MX23RW : Friday, November 8 09:04:58| >> :600:333790:333790:
Nov 3, 2019 at 2pm UK at ​Selhurst Park
Attendance: 25,480
Crystal Palace
0-2
LeicesterLeicester City
FT(HT: 0-0)
Soyuncu (57'), Vardy (88')

Luka Milivojevic full of praise for teammate Wilfried Zaha after 300th league appearance

Luka Milivojevic full of praise for teammate Wilfried Zaha after 300th league appearance
© Reuters
Zaha wanted to leave Selhurst Park in the summer.

Crystal Palace captain Luka Milivojevic praised Wilfried Zaha for playing his 300th league game for the club, but refused to be drawn on the future of the Ivory Coast international.

Academy graduate Zaha was unable to help Roy Hodgson's team get the better of Leicester at Selhurst Park on Sunday, with second-half goals from Caglar Soyuncu and Jamie Vardy handing the Foxes a 2-0 win.

The winger remains without a goal this season, after failing to earn a move away in the summer, but has provided one assist and did win a penalty in the 2-2 draw at Arsenal.

"It's an amazing achievement," Milivojevic said. "To play 300 (league) games for one club is amazing and he is an important player for us, but his future is in his hands."

On the defeat to Brendan Rodgers' side, he added: "It was a very even game, we had a few chances in the first half and they had one.

"I think one small situation decided the game, that was the corner, after that the game changed and it was different. I think it could be the opposite as well. In the end they won 2-0 which I don't think they deserved."

Soyuncu made the most of some confusion in the Palace area to run past Gary Cahill and James Tomkins and head home James Maddison's corner in the 57th minute.

It proved pivotal and Vardy wrapped up the win two minutes from time with his 10th goal of the campaign.

Hodgson admitted the big difference between the teams was the Premier League's top goalscorer, in a hint that reinforcements are needed in January.

Milivojevic commented: "It is on the board, not me. If we can sign someone who can bring us quality then we are happy. That is it."

Palace have faced Manchester City and Leicester in their last two matches in south London.

Both games finished 2-0, but Milivojevic insists the gulf between the current champions and Rodgers' surprise package is big.

He said: "The difference is massive. In my opinion Leicester are a different team to last season when we beat them at home, 4-1. They are different, but nobody is near to Man City. Maybe just Liverpool."

Unfortunately for Palace, up next at Selhurst Park is the current leaders, yet before that they travel to fourth-placed Chelsea this Saturday.

"We didn't expect to lose points against Leicester, but the next two games are very tough," Milivojevic admitted.

"Chelsea are in very good form, Liverpool in amazing form. It will be tough but we have to carry on and believe in ourselves to get something."

It proved to be an emotional afternoon at Selhurst Park, with Palace's players wearing black armbands in memory of Adem 'Ady' Gradelj – the club's first-team security officer – who died on Saturday.

A minute's applause took place too, and Milivojevic said: "We were all very sad, disappointed and shocked.

"He was all the time with us, helping us 24 hours and it was a very big shock. We as a club show how much respect and that is the least we could do for our member."

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Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers on October 25, 2019
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1110102591631
2Manchester CityMan City1181234102425
3Leicester CityLeicester117222781923
4Chelsea117222517823
5Arsenal114521615117
6Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd11443128416
7Bournemouth114431413116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton114341414015
9Crystal Palace114341014-415
10Manchester UnitedMan Utd113441311213
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs113441716113
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves112721414013
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham113441417-313
14Burnley113351418-412
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle11335917-812
16Aston Villa113261618-211
17Everton113261117-611
18Southampton112271027-178
19Norwich CityNorwich112181126-157
20Watford11056623-175

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