<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4DHzOi_0vhZ00VU00" style="display:none" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4DHzOi_0vhZ00VU00" width="1666" height="937" ><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0d9t5q_0vhZ00VU00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0d9t5q_0vhZ00VU00" width="3333" height="553" ><figcaption>[Credit: BBC] </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1NTlVi_0vhZ00VU00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1NTlVi_0vhZ00VU00" width="1024" height="576" ><figcaption>[Credit: Getty Images] </figcaption></figure><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> While shirt numbers may only seem symbolic in football, for Dean Henderson this summer, it was anything but. When Crystal Palace gave Henderson the literal number-one jersey before the season started, with previous owner Sam Johnstone still at the club, it was final confirmation of what was already clear – Henderson was the club's choice of the two rivals. In truth, that positional battle had been decided for some time. With Henderson having usurped the Palace starting role last season and, admittedly through injury, Johnstone's place at the Euros, it was a matter of time before the now number two left the club. As a pure shot-stopper, there have been few doubts about Henderson's superiority, and his performance against <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Bnewsbreak.com%5D-%5Blink%5D-%5Bsport%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D" rel="nofollow"> Manchester United </a> was a second defiant display against a stronger side in the opening fixtures - giving the team an undeserved draw. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> In fact, after this weekend, Henderson leads the Premier League in 'goals prevented' with +3.9, per Opta, while England incumbent Jordan Pickford is sat bottom of the division in a struggling <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/everton?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Bnewsbreak.com%5D-%5Blink%5D-%5Bsport%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D" rel="nofollow"> Everton </a> side. Despite that statistical accolade, detractors remain among the fans. After all, goalkeeping extends beyond just the shots faced, with players always under the microscope for any errors they may commit. The past few weeks have been anything but plain sailing. On the way to conceding goals, there was hesitation in closing down Jamie Vardy against <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/leicester-city?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Bnewsbreak.com%5D-%5Blink%5D-%5Bsport%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D" rel="nofollow"> Leicester </a> and a weak punch against QPR. Additionally, his distribution, admittedly a theme of the entire team for the opening 45 minutes this weekend, is an area needing improvement. However, as the lone number-one talent and with the club's full endorsement, Henderson has peace of mind that the job is his - and it is already positively impacting the scoreline. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Find more from Alex Pewter at <a href="https://podcast.sport-social.co.uk/podcast/fyp-podcast/" rel="nofollow"> FYP podcast </a><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4A2MF3_0vhZ00VU00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4A2MF3_0vhZ00VU00" width="1826" height="317" ><figcaption>[Credit: BBC] </figcaption></figure></div></body>

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Palace's number one 'knows the role is his'

While shirt numbers may only seem symbolic in football, for Dean Henderson this summer, it was anything but. When Crystal Palace gave Henderson the literal number-one jersey before the season started, with previous owner Sam Johnstone still at the club, it was final confirmation of what was already clear – Henderson was the club's choice of the two rivals. In truth, that positional battle had been decided for some time. With Henderson having usurped the Palace starting role last season and, admittedly through injury, Johnstone's place at the Euros, it was a matter of time before the now number two left the club.

Palace's number one 'knows the role is his'

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