Oliver Glasner supports Eberechi Eze in regaining his form, while the determined Crystal Palace aims to close the gap with Manchester United.

**Eagles’ Hopes Rest on Eze and Guehi as Liverpool Visit Selhurst Park**

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has underscored the pivotal roles of Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi as the Eagles seek to reverse a sluggish start to their Premier League campaign. With Liverpool, currently sitting at the top of the table, set to visit Selhurst Park, Palace are eager to secure their first league victory of the season.

As the weekend approaches, Palace find themselves languishing in 18th place, having drawn three and lost three of their opening fixtures. Eze, a key figure in the squad, has managed to find the net just once thus far, prompting questions about his form. Glasner, however, remains unfazed by Eze’s current struggles, believing the forward has been unfortunate not to have scored more.

“He always has chances,” Glasner remarked during an interview with TNT Sports. “He creates opportunities and has chances to score himself. He’s been really unlucky this season, with chances for at least five or six goals.” The manager went on to praise Eze’s ability to influence the game, stating, “He can solve situations through dribbling and creates space for other players. He’s incredibly important to our attacking play. His biggest strength lies in threatening the defence and creating moments in attack.”

Since Glasner took the reins at Palace in February, Eze enjoyed a fruitful end to the previous season, netting six goals from an expected goals (xG) of 4.26 and providing three assists from an expected assists (xA) of 3.12. However, this season has seen a decline in his output, with just one goal from 2.26 xG and no assists, according to Opta statistics. Despite the drop in numbers, Glasner is not fixated on statistics alone.

“No, it’s just about taking it game by game,” he explained. “We’re focusing on improving his positioning and runs to create more chances. If we can get him into more situations where he can finish or assist, I’m confident we’ll see better numbers by the end of the season.”

**Guehi’s Commitment a ‘Big Sign’ for Palace**

Another crucial player for Palace is Guehi, who shone last season and played a significant role in England’s run to the Euro 2024 final. His impressive performances attracted interest from Newcastle, who reportedly made several attempts to lure him away from Selhurst Park during the summer transfer window. Ultimately, Guehi remained with the Eagles, much to Glasner’s delight.

“It was very important that Marc stayed, especially after we lost Joachim Andersen,” Glasner admitted. “He trained more with the England national team than with us, so he’s more accustomed to playing for England right now. It’s almost a new role for him.” Glasner also highlighted Guehi’s youth, noting, “He’s just 24, and there’s still room for him to grow in terms of personality and responsibility in defence. Everyone knows about his talent; he’s a fantastic player.”

**Palace’s Ambitions to Bridge the Gap**

Despite their current league position, Glasner remains optimistic about Palace’s future and is keen to build on his positive start in south London. The Austrian manager, who previously led Eintracht Frankfurt to UEFA Europa League glory in 2022, is determined to elevate Palace’s status in the Premier League.

The Eagles have never competed in a major European competition, and last season’s 10th-place finish marked their joint-highest position in the Premier League era. Glasner believes the club is on the right path and has a vision to close the gap to the top teams in England. “Every club is different,” he said. “In Frankfurt, for example, there are over 600 employees, while we have close to 200. You can feel the difference in daily work. But the most important aspect is working with the players and staff to build a cohesive group with a common way of playing.”

Palace has made strides in recent years, opening a new training facility in 2021 and planning to redevelop the main stand at Selhurst Park, increasing capacity from 26,000 to over 34,000. Glasner is pleased with these developments, believing they will help the club establish itself as a competitive force. “The club made a big decision to extend the stand,” he said. “They understand the need to increase stadium capacity and revenues to invest more and compete with the top teams. It’s not just about being a one-hit wonder; it’s about being competitive over the long term.”

As Palace aim to improve on last season’s 10th-place finish, Glasner acknowledges the challenges ahead. “If we want to get closer to Europe, we need to aim for seventh place. It’s not easy to close the gap to teams like Manchester United and Newcastle, but everyone at the club is working hard to achieve that.”

**How to Watch Crystal Palace vs. Liverpool**

Fans can catch the action as Crystal Palace take on Liverpool live on TNT Sports. Coverage begins at 11:00 UK time on Saturday, October 5, with kick-off scheduled for 12:30. TNT Sports is available across all major TV platforms, offering a comprehensive lineup of channels and streaming options through discovery+, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.