🦁 PL Previews: Crystal Palace enter a post-Zaha era | OneFootball

It’s been a summer of stability for Crystal Palace but for the south London club losing Wilfried Zaha.

How will they fare without their talisman?

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Transfers 🔁

In: Jefferson Lerma (Bournemouth, free)

Out: Wilfried Zaha (Galatasaray, free), Jack Butland (Rangers, free), Luka Milivojević, James McArthur (both released)

Transfer balance: £0

Key fixtures 📆

🔑 Key player: Eberechi Eze

With Wilfried Zaha having left the club after an illustrious eight-year second spell, Palace’s attacking mantle will now pass over to Eberechi Eze.

Eze’s path to Premier League superstardom though hasn’t been a straightforward one.

Having been released by Arsenal, Fulham, Reading and Millwall, it was QPR that took a chance on the silky playmaker.

Four years of brilliance in west London led Eze to Palace in 2020 but just a few months later his arrival an achilles tear curtailed his momentum in the first team.

A long recovery followed but last season, Eze was consistently one of the best creative forces in the Premier League last term and earned an England debut.

The 25-year-old netted 10 times last season with four assists to his name as well. The trick this term is to kick on and show that he can lead Palace’s attack in Zaha’s absence.

What has changed since last season? 🤔

What’s changed? In truth, not a huge amount other than Zaha’s exit.

Roy Hodgson came in as an interim coach at the end of last season and did such a good job that Palace have opted to keep hold of the former England boss for another season.

That consistency could help keep the south London side in the top division for another campaign but it adds to a feeling of stasis at Selhurst Park; what’s the long-term plan?

With only Jefferson Lerma having joined so far, there are no new faces to really get excited about at Selhurst Park.

That may not be a bad thing but the general consensus is that mid-table safety is the best they can hope for come May.

Predicted XI 🔮

(4-2-3-1) — Johnstone; Ward, Andersen, Guéhi, Mitchell; Lerma, Hughes; Olise, Eze, Ayew; Édouard

Where will they finish? 🏆

Premier League: 14th

FA Cup: Third round

EFL Cup: Fourth round

See all of our club previews right here.