Alious
Crystal Palace’s Jefferson Lerma may have given manager Oliver Glasner something to think about following an impressive international performance for Colombia, offering a glimmer of hope as the Eagles look to turn around their troubling start to the season.
Palace’s situation is precarious – they’re sitting in 18th place after going seven Premier League games without a win. However, there were encouraging signs in their recent performance against Liverpool, where they were arguably unlucky not to claim at least a point. Now, with Glasner having had two weeks to work with his squad and implement new systems, Monday’s upcoming match against Brentford presents an opportunity for revival.
Lerma, who has struggled to find his best form this season and has been subject to January transfer speculation from Galatasaray, demonstrated his value during Colombia’s commanding 4-0 victory over Chile. Playing in a double pivot alongside Richard Rios, Lerma completed the full 90 minutes and earned strong reviews from Colombian media. ESPN Colombia noted his increased second-half influence, while El Heraldo awarded him a 7/10, particularly praising his ability to make the team look more compact.
This performance echoed the qualities that made Lerma such a valuable asset for Palace last season. Looking ahead to Monday’s match against Nottingham Forest, there’s a strong case for partnering him with Adam Wharton (if fit) rather than continuing with Daichi Kamada in that role. Such a change could prove crucial in altering Palace’s trajectory this season.
The performance serves as a timely reminder of Lerma’s capabilities and why he should remain a key figure in Glasner’s plans for Palace’s attempted resurgence.
Alious
