When Eagles Dare charts Crystal Palace F.C’s remarkable resurgence from financial ruin and administration in 2010, to playing in the 2013 Championship play-offs for promotion to the Premier League.

When Eagles Dare

## Cheick, Cheick, Cheick

> “I couldn’t sign anywhere other than Palace,” announced Cheick Doucouré after completing his switch from Lens to the Premier League in July 2022.

As a Mali international – the African side nicknamed ‘The Eagles’ – it was like it was meant to be. “I’m a believer,” he laughed. “It’s destiny and destiny always does nice things. I’ve been an Eagle since my childhood so this is a good thing.”

The 22-year-old midfielder arrived with a big reputation, having been a crucial part of the Lens side that finished seventh in Ligue 1 just a year after promotion from the second division.

Doucouré cut his teeth at the AS Real Bamako Academy in his native Mali. The side has produced a number of talented Malian internationals, including the likes of RB Salzburg’s Mohamed Camara and Tottenham Hotspur's Yves Bissouma.

He signed for Lens in the 2017/18 season and quickly established himself in the first-team at 18 years old. Playing in his preferred central midfield role, he helped the side reach a Ligue 2 promotion play-off final in his first full season in northern France.

The midfielder’s efforts didn’t go unnoticed as his performances earned him a callup to the Mali national team in November 2018, where he made his debut against Gabon in the 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifying.

Doucouré is looking forward to working under legendary midfielder Patrick Vieira. “What I want him to \[teach\] me is what I’m missing in my game so far,” he said. “I want him to teach me a lot of things, to reach the highest level. He’s been a really important factor in me signing for Palace.

“I know that the Palace fans \[will\] expect a lot from me. I'm going to work hard and I will make sure they’re happy to have me as a Palace player. I can't wait to start training with Palace and meet my new teammates.”

Doucoure

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Appearances

Goals

Goals Inside Box

Goals Outside Box

Right Foot

Left Foot

Shots

Shots on target

Hit woodwork

Penalties taken

Penalties scored

Touches

Touches in opposition box

Aerial duels

Aerial duels won

Interceptions

Blocks

Recoveries

Tackles won

Duels won

Clearances

Minutes

Attempted passes

Successful passes

Chances created

Crosses

Yellow cards

Red cards

Fouls won

Fouls Conceded

Season

Games

With temperatures exceeding 30 degrees at Copers Cope Road, the first-team squad sweated their way through the heat as they set their sights on likely title challengers Liverpool.

Wilfried Zaha and co. are looking to win at Anfield for the first time since 2017, and will be keen to put the lessons learned against Arsenal into practice.

Michael Olise was among those training as he continues to work towards full fitness, and the 20-year-old could still be involved in the squad on Monday – [read Vieira’s full update here](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/first-team/patrick-vieira-shares-michael-olise-update-and-blueprint-for-liverpool/2022-08-12/).

Check out the best shots of the side in training in the gallery below!

Patrick Vieira has been preparing his side for a difficult first away trip of the season, as they trained in the south London sunshine before the trip to Anfield on Monday evening.

Gallery: Palace handle heat before Anfield visit

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The 2022/23 season has almost begun for Crystal Palace Women, and with 15 signings made this summer, there’s a lot of catching up to do. 

At the team’s media day, Palace TV set about with a giant green screen and a list of questions to meet the squad, catching up with some familiar faces and a host of new names. 

Below, you can find the full squad list, with numbers and international allegiances. 

But, if you know all that already, find out something new about the players – like whose favourite food is… peas, who orders water at Nando’s, and which hand moves a bagpipe. Although, on second thoughts, you’ll be none the wiser with that last one.

