Israeli Defender Anan Khalaili Leads Premier League in Key Metrics

Israeli defender Anan Khalaili is earning significant praise in England following an impressive start to his Premier League season with Crystal Palace. Statistical data from Gradient Sports reveals Khalaili ranks first among 66 league defenders in overall score with an 82.3 rating. He also leads all players in his position with 5.31 line-breaking passes per 90 minutes.

Khalaili's performance is strong across various categories. He is fifth among Premier League defenders in offensive metrics with a 69.3 score, sixth in crosses with 68.2, and fourth in defensive duels against dribblers with a 76.2 rating. His defensive contributions also place him above average, with scores of 71.5 in blocks (22nd), 70.3 in positioning (14th), and 65.5 in passing (24th).

These accolades follow Opta's recognition of Khalaili as one of the top five "bargains" for Fantasy Premier League ahead of the fourth round. Despite teammate Tyrick Mitchell scoring twice in a recent 3-2 win over Fulham, Opta highlighted Khalaili as a preferred option against Ipswich, citing his attacking threat and defensive support.

Although Khalaili has yet to score or assist in his first three league appearances, his underlying numbers are promising. Against Fulham, he recorded an expected goals (xG) of 0.72, the highest among Crystal Palace players in that match, surpassing Mitchell's 0.66 xG. In total, he has accumulated 0.73 xG in 200 minutes of Premier League play.

Defensively, Khalaili has also stood out, registering 33 defensive actions in the first three rounds, according to Opta, compared to Chris Richards' 31. With a very low ownership rate of 0.2% in Fantasy Premier League, analysts suggest his value is poised to increase if he performs well in the upcoming match against Ipswich. Khalaili has started two of Crystal Palace's three games this season and will aim to continue his strong form when they host Ipswich on Saturday.