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Crystal Palace went into their ill-fated midweek clash with Manchester United boasting a six-game unbeaten run having emerged victorious at Leicester on Saturday – the win was also their fourth in a row over the Foxes as Wilfried Zaha bagged a brace.
Restored in his left-wing role once again – the number 11 has been deployed frequently as a striker by Roy Hodgson this season – Zaha, who loves playing against Leicester, took his tally in the Premier League this season to seven.
It wouldn’t be a Palace win, though, if Luka Milivojevic didn’t net from the penalty spot – the Serbian converted from 12 yards after Jeffrey Schlupp was tripped in the area.
Palace’s captain has now scored an amazing 16 spot-kicks since signing for the Selhurst Park outfit in January 2017, with only four of his 20 Premier League goals coming from open play – this has led to many rival fans incorrectly labelling the 27-year-old a one-trick pony.
The former Olympiacos man’s incredible record from the spot means that the work he does away from the penalty spot often goes unnoticed, and this may be why he’s failed to attract interest from some of Europe’s bigger clubs.
Milivojevic, if not for his penalty penchant, will be remembered by fans – particularly those of Leicester, Southampton and Bournemouth – for his outrageous long shots that have often been the difference-makers in clashes where Palace have struggled to break their opposition down.
He isn’t just a goalscorer, though.
As of February 23rd, only one player had covered more ground than N’Golo Kante in the Premier League this season – that’s right, you guessed it, none other than Milivojevic, owing to the number 4’s iron lungs and incredible work-rate. The Selhurst Park faithful won’t be surprised to learn that the cult hero has the best engine in the Premier League and the fact he gets about more than Kante is some statement.
The Palace man also has a far better defensive output than the World Cup winner, completing 2.4 tackles and 1.8 interceptions per 90 to Kante’s 1.8 and 1.4, respectively – admittedly, the Chelsea number 7 has been deployed further afield this season, but the fact remains.
Milivojevic, though, is rarely deployed anywhere other than as a holding midfielder and, in this role, he thrives in being able to win the ball back for his side before delivering pinpoint passes into the likes of Zaha and Andros Townsend.
The 30-cap international’s passing range and vision is unmatched in the Palace ranks and, while the Serb may not be of the same mould as the Frenchman, he is capably filling the deep-lying creative void left by Yohan Cabaye’s departure in the summer.
Despite occasionally being guilty of gaffes on the edge of his own box – the 27-year-old conceded a penalty against Arsenal after having the ball nicked from his toe – he is generally comfortable in possession and is tackled only 0.6 times per 90 on average.
Watch the video below to see the most insane overhead kick you will see this week…
If his extraordinary output on the pitch wasn’t enough, the tough tackler is a huge hit with the Selhurst Park faithful, who have become accustomed to seeing their captain barrel straight for them after tucking away his customary pen in expert fashion.
Contrary to popular belief, Milivojevic is in fact a jack-of-all-trades and a master of one – as opposed to a one-trick pony – and it will be this oversight which will see him go right under the radar of the top clubs and establish himself as a Palace great.