Israeli Defender Anan Khalaili Praised as Premier League's Best

Israeli defender Anan Khalaili has impressed in his debut Premier League season with Crystal Palace, earning significant praise from English football journalists. Despite a summer transfer to Italian club Inter Milan falling through due to medical tests, Khalaili has become a standout performer for Crystal Palace.

Veteran English journalist John Fisher included Khalaili in his team of the season so far, highlighting his strong performances and ability to fill the void left by Daniel Muñoz on the right side of defense. Fisher noted Khalaili leads the league with 21 tackles and 15 clearances, in addition to scoring one goal.

Fisher described Khalaili as "one of Crystal Palace's bright spots" this season, stating he has "put in a series of strong performances and proven he can compete at the highest level." He added that Khalaili has integrated well into the team despite summer changes and become one of their most prominent players.

Despite Crystal Palace's challenging start to the season, securing only four points in their first five matches, Khalaili's individual form has been a source of encouragement. The Israeli player was also named in the season's opening lineup by statistics website WhoScored, with an average rating of 7.16. WhoScored praised Khalaili as "very fast and skillful," suggesting he needs defensive improvement but has the potential to achieve more than Crystal Palace.

Khalaili's strong performances have led to him being recognized as one of the Premier League's top players early in the season.