Patrick Van Aanholt was arguably culpable as Crystal Palace lost 3-1 away at Chelsea in Sunday’s Premier League clash.
If you are looking for full-backs for your Fantasy Football team, Patrick van Aanholt has surely got to be in the discussion. Crystal Palace’s Dutch international is one of the most attack-minded ‘defenders’ around and a regular source of goals and assists from the left flank.
Against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, Van Aanholt was an almost constant threat, flying forward with purpose and pace.
But at the other end of the pitch, the former Sunderland and Newcastle United left-back is prone to letting himself down a little. And that was evident again as Roy Hodgson’s Palace buckled in the second-half, going down 3-1 to Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea.
It was Van Aanholt who was caught sleeping in the build-up to Chelsea’s third goal, letting Pedro ghost in to end the game as a contest – a crucial momentary lapse that Jamie Redknapp described as ‘lazy’ during Sky Sports’ live coverage (4 November, 4:00pm).
The man himself has now taken to Twitter and, in his defence, has acknowledged his error.
At the age of 28, you would have hoped that Van Aanholt would have cut these naive mistakes out of his game. But the thrust he offers going forward means he will surely remain indispensable to Hodgson’s plans at Selhurst Park.
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