The Athletic Ranks Anan Khalaily High in Crystal Palace Squad

Israeli player Anan Khalaily has quickly established himself in the Crystal Palace rotation, according to The Athletic's ranking of the first-team squad for the 2026-27 season. Khalaily was placed eighth out of 21 players, impressing with his intensity and contributions on both ends of the field. The Athletic noted that Khalaily leads the Premier League in tackles this season, though they cautioned this could also indicate the team spends more time defending or that his positioning is not always optimal.

Offensively, however, Khalaily has received strong praise. The Athletic described him as "threatening offensively" and a "promising long-term solution" for his position, despite still learning defensively. He is seen as a strong long-term replacement for Daniel Muñoz, who departed Palace for Nottingham Forest.

The analysis also highlighted the interplay between Khalaily and teammate Chris Richards, who was ranked 17th. Richards reportedly struggled when Khalaily pushed forward, illustrating both the attacking freedom granted to the Israeli and the defensive balance Palace is working to achieve.

Khalaily was also involved in a notable moment during the 0-0 draw with Leeds prior to the international break. A goal by the player was disallowed due to a "marginal offside" by Khalaily, a decision that The Athletic suggested prevented the player from reaching three goals for the season.