In Focus: Andersen shining at the heart of Palace defence

Joachim Andersen is about as dependable as Premier League defenders come.

The Denmark international has been the hallmark of consistency for Crystal Palace over the last two years, so it is hardly surprising that he was linked with a move to Newcastle before the transfer window closed on Friday.

Ahead of today's clash with Wolves, we take a look at why Andersen has become such an important figure in the Eagles' rearguard.

All-round defender

No Palace player has made more tackles or completed more clearances than Andersen in 2023-24.

The 27-year-old also ranks first in the Eagles' squad for completed passes (178), boasting an impressive accuracy of 87.25%.

He often initiates attacks from the back too, completing more passes into the final third (38) than any of his team-mates.

And only playmaker Eberechi Eze has created more chances than Andersen, proving he is clearly far more than just a robust defender.

Colossus

Former Lyon star Andersen added to his impressive displays of late with a 76th-minute equaliser against Brentford last weekend — and Eagles manager Roy Hodgson was very impressed.

The 76-year-old boss said: "I thought he [Andersen] was a colossus today, he won every header at both ends of the field and I thought he won every challenge he went into, he was a leader figure and he drove the team forward.

"He wasn't afraid to come more than midway into the opponent's half, as we saw, and he was playing balls and spraying it around from about 25 yards from goal — and that was a great responsibility that he took there.

"I think it was very fitting that he got the goal, even though it wasn't a classic."

Building blocks

Andersen's early form this season is a continuation of his strong performances in 2022-23.

He ranked seventh in the Premier League last term for completed long passes (200) and just two players — James Tarkowski and Ethan Pinnock — made more headed clearances than his 110.

And only 10 players won more aerial duels than Andersen (87), while he completed an impressive 1,547 passes in a Palace team that averaged just 46.2% possession.

Modern defender

Andersen is very much a modern defender, possessing all the attributes required to succeed in the Premier League.

Reflecting on his skill-set, the Dane said: "I like to have the ball at my feet. I want to have possession, make good passes and get clean sheets.

"I like to have the ball more than I like defending but in my position you need to do these kinds of things to win.

"Defending has changed a lot nowadays. It's not just about being aggressive, no-nonsense — you need to be able to play. 

"You need to be clever in your tackles — you can't just kill everyone, going into reckless tackles, because you might get a red card with VAR.

"You need to be cleverer with how you do certain things."

There is no doubt that Andersen has established himself as one of the most intelligent defenders in the top flight — and he is set to play a key role once again when Palace lock horns with Wolves at Selhurst Park.