Thursday 20 April 2017 11:37, UK
Luka Milivojevic says he joined Crystal Palace because he wanted to play in "the best league in the world" and reckons Sam Allardyce's influence has been key in the scrap for survival.
Milivojevic, a deadline day signing from Olympiakos, has been impressive in Palace's midfield under Allardyce.
Having also played in Serbia and for Anderlecht, the Serbian international admits the speed and power of the Premier League makes a change, and having been chasing titles in Greece and Belgium, is now getting used to a different fight.
Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ ahead of Palace's Super Sunday clash with Liverpool, Milivojevic said: "I wanted to make a step to play in the best league in the world. When I saw the squad I said: 'I want to play with these players, I'm sure with these we cannot be relegated.' That's what decided it for me. I think I made a good decision.
"I played in Olympiakos, which is the biggest club in Greece. It was difficult because the pressure is high, too high. Every game you have to win, and even when you win 1-0, 2-1, 60 per cent of people aren't happy because of the performance.
"I was a success there. Here is different, because here is a different fight. It's a fight to stay in the league and you play every week against strong teams. This is the difference between playing here and there.
"There I played every game with 60, 70 per cent of the ball, but here is different. The organisation of the league is different, the stadiums, the fields, the speed of the league, because many teams have a lot of strong, powerful players with speed."
With Allardyce at the helm, Palace are seven points clear of the drop zone with 15 points to play for.
They go to Anfield to face Liverpool on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports, and the 26-year-old insists Allardyce's organisation has helped Palace steer clear of danger.
"He did a lot of things for the team, not only for me, but he likes to have very good organisation on the field to stay compact. He likes the gap between lines to be short.
"With good organisation we have a lot of opportunities to make something in attack.
"We have to be with our feet on the ground, to be calm, because Liverpool are a very strong team, especially at Anfield.
"When I was a kid, my dream was to one day come to England to play in the Premier League. All people know Anfield is something different, because of the atmosphere and because Liverpool have such a big history. I will be excited to play there."
Asked if Palace were safe, Milivojevic insisted: "Not yet, we are safe when we are mathematically safe."
