Crystal Palace midfielder Luka Milivojevic is set to remain suspended for the entire month of November after the Eagles’ appeal against his red card against Wolves was rejected by the FA.
Milivojevic was making just his second league start of the campaign for Palace in their 2-0 defeat at Molineux last time out, but the 39-cap Serbia international was sent off in the closing minutes of the contest for a challenge on Joao Moutinho as Roy Hodgson’s sides frustrations were compounded.
After the defeat, Hodgson vented his frustrations over the decision to send Milivojevic off, suggesting that the decision was a ‘gross injustice,’ per Evening Standard. Palace had therefore been hoping that the midfielder could avoid a suspension and be able to feature in their forthcoming matches.
However, the Eagles’ appeal against the red card for Milivojevic has been turned down by the FA, which means that the Serbian will now sit out the rest of the month for Palace. That will see Hodgson lose the influential midfielder for matches against Leeds, Burnley and Newcastle, per Evening Standard.
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Whilst this is a blow for Hodgson, it is not quite as big of an issue as it might have been last season, when Milivojevic was very much an integral part of Palace’s starting line-up in the Premier League as he made 31 appearances and averaged two tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game (Sofascore).
The Serbian has become more of a rotation option for Hodgson so far this term, with Jairo Riedewald having established himself in the starting line-up at the start of the campaign. Therefore, Palace should be able to cope without the 29-year-old for the next three matches.
However, what cannot be underestimated is the quality Milivojevic brings to the team, with his set pieces and defensive discipline key for Palace over the last few seasons. Those qualities saw him labelled as ‘outstanding’ by Hodgson, so it will be a significant boost when they are able to call upon the Serbian once again.
