Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can be decisive in Matchweek 22.
Michael Olise (CRY)
Patrick Vieira has so far resisted the temptation to make summer signing Olise a regular starter for Crystal Palace, but the skilful right-winger will surely figure prominently in his plans for the visit to fierce rivals Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday.
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The 20-year-old has delivered both a goal and an assist in each of his last two appearances in all competitions.
Coming off the bench in the 68th minute against West Ham United, Olise curled a beautiful left-footed cross into the penalty area for Odsonne Edouard to convert, before scoring with a direct free-kick minutes later.
The Frenchman was then unplayable in a man-of-the-match performance against Millwall in the FA Cup on Saturday.
Tormenting them all afternoon, he cut in from the right to curl in a terrific strike, and he went on to whip in a perfect cross for Jean-Philippe Mateta to head in the winner.
Olise's display v West Ham
While Olise has featured in 13 Premier League matches this term, he has started only twice and had just 315 minutes of game time.
But when the winger has been on the pitch he has regularly added quality to the Palace attack.
Eight goals have been scored while Olise has been playing, at a rate of one every 39.4 minutes.
Palace with/without Olise
| 2021/22 | With Olise | Without Olise |
| Minutes | 315 | 1485 |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 8 | 21 |
| Mins/goals | 39.4 | 70.7 |
| Goals/90 | 2.3 | 1.3 |
Olise scored his first Premier League goal in October to help Palace come from behind and earn a 2-2 draw against Leicester City.
He then came off the bench to provide a valuable assist on the counter-attack in a 2-0 win at Manchester City, as well as in a 2-2 draw at Arsenal.
Quick, positive and willing to run at defenders, he has been an ideal impact substitute when matches have become stretched.
With Wilfried Zaha, Jordan Ayew and Edouard providing competition for places on the right side, it is understandable that Vieira has opted to gradually introduce Olise to this level.
But with several key men now missing, it feels that now is the time for him to be unleashed from the start more often.
Delivering end product
Statistically, it is hard to evaluate Olise based on such limited action to date.
But his left foot is among the most accurate in the league, and the table below shows he is a young player who is already delivering quality end product.
Olise attacking stats
| 2021/22 | Per 90 | CRY rank* |
| Chances created in open play | 1.7 | 1st |
|---|---|---|
| Big chances created | 0.9 | 1st |
| Succ. passes into final third | 20.1 | 1st |
| Open-play crosses | 6.3 | 1st |
*Minimum 250 minutes played
Out of all the Premier League players to have featured for at least 250 minutes, no one produces more big chances or open-play crosses per 90 minutes than Olise.
He has also delivered a direct goal contribution every 63 minutes.
Link-up with Gallagher
On-loan midfielder star Conor Gallagher has quickly struck up a terrific relationship with Olise.
During last weekend’s 2-1 FA Cup success, he found Olise with 14 passes. Putting that into context, the only other team-mate he passed to more than twice was full-back Joel Ward (10).
That Ward-Gallagher-Olise triangle down Palace's right flank will be an axis that Brighton must work hard to contain.
The Premier League is already blessed with a number of top-class left-footed players who cut in from the right side, and Olise is ready to join that group.
Should he continue to make the most of his opportunities, Vieira will surely make him a prominent member of his best XI.
Also in this series
Part 1: Wood can head Newcastle in right direction
Part 3: De Bruyne can dictate midfield battle against Chelsea
