header.

    Jeffrey Schlupp levelled with a tidy finish from inside the penalty area before Townsend’s powerful long-range drive flew into the top corner to give the visitors the lead.

    Palace captain Luka Milivojevic made it 3-1 from the penalty spot after Kyle Walker’s foul on Max Meyer, before substitute Kevin de Bruyne’s late consolation.

    This was the Eagles’ first win at City since 1990 and lifted them six points clear of the relegation zone.

    The Blues, who were 11 points clear at the top last Christmas, are second in the table, and host leaders Liverpool on 3 January.

  • Man Utd held by Crystal Palace in a goalless draw

    Manchester United suffered more frustration as they were held to a goalless draw by a spirited Crystal Palace – the sixth time United have failed to win in nine Old Trafford games this season.

    Romelu Lukaku had an attempt ruled out for offside, while Wayne Hennessey produced smart saves to keep out Jesse Lingard and, in the closing stages, Lukaku.

    But Palace, without a win in their previous seven league games and just above the relegation zone, created several chances to secure a first league win at the venue since 1989.

    Patrick van Aanholt twice went close, Andros Townsend blazed wide while a header by Cheikhou Kouyate was also disallowed for offside.

    This is United’s worst start to a season in 28 years.

  • I was sent death threats after Arsenal draw – Zaha

    Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha says he suffered racist abuse and threats to his family after being awarded a late penalty during the 2-2 draw against Arsenal on Sunday.

    The Ivory Coast player was tripped by makeshift left-back Granit Xhaka late on to allow Luka Milivojevic to equalise from the spot.
    “For all the people taking it one step further and being racist and wishing death on my family, I wish you and your families the best too,” Zaha said.
    “My life is still very good despite your hate.”
    After the match, Xhaka said in a post-match television interview he thought the incident had been a “clear penalty”.
    Since the start of the 2014-15 season, only Leicester’s Jamie Vardy (13) has won more penalties in the Premier League than Zaha (11, level with Raheem Sterling).

  • Palace snatch late draw to end Arsenal's 11-game winning run [EPL standings]

    Crystal Palace captain Luka Milivojevic scored twice from the penalty spot to earn his side a dramatic draw and end Arsenal’s 11-game winning run.

    The Serb smashed in a late equaliser after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s controversial goal had put the visitors ahead after the break.
    Milivojevic scored the opener in the first half after Shkodran Mustafi brought down Cheikhou Kouyate.
    Granit Xhaka’s sublime free-kick had drawn Arsenal level at 1-1.
    Wilfried Zaha was brought down by Xhaka in the box with seven minutes to go and Milivojevic drilled his spot-kick into Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno’s right corner, having also beaten him on that side in the first half.
    Earlier in the second half, the ball appeared to brush Alexandre Lacazette’s hand before it fell at the back post to Aubameyang, who poked home off the inside of the post – with the ball going over the line by just 9mm.
    Before his error in bringing down Zaha to give away the late penalty, Xhaka’s stunning curler had cancelled out Milivojevic’s opener – which was Palace’s first goal at home this season.
    Zaha also hit the outside of the post before the break, while Andros Townsend dragged a shot wide.
    Palace substitute Max Meyer struck over the bar from close range later in the second half and Alex Iwobi’s deflected shot flew wide.
    Arsenal remain fourth in the Premier League table, a point behind Manchester City, while Palace move up to 14th and three points above the relegation zone.
    See EPL standings:

     

  • EPL: Wilifred Zaha clinch player of the month award

    Wilfried Zaha has become the first Crystal Palace player to win a Premier League player of the month award since Andrew Johnson in October 2004.

    The 25-year-old winger had four goals and an assist in his four matches in April as Palace secured their Premier League status for another season.

    “I’m just happy that the performances are coming together,” said the Ivorian.

    “People are actually seeing for themselves that I’ve put in the hard work.”

    The Ivory Coast international received the most combined votes from a panel of experts, Premier League captains and fans to claim the award ahead of six other nominees: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Christian Eriksen, Jake Livermore, Jordan Pickford, Paul Pogba and Raheem Sterling.

  • EPL: Record breaker Salah secured Liverpool’s victory over Palace

    Liverpool forward, Mohamed Salah scored his 29th Premier League goal of the season to give the Reds a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace as his record-breaking campaign continued on Saturday.