Meet the Palace Women squad

| **Name** | **Number** | **Position** | **Joined from** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Fran Kitching | 1 | Goalkeeper | Sheffield United |
| Annabel Johnson | 2 | Defender | \- |
| Fliss Gibbons | 3 | Left-back | Brighton |
| Chloe Arthur | 4 | Midfielder | Aston Villa |
| Anna Filbey | 5 | Midfielder | Charlton |
| Aimee Everett | 6 | Defender |  |
| Chloe Peplow | 7 | Midfielder | Reading (loan) |
| Molly Sharpe | 8 | Forward | \- |
| Rianna Dean | 9 | Forward | Liverpool |
| Annabel Blanchard | 10 | Forward | Blackburn Rovers |
| Kirsten Reilly | 11 | Midfielder | Rangers |
| Lizzie Waldie | 12 | Defender | \- |
| Natalia Negri | 13 | Goalkeeper | Charlton |
| Paige Bailey-Gayle | 14 | Forward | Leicester City |
| Hollie Olding | 15 | Defender | Charlton |
| Ellie Noble | 16 | Midfielder | Lewes |
| Isabella Sibley | 17 | Defender | \- |
| Kirsty Barton | 18 | Midfielder | \- |
| Elise Hughes | 19 | Forward | Charlton |
| Polly Doran | 20 | Full-back | Melbourne Victory Australia |
| Shauna Guyatt | 21 | Midfielder | Chelsea Academy |
| Hope Smith | 22 | Goalkeeper | \- |
| Coral Haines | 23 | Midfielder | \- |
| Leigh Nicol | 24 | Midfielder | \- |
| Charley Clifford | 25 | Midfielder | \- |

And if you’re wanting to keep up to date with the latest news from Palace Women, subscribe to our monthly newsletter below!

“Don’t ask me in-depth questions about bagels.”

Shepherd’s pies and shaking eyes: Meet the Palace Women

#### Summary

- Paddy McCarthy made eight changes to the side which beat Brighton four days ago

- David Omilabu opened the scoring in the sixth minute

- John-Kymani Gordon doubled the lead for the young Eagles just after the half hour mark

- Charlie Savage pulled one back for Man Utd in added time of the first-half

- **Half-time: Manchester United 1-2 Crystal Palace**

- Rob Street headed home a third for Palace straight after the restart

- Killian Phillips notched the fourth five minutes later

- Omilabu and Phillips rattled the crossbar in quick succession in the 70th minute

- Phillips secured his brace three minutes from time with a near post header

- **Full-time: Manchester United 1-5 Crystal Palace**

U21 Match Highlights: Manchester United 1-5 Crystal Palace

Four day on from the opening day [3-2 victory over rivals Brighton & Hove Albion](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/match-reports/crystal-palace-v-brighton-hove-albion-in-the-premier-league-2-division-1/2022-08-08/) at Selhurst Park, the young Eagles were on the road to face Manchester United in their first away game of the season.

Paddy McCarthy made wholesale changes to the side, with only Owen Goodman, Jake O’Brien and skipper Jack Wells-Morrison keeping their spots in the starting XI. New signing Seán Grehan made his debut at the heart of the defence.

In the sweltering heat at the Leigh Sports Village, the young Eagles got off to a flying start. A floated free-kick into the box was met by the head of O’Brien and sent back across goal which Dermot Mee in the Man United goal parried away back into the path of David Ozoh.

The midfielder, [who recently signed his first pro contract](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/david-ozoh-signs-professional-contract-with-crystal-palace/2022-08-11/), headed the ball back into David Omilabu’s path and the forward pivoted and finished past the scrambling United defence to give Palace the lead in the opening six minutes.

Both sides were evenly matched after Omilabu’s opener. Palace were passing and probing to find a second, whilst United were looking to find a foothold in the game.

Mateo Mejia had the pick of the chances for the hosts, firstly firing just wide on the half hour mark, and then curling a long-range effort just past the post shortly afterwards.

United were left to rue their missed chances as just after the half-hour mark John-Kymani Gordon doubled Palace’s lead. The striker was played in by an excellent Killian Phillips through ball and was one on one with Will Fish, before curling an excellent finish in towards the far post.

Gordon almost secured a brace within a minute, finding himself in a similar position, though this time his effort was saved by Mee and an onrushing Omilabu poked the ball just wide.

