Crystal Palace picked up three sorely needed points, courtesy of the usual suspects — Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze — to snap an eight-game winless skid with a 3-1 victory over Brentford at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
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The victory moves the Eagles (21 points - 13th place) six points above the relegation zone to close out 2023 and gives manager Roy Hodgson a sliver of comfort after coming under fire in recent weeks. Brentford (19 points - 15th), on the other hand, still have just one win in their last eight Premier League outings.
Mired in months-long slumps, the two sides wasted very little no time before going for it on Saturday. Brentford were on the board in under two minutes as Keane Lewis-Potter bagged his second goal of the season (and second in three games). Mathias Jensen, who returned to the starting lineup after missing nearly two months, started the move with a clever backheel to play Mads Roerslev in behind on the right wing. Roerslev served up a sumptuous curling cross which Lewis-Potter slid in to get a foot on and finish from close range.
Crystal Palace weren’t shy — uncharacteristically so — about chasing an equalizer with immediate urgency. Eight minutes after a lengthy VAR check was complete, the Eagles were level. Jordan Ayew found a half-yard of space on the left wing and floated a cross to the back post where Michael Olise snuck around Saman Ghoddos and tucked a first-time finish just inside the post.
There were more chances for either side as the first half went on, and it was Palace who made something of theirs to take the lead not long before halftime. Tyrick Mitchell played the ball toward Ayew atop the penalty area, but Ayew let it run on for Eberechi Eze, who made a darting, diagonal run from deep and got the ball out from under his feet and slotted it inside the far post all in one swift motion.
Just before the hour mark, Olise made sure Eagles fans would head into the new year in the mood to party. Marc Guehi found him, who made it five goals in nine appearances (seven starts) since making his season debut last month, with a brilliant midfield-splitting pass, and Olise took it from there. He twisted Nathan Collins this way and that way, cut in front of Christian Norgaard and evaded Ethan Pinnock before slotting a smooth finish low just out of reach to Mark Flekken’s right.
The Michael Olise hype is very real
One on hand, Olise’s absence to start the season was clearly a massive blow for Hodgson and Co., after the 22-year-old dazzled during a breakout 2022-23 campaign (2 goals, 11 assists) and attracted transfer interest from Manchester City in the summer. On the other hand, the Eagles were yet to win a game in which Olise had appeared this season. In fact, they had taken just one point from the three games in which he had scored a goal — against Pep Guardiola’s side, coincidentally.
With a few more performances like the one he turned in on Saturday, it won’t be long before some of the Premier League’s top sides come calling again. It’s not a matter of if, but when. The real question is: What, if anything, did Crystal Palace learn from Wilfried Zaha’s recent departure, on a free transfer, after opting not to cash in on their most prized possession?
What’s next?
Crystal Palace will kick off 2024 with an FA Cup third-round tie against Everton at Selhurst Park on Thursday (3 pm ET), followed by their weeklong winter break before returning to Premier League with a trip to Arsenal on Jan. 20. Brentford will host Wolves in the FA Cup on Friday (2:15 pm ET), then take their winter break before hosting Nottingham Forest in west London on Jan. 20.
Player ratings - Crystal Palace vs Brentford
Crystal Palace vs Brentford, final score: 3-1
Goalscorers: Keane Lewis-Potter (2'), Michael Olise (14', 58'), Eberechi Eze (39')
2nd minute - GOAL - Keane Lewis-Potter slides in to finish an early cross
14th minute - GOAL - Michael Olise sneaks in at the back post to equalize
39th minute - GOAL - Eberechi Eze darts into the box and finishes to put Palace ahead
58th minute - GOAL - Michael Olise goes it alone, slots home for 3-1
How to watch Crystal Palace vs Brentford live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 10am ET, Saturday (December 30)
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Online: Stream Premier League on Peacock
Crystal Palace starting lineup
Henderson — Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell — Richards, Lerma, Eze — Olise, Mateta, Ayew
Brentford starting lineup
Flekken — Zanka, Collins, Pinnock — Roerslev, Jensen, Norgaard, Janelt, Ghoddos — Lewis-Potter, Wissa
Focus on Crystal Palace, team news
Michael Olise has been very good for Palace, and the team has counter-attacking danger whenever he and Eberechi Eze are in the lineup. USMNT man Chris Richards has been decent in the center of the park, making several key interventions in the loss to Chelsea.
OUT: Odsonne Edouard (knee), Rob Holding (ankle), Cheick Doucoure (achilles - out for season), Sam Johnstone (calf), Joel Ward (hamstring), Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (thigh)
Focus on Brentford, team news
The Bees need players back, especially Bryan Mbeumo and Ivan Toney. For now, they’ll continue to lean on Yoane Wissa to produce goals.
OUT: Ben Mee (suspension), Bryan Mbeumo (ankle), Ivan Toney (suspension), Rico Henry (torn ACL - out for season), Kevin Schade (adductor), Aaron Hickey (hamstring), Kristofer Ajer (foot), Frank Onyeka (suspension), Josh Dasilva (hamstring)