    The Egyptian’s close-range strike, his 37th of the campaign in all competitions, came after Sadio Mane had cancelled out Luka Milivojevic’s penalty at Selhurst Park.

    With help from Opta, we break down the records Salah has already broken this season – and, with two months of the campaign still to play, the targets he still has to aim for…

    The records he has broken

    – Most goals in a season by a Liverpool player in the Premier League era

    Salah’s overall total of 37 goals is the most in a single season by a Liverpool player in the Premier League era, beating Robbie Fowler’s total of 36 in the 1995/96 campaign. Salah’s tally is even more impressive considering it has come in just 41 games, compared to Fowler’s 36 in 53 games.

    – Most goals by a Liverpool player in a debut season

    Salah has therefore also enjoyed the most prolific debut season by a Liverpool player in the Premier League era, beating Fernando Torres’ record of 33 goals during the 2007/08 campaign.

    – Most left-footed goals

    Salah’s 29th Premier League goal of the season came with his weaker right foot at Selhurst Park, but 22 of his total have been scored with his left. It’s the most left-footed goals ever scored in a single Premier League season.

    – Highest-scoring Egyptian player

    Salah is flying the flag for Egypt in England. He is already the highest-scoring player from Egypt in the history of England’s top flight – well ahead of Mido, who managed 22 – and with his four-goal haul against Watford before the international break, he also became the first Egyptian to hit three or more in a single game.

    – Most Premier League goals in a season by an African player

    Salah’s strike against Crystal Palace put him level with Didier Drogba for the most goals scored in a Premier League season by an African player. Drogba hit 29 for Chelsea during their title-winning 2009/10 campaign.

    – Most games scored in during a Premier League season

    Salah has now scored in 21 different Premier League games this season, a joint-high for a 38-game season in the competition along with Cristiano Ronaldo in 2007/08 and Robin van Persie in 2012/13.

    Amazingly, the only teams Salah has failed to score against in the Premier League this season are Manchester United and Swansea.

    Sky Sports

  • EPL: Willian scores as Chelsea revives hope of a top-four finish

    Chelsea revived their hopes of a top four Premier League finish as they got back to winning ways with a victory over lowly Crystal Palace.

    The Blues remain fifth but their win saw Antonio Conte’s team close the gap on fourth placed Tottenham to two points – at least until Spurs play Bournemouth on Sunday.

    Brazilian winger Willian, 29, opened the scoring for the hosts and was aided by a deflection off Palace defender Martin Kelly, as the ball crept inside the left-hand post.

    Chelsea spurned several excellent openings before doubling their advantage, again thanks to significant chunk of good fortune. Kelly, was again involved.

    The former Liverpool player initially did well to clear Davide Zappacosta’s drive off his own goal line but the ball ricocheted off Eagles goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and struck Kelly before entering the net.

    Eden Hazard had a goal disallowed for offside and Chelsea’s profligacy threatened to give Roy Hodgson’s team a route back into the match.

    Patrick van Aanholt’s late goal briefly raised their hopes but Conte’s side held on with Palace remaining in the bottom three.

     

    BBC

  • Nemanja Matic injury-time goal secured Man Utd win at Palace

    Nemanja Matic scored a stunning stoppage-time winner as Manchester United came from 2-0 down to go second in the Premier League table and leave Crystal Palace in the relegation zone.

    “I always believe we can win. I will be like that until my last day,” said United boss Jose Mourinho.

    “You always need that little bit of luck to win a match in the last few minutes. Sometimes the winner is the one who deserves the congratulations but I think Roy Hodgson did everything right.”

    Hodgson’s side would have climbed all the way up to 13th place with a win.

    But, after Chris Smalling’s header started a comeback from an improving United, Romelu Lukaku swept in his 99th Premier League goal to pile the pressure on the tiring hosts.

    And, with 91 minutes on the clock, Matic smashed in a dipping shot from 25 yards to consign Palace to another week in the drop zone and move United above Liverpool.

    The two giants meet at Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime and Mourinho will know that, despite this win, his team must play far better than they did for most of an underwhelming display at Selhurst Park if they are to beat Jurgen Klopp’s men.

    Palace, who will feel deflated to remain 18th after leading through goals from Andros Townsend and Patrick van Aanholt, must take heart for the dogfight ahead from their committed and organised display with 10 first-team players out.

    But, when seconds away from a point, Matic smashed home to inflict a second costly late home defeat in the space of eight days.

     

    BBC