'The biggest difference': Prem legend hails £6m Crystal Palace star, he outshone Eze vs Liverpool
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When Arne Slot was preparing Liverpool for Saturday’s Premier League clash at Crystal Palace, it goes without saying that Ebere Eze was likely the first player he would have been putting plans in place to stop.
With Michael Olise gone and Jean-Philippe Mateta yet to translate his remarkable early form under Oliver Glasner into the new campaign, the dancing feet of Ebere Eze always felt like Crystal Palace’s best hope of stopping the rot against the table-toppers in South London.
Liverpool legend John Barnes highlighted Eze as Crystal Palace’s dangerman pre-match. Of course he did. In truth, this is a Palace side with very few matchwinners, especially on current form.
But, as the England international failed to add to his tally of one goal and no assists from the first few weeks of 2024/25 with another below-par showing, the fearsome frontline of Olise, Mateta and Eze could not have felt further away.
Will Hughes outshines Ebere Eze as Liverpool beat Crystal Palace
Palace created their fair share of openings against a Liverpool side who – like as Arne Slot’s side beat Bologna in the Champions League three days earlier – found themselves relying on Alisson Becker’s reflexes on more than one occasion.
And the frustration for Mark Schwarzer is that, when those chances did arrive, Eze often made the wrong decision in a display far removed from his twinkling best.
“When Palace did have those opportunities, Eze in particular just didn’t do enough with the ball,” the legandary former Middlesbrough goalkeeper said on TNT Sports.
“Liverpool dealt with the pressure well. Arne Slot will be happy with the three points.”
Schwarzer feels that Crystal Palace’s best hope of an equaliser came not from Eze but from a far more unexpected source. Will Hughes, an experienced back-up at Palace these days, rolled back the years when making a massive impact off the bench in the final half hour at Selhurst Park.
“The biggest difference is the introduction of Will Hughes,” adds Schwarzer, the record-holder for the most appearances made by a foreign player in the Premier League.
“He’s been aggressive and he’s hustled Liverpool.”
Introduced on the hour for Adam Wharton – another who is yet to hit his stride this term – Hughes’ energy off the ball and his composure with it helped Crystal Palace get a foothold in a game that they may feel they deserved to get something out of.
Especially having been denied what looked a very solid penalty shout when Marc Guehi was dragged down in the penalty area late on.
Liverpool saved by Alisson Becker and VAR decision at Selhurst Park
“Liverpool are going to have to play better and become a side that take more of their chances,” adds ex-Chelsea and Aston Villa glovesman Schwarzer. “Because the teams that they will play coming up will perhaps not give them as many chances as Crystal Palace.
“But overall, Arne Slot will be pleased to go into the international break in the form that they are. They just need to be that little bit more ruthless.”
While Liverpool stay top, another defeat left Crystal Palace 18th going into Saturday’s 3pm kick-offs.
Doubts are starting to arise about former Eintracht Frankfurt boss Glasner, with an admittedly Olise-less Palace still awaiting their first win of the season.
“Results are going to have to start coming in for Crystal Palace,” Schwarzer argues. “I think it was the performance more than anything else. They were devoid of confidence. It looked at times like there wasn’t really communication going on.
“This one could have easily been a far higher scoreline.”
Liverpool, however, could be without Alisson for a period after he was forced off late on to be replaced by Premier League debutant Vitezslav Jaros.
