Marcelo Bielsa highlights key Crystal Palace threats and discusses Leeds United plan for Eberechi Eze

WHITES head coach Marcelo Bielsa says there is no "formula" to stopping Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze but that Leeds United have plans to prevent the forward from producing his best.
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Three months after falling to a 4-1 loss against Palace at Selhurst Park, Bielsa has also highlighted the Eagles threats posed by left back Patrick van Aanholt and forward Wilfried Zaha though the latter is now out with a hamstring injury.

Eze, Zaha and van Aanholt all played the full match as Leeds were blitzed by Palace in the reverse fixture in south London in which Patrick Bamford was denied what looked like a perfectly legitimate equaliser after being judged to be offside through his sleeve.

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After Scott Dann had headed Palace in front from a corner, Eze's stunning free-kick then doubled the Palace lead before Bamford netted a strike that finally counted five minutes later.

MENACE: Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze on the run in November's 4-1 victory against Leeds United at Selhurst Park. Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images.MENACE: Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze on the run in November's 4-1 victory against Leeds United at Selhurst Park. Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images.
MENACE: Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze on the run in November's 4-1 victory against Leeds United at Selhurst Park. Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images.

Palace, though, restored their two-goal cushion through a freak own goal from Helder Costa who deflected home van Aanholt's cross three minutes before the break and the hosts then netted a fourth goal with 20 minutes left through Jordan Ayew.

The two sides will now meet again at Elland Road on Monday evening and Bielsa highlighted particular threats when asked if he had learned anything from this season's first clash against the Eagles.

"I’m trying to find an answer that would be worth it," said Bielsa.

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"If you saw the number 11 (Zaha) and number 25 play (Eze), they are very good, which is the most significant thing I can add or the left full-back (Aanholt) is very good attacking.

"Or that they have two players for every position in attack.

"They’re all things that are not going to be newsworthy for you or for the public. When you analyse an opponent, these are all the things you take into account."

Palace and Leeds both sit on 29 points and Hodgson's side are seeking three consecutive victories for the first time this season having followed a 1-0 win at home to Wolves with Tuesday's 2-1 triumph at Newcastle United.

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Gary Cahill headed home the winner at St James' Park from an Eze free-kick and Palace also netted from a set piece against Leeds who have the worst record in the division at defending them.

"They have good takers and good headers of the ball," warned Bielsa.

Eze is a key man at supplying those deliveries and Whites midfielder Kalvin Phillips has previously talked about how difficult it is facing 22-year-old Eze in midfield.

Assessing the key to defending against such a dangerous ball carrier, Bielsa reasoned: "To recover the ball you always need the same resources.

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"It’s not about the resources, but the ability of the opponent, to be superior to them.

"It’s not there’s a formula which we have to neutralise the number 25.

"He moves in certain spaces and determines certain spaces on the pitch normally.

"We position players in that sector to prevent him from evolving or producing his best.

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"When an opponent beats one of our players there’s an elective response we have allocated.

"To attribute a formula to neutralise one player is unreal."

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Thank you Laura Collins