Eagles flying with solar power
SAM ALLARDYCE reckons one more day in the sun ought to see Crystal Palace to safety.
The Eagles face Liverpool at Anfield today before home games against Tottenham on Wednesday and Burnley on Saturday, and Big Sam is confident that just three more points will be enough to guarantee they beat the drop.
Allardyce believes one of the main reasons for his side’s strong position GINI WIJNALDUM has gladly swapped the trauma of a relegation fight for an intense battle to finish in the top four.
It’s been quite a turnaround in fortunes for the Liverpool star as he aims to help heap the pressure on the chasing pack of Champions League wannabes Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal.
“Crystal Palace at home is a game we have to win,” he admitted with Liverpool sitting in third place but having played more matches.
This time last year his f i r s t English cl ub Newcastle were sliding into the Championship. The Dutch international admits he wasn’t enjoying his football – the trademark beaming smile which has endeared him to the Kop was absent.
“I had good intentions when I went to Newcastle. In the beginning we were trying to play football but as soon as you don’t win games the confidence goes,” he said.
“Yo u forget how you can enjoy football. At the end of the season my joy disappeared. It was about fighting. It wasn’t f ootball anymore.”
When Liverpool came calling with a £ 25million offer Wijnaldum couldn’t wait to join Jurgen Klopp’s Anfield army.
And although there has been no let-up in the intensity to gain positive results, on Merseyside it’s about the drive for success rather than scrambling for the lifeboats on the Tyne in a relegation was a team-bonding trip to North Africa in early March.
Allardyce (right) said: “There have been certain elements for the team we have put together, but my biggest contribution off the pitch was taking the team to Morocco.
“To get them out on the beach, out on the training ground when it was 26 degrees, the vitamin D levels rose quite dramatically according to the doctor who did the test on them when they whirlpool. When I am enjoying my football I can give my best,” he stated.
“Pressure is part of football, especially when you play for a big club like Liverpool.
“Expectations are really high but you have to see that as a blessing because when you are young and start playing you want to end up at a club like Liverpool.”
Successive wins at renowned physical battlegrounds Stoke and West Brom has set up Liverpool for t his afternoon’s visit of Crystal Palace.
“Yes, we had to roll up our sleeves especially at West Brom. It was really difficult, a really hard game.
“They have some strong players and use long balls and are good at s et- pieces. We defended well. We fought to win the game,” Wijnaldum added.
“I t was the same at Stoke where we went 1-0 behind. We still had the belief we could win the game. Crystal Palace is going to be a physical challenge as well. We saw that in the first game we played against them.”
Wijnaldum has had to adapt to a stricter, more defensive role, especially with skipper Jordan Henderson missing through injury.
“It is how it is. It is the situation and it’s another role for me,” he said. “I try to enjoy it.”
It’s clear Wijnaldum has t rust i n Klopp (above). “From the first meeting I had with him we’ve had a good relationship,” said the 26-year-old.
It’s the same with the Liverpool fans who serenade him with a song.
“I’m really happy with it, because that’s also a sign of appreciation.”
A far cry from 12 months ago when it was bum notes all round at his former club. came back and that’s quite important. “All around we gave them an opportunitypp to rest physically and m mentally, and come back f fresher to start fighting our way out of trouble. “So as I’ve said, 38 points haveh been enough for 10 yearsye or more and we have an opportunity to try to get there. It’s a big week for us, and we want to take the pressure off ourselves by getting as many points as we can.”