Crystal Palace return to Premier League duty after their FA Cup clash against Doncaster Rovers when they take on Leicester City at the King Power next Saturday.
And one player who will be hoping to make an impact is Michy Batshuayi following his loan move from Chelsea last month, which comes after a disastrous stint with Valencia earlier in the season.
As for Leicester, Jamie Vardy will be the usual suspect when it comes to threats in a blue shirt once the two sides take to the pitch.
Jamie Vardy
A lot has been made of Vardy’s relationship with Claude Puel this season and how the Frenchman’s more possession-oriented style of football is impacting the Leicester striker.
Vardy, of course, thrives when he gets quick and direct balls played into him, a tactic not always seen under Puel or at least not as much compared to when the likes of Claudio Ranieri and Craig Shakespeare were in the the King Power dugout.
Nevertheless, the 32-year-old still poses a massive threat, often needing just one chance to put his team in front.
Vardy expertly converted in previous 1-0 victories over Chelsea and Everton after spending most of those games on the periphery.
It is that sort of clinical finishing that Crystal Palace will undoubtedly have to watch out for.
TT Grade: A-
Michy Batshuayi
Like Vardy, Batshuayi is very much a capable finisher. “When we work in front of the goal, he’s one of the best, especially with his left foot,” Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, who worked with Batshuayi in the Belgium national team set up, told Sky Sports (via The Sport Review) back in 2017.
At Marseille, Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea, despite being given limited opportunities, Batshuayi has shown just that.
In the box, he can be an absolute predator, converting chances with either foot. All things considered, it is criminal that Chelsea sent the 25-year-old away while keeping Alvaro Morata.
The Blues’ loss, however, should prove to be Crystal Palace’s gain. And while Batshuayi’s loan spell with Valencia was far from a success, the Belgium international still has the tools to be a hit at Selhurst Park.
TT Grade: B
TT Verdict:
Two very good No.9s in Vardy and Batshuayi will be on show when Leicester take on Crystal Palace.
In this moment of time, though, the former is quite clearly the superior forward out of the two, or at least the superior when it comes to impact made in the Premier League.
However, with his finishing ability, if Batshuayi can fine-tune a couple areas of his game, then there is no reason why he cannot have a similar career to Vardy in English football’s top flight.
