One Crystal Palace star has drawn comparisons to Lionel Messi from former Premier League ace Paul Merson.
Crystal Palace stunned Premier League title challengers Liverpool at Anfield over the weekend, following an impressive display. The Eagles carved through the home team in the opening stages of the match, creating several chances.
Eberechi Eze finished one of those off, kickstarting jubilant scenes in the away end. Jean-Phillipe Mateta had another clear cut opportunity after, though Andy Robertson cleared his delicate chip off of the line.
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Liverpool had their chances as Dean Henderson was called into action several times, while the woodwork was a saviour on one occasion. In the end, despite everything thrown at the team, Oliver Glasner walked away with three big points added to the tally.
There is little surprise that a return to winning ways came as the manager saw some big returns to the team. Michael Olise made a start for the first time in months, coming as a huge boost to Palace, as they look to finish strong.
Michael Olise compared to Lionel Messi
A lot of the pre-match discussion on Sky Sports surrounded the return of Olise into the Crystal Palace team. The 22-year-old hadn’t started a game since late January, when he picked up a hamstring injury that would leave him sidelined.
Given the quality of the winger, it was a clear boost and a talking point before the match. Jamie Redknapp was full of praise as he said: “We’ve seen him do it time and time again, I’m a huge fan and I love the way that he plays.
“He’s so calm on the ball, doesn’t get fazed by anything. I think he’s a joy to watch and once he does that, it’s easier said than done. It’s like ‘why don’t you stop him getting onto his left foot?’ He just drops his shoulder and it’s so hard to stop.”
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Paul Merson chimed in with a slight comparison to Lionel Messi, adding: “Well you can’t stop Messi getting on his left [foot], can you? It’s his body movement, Jamie, he’s so in control of the ball. You know, even with the goal there against Luton, he’s running 100-miles-an-hour, but he’s always got control of the ball.
“He’s not running with his head down, he knows what he’s going to do. He probably knows what he’s going to do when he gets that ball near the halfway line. He’s going to go down the wing, cut in and bend it in the corner. He’s a top player.”
Michael Olise potential
At just 22 years old, Olise has already shown he is more than capable of being a top Premier League player. Whether he can reach the heights of Messi, following that comparison, remains to be seen at this stage.
However, following the signing of his new contract, the Eagles will be very glad that he’s wearing the shirt for years to come.
