Paul Merson rages at ‘terrible’ Michael Olise incident in Everton v Crystal Palace
Paul Merson slammed Michael Olise for squandering a huge chance for Crystal Palace to take the lead against Everton at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
Ebere Eze’s neat play allowed Jordan Ayew to attack at Everton’s defence before the Ghanaian passed the ball to 21-year-old Olise.
He could’ve returned the ball to put Ayew in one-on-one against Jordan Pickford but his pass went behind him, leading to Merson blasting the Palace attacker on Sky Sports.
Speaking on Sky Sports News on Saturday (22 April, 4:17pm), Merson said: “Great bit of play by Eze. He puts Ayew away down the left and now they’re attacking three v two and he needs to pick the right pass.
“He goes to Olise but he plays it behind. It’s a terrible pass.
“If he plays it in front of him, he’s one on one with the keeper.”
Lucky
Everton were really let off the hook because France Under-21 international Olise would’ve got his pass right on another day, and Palace could have scored.
The former Reading attacker has been in amazing form at Palace this season.
He’s assisted eight goals in the Premier League this term, which ranks him fourth in the entire top flight.
As per stats on the Premier League website, only Kevin De Bruyne (15), Bukayo Saka (nine) and Leandro Trossard (nine) have assisted more goals than the Eagles ace.
On that occasion, his playmaking ability went completely missing and Pickford didn’t have to make a save.
Mason’s Holgate later on in the second half meant that the Blues were extremely lucky to have not lost because results elsewhere weren’t exactly kind thanks to Leicester winning over Wolves.