Maxence Lacroix was shoulder to shoulder with Mohammed Kudus as they chased Lucas Paqueta’s through-ball. Crystal Palace’s midfield had been bypassed by a fast West Ham assault. Their defence was uncovered. However the footrace solely had one winner.
After sprinting forward of Kudus, Lacroix timed his problem completely, halting West Ham’s cost with an outstretched boot and hooking the ball into the trail of fellow centre-back Marc Guehi, eliminating the hazard and turning defence into assault in a single movement.
The intervention was cheered by the visiting followers on the London Stadium and highlighted the qualities the summer season signing has delivered to Palace. Along with being one of many quickest centre-backs within the division, Lacroix has excelled in one-on-ones.
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Kudus was simply the newest opponent to seek out that out. Information from GeniusIQ exhibits Lacroix has compelled a turnover from practically 70 per cent of the one-on-ones he has confronted this season, successful fee 12 per cent greater than that of every other Premier League participant.
Lacroix has compelled a turnover from 69.4 per cent of his one-on-ones confronted
The 24-year-old was a low-key arrival however is proving one of many signings of the season, vindicating the sale of Joachim Andersen to Fulham, a choice which raised eyebrows, and taking part in a big position in Palace’s regular ascent of the Premier League desk.
Saturday’s 2-0 victory over West Ham made it three wins from 4 Premier League video games. Return additional and so they have solely misplaced two in 14, with Lacroix taking part in each minute. It’s a far cry from the beginning of the marketing campaign, once they went eight video games with out profitable.
A deal which made monetary sense to Palace – Lacroix is 4 years youthful than Andersen and, at £21m, value roughly £9m lower than his predecessor’s sale worth – is making sense in footballing phrases too.
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Watch highlights from Crystal Palace’s 2-0 win at West Ham
It helped, after all, that Lacroix arrived well-versed in Oliver Glasner’s strategies having performed for him at his earlier membership Wolfsburg, the place they achieved Champions League qualification collectively. “We had a good connection,” Lacroix stated of Glasner following their reunion.
However Glasner used a again 4, reasonably than a 3, at Wolfsburg and Lacroix was additionally becoming a member of a facet in a state of flux, with Andersen’s exit following that of Michael Olise to Bayern Munich.
He needed to adapt and there was extra upheaval since. Trevoh Chalobah has been recalled from his mortgage by Chelsea and Guehi continues to draw curiosity from the identical membership.
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Watch Lacroix’s greatest moments for earlier membership Wolfsburg
In testing circumstances, Lacroix has provided stability, establishing himself on the coronary heart of Glasner’s three-man defence having initially been used within the vast positions.
His masking tempo has been invaluable.
Monitoring knowledge exhibits Lacroix has clocked one of many highest high speeds within the Premier League this season at 35.81 km/h, placing him tenth amongst 518 gamers total and behind solely Micky van de Ven and Emmanuel Agbadou amongst centre-backs.
Lacroix’s explosiveness has added safety for these moments just like the one in opposition to Kudus, when Palace are threatened in behind. However he has additionally excelled at defending their field.
Lacroix has made the second-most interceptions within the Premier League
His complete of 36 interceptions places him second solely to Fulham’s Antonee Robinson this season, underlining his potential to anticipate hazard. He ranks extremely for clearances too.
His defensive qualities have made a distinction.
Actually, since Lacroix moved into the centre of their defence in late October, with Guehi shifting to the left, Palace have among the best defensive information within the division, conceding solely 17 targets in 14 video games and preserving 5 clear sheets. Arsenal and Liverpool are the one sides to have allowed fewer pictures on course.
Palace’s sturdy defensive numbers since Lacroix moved into the center of their again three
Andersen made an enormous contribution to Palace, after all, racking up 112 appearances throughout three years on the membership. However Lacroix has proved an improve bodily and athletically, his velocity and stature permitting him to dominate opponents.
He’s technically sound too, serving to Palace construct from the again, combining with their midfielders, and even replicating Andersen’s eye for an extended move. His success fee of fifty per cent is definitely greater than Andersen’s for Fulham this season.
Lacroix is an asset within the opposition field in addition to his personal. He arrange a aim for Guehi with a knock-down following a nook in opposition to Everton in September and scored himself with a towering heading within the 2-2 draw with Manchester Metropolis in December.
He has had 15 pictures total, just one fewer than Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk and three fewer than Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes. He has amassed 1.58 anticipated targets from set-pieces, placing him eleventh amongst all Premier League gamers this season. His dead-ball risk was additionally evident at Wolfsburg, the place he scored 4 instances final time period.
Glasner will hope for extra of the identical from Lacroix when Palace host Brentford, dwell on Sky Sports activities on Sunday. However he has already proven his value. Current proof suggests Brentford’s forwards, like West Ham’s, would possibly discover it tough to plot a method round him.
Watch Crystal Palace vs Brentford dwell on Sky Sports activities Premier League and Essential Occasion from 1pm on Sunday; kick-off 2pm