Palace looked to go into the half with a two goal cushion, however an excellent finish from Charlie Savage saw the hosts halve the deficit in first-half stoppage time.

Man United came racing out the blocks in the second-half as they looked to find a way back into the game. Omari Forson had a curling effort from around 25-yards out within seconds of the restart, though it didn’t trouble Goodman in the Palace goal.

With their first attack of the second-half, the young Eagles restored their two goal cushion. Rob Street ghosted in at the far post to get on the end of a perfectly flighted Gordon cross and headed in from close range.

Palace were in complete control after restoring the two goal buffer. Just four minutes later, a floated ball in from left-back Noah Watson wasn’t dealt with by the United defence and Phillips slid in to find a fourth for the young Eagles.

The south Londoners were running riot in Manchester after notching their fourth. Gordon nearly found the top corner with a curling effort from 20-yards out, whilst both Phillips and Omilabu hit the crossbar with 20 minutes remaining on the clock.

With just over three minutes remaining on the clock, Phillips managed to put the icing on the cake with a fifth for Palace. A dangerous corner from Wells-Morrison was whipped in with pace towards the near-post and Phillips’ textbook glancing header nestled in the side netting.

The referee brought an end to proceedings after five minutes of stoppage time to cap off a fantastic performance from Paddy McCarthy’s side. Though it is early doors, they now sit top of the Premier League 2 Division 1 with two wins out of two.

**Manchester United:** Mee, Wellens, Pye, Hardley, Fish, Mainoo, Forson, Savage, Mejia (Jurado, 76), Hansen-Aaroen (McNeill, 66), Shortire (Emeran, 66).

Subs not used: Wooster, Fredricson.

**Crystal Palace:** Goodman, Rodney, O’Brien, Grehan, Watson (Mooney, 88), Ozoh, Wells-Morrison, Omilabu (Balmer, 80), Phillips, Gordon (Akinwale, 80), Street (Ola-Adebomi, 88).

Subs not used: Shala.

*Football Dreams: The Academy, a documentary about the Palace Academy, airs from 21:00 on Thursday, 11th August in the UK only.* [*Find out more here*](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/academy/channel-4-to-air-documentary-series-on-crystal-palace-academy-football-dreams-the-academy/2022-08-09/)*.*

Crystal Palace Under-21s put in a performance of immense quality as they put five goals past Manchester United at a sunbaked Leigh Sports Village. A brace from Killian Phillips, along with goals from John-Kymani Gordon, Rob Street and David Omilabu saw the south Londoners seal an emphatic victory.

U21s Report: Phillips brace sees five-star Palace dispatch Man United

Manchester United U21 v Crystal Palace U21 (2022-08-12)

Training

Training

Gallery: Palace handle heat before Anfield visit

Shepherd’s pies and shaking eyes: Meet the Palace Women

U21s Report: Phillips brace sees five-star Palace dispatch Man United

Shop online

Latest Videos

U18 Match Highlights: Crystal Palace 2-3 West Ham United

U21 Match Highlights: Manchester United 1-5 Crystal Palace

Zaha shooting drills + Olise back in action | CCTV

Marc Guehi Interview

The manager speaks to the press ahead of tough fixture at Anfield.

Eze surprises kids at PFL soccer school

28Cheick Oumar
Doucouré

Training

Training

Gallery: Palace handle heat before Anfield visit

Shepherd’s pies and shaking eyes: Meet the Palace Women

U21s Report: Phillips brace sees five-star Palace dispatch Man United

Shop online

Latest Videos

U18 Match Highlights: Crystal Palace 2-3 West Ham United

U21 Match Highlights: Manchester United 1-5 Crystal Palace

Zaha shooting drills + Olise back in action | CCTV

Marc Guehi Interview

The manager speaks to the press ahead of tough fixture at Anfield.

Eze surprises kids at PFL soccer school

28Cheick OumarDoucouré

28Cheick Oumar
Doucouré