Prior to Crystal Palace's 4-2 home defeat to Liverpool on Oct. 29, a statistic surfaced that showed how crucial a player Jason Puncheon is to Alan Pardew's side. Since the midfielder signed for the club in 2013, Palace haven't won a single league game he hasn't started.
Puncheon is an underrated midfield force in English football. A player with grace, tenacity, composure and a willingness to receive the ball whether surrounded by two players or five, he has qualities that so often seem rare in English players -- a continental touch of flare.
In the games preceding Palace's run of defeats, Puncheon was instrumental in creating chances, so much so he was ranked as having created the most in the division.