Crystal Palace’s Alex McCarthy is the second most reliable shot-stopper in the Premier League so far this season, according to stats.

The 25-year-old has started six of the Eagles' eight league games this term since joining the south London club from QPR in the summer transfer window.

Palace veteran Julian Speroni has been ousted as the club’s No1, and stats vindicate Alan Pardew’s decision to put his faith in the ex-Reading star rather than Speroni or Wayne Hennessey.

McCarthy, a former England U21 player, has saved 80.56 per cent of his shots during this campaign, which has only been topped by Arsenal’s Petr Cech (81.58).

The Eagles keeper has a better save percentage than the likes of Joe Hart, Hugo Lloris and David De Gea, according to stats collated by the Evening Standard.

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