OPINION
Newcastle United must not get drawn into focusing all their attention on how to stop Crystal Palace attacker Wilfried Zaha on Saturday as that will work in favour of the London club.
Michael Owen inadvertently highlighted the potential trap that the Magpies could fall into, which has no doubt fooled other Premier League clubs this season.
The pundit stated in his predictions for the clash between the two sides that the stats imply if a team stop Zaha then you stop Palace and that Roy Hodgson’s side need to find a way to score goals not through him.
“Since the start of the 2016-17 season fouls on Wilfried Zaha have resulted in 41 yellow cards – more than any other player in the PL – and you could see and feel his frustration coming through the television when he spoke after last weekend’s Huddersfield game,” wrote Owen in his BetVictor predictions.
“The Ivorian has scored three of the Eagles’ four PL goals so far this term and Roy Hodgson needs goals from other avenues. The stats suggest if you stop Zaha you stop Palace, the former Manchester United wide-man cum striker missed the home game with Southampton this season – the result a 2-0 loss.”
However while Zaha is clearly an attacking threat that the Magpies have to be aware of, if they focus all their attention on him then other players will step up and take their moment to shine.
Palace’s team may not be dripping in attacking talent by any means but Jordan Ayew and perhaps even former Magpies Andros Townsend have the tools needed to get the best of the Magpies defence.
Zaha may be Palace’s top scorer for the season with three goals so far but if the Magpies just focus on him then they will fall into their league rivals’ trap as it will open space for other players to expose Benitez’s side.
Therefore following Owen accidentally highlighting the misconception other teams have about Zaha and Palace, Benitez should prepare his side accordingly.
