On Saturday, Everton will face Crystal Palace at Goodison Park in an attempt to avoid a fourth straight Premier League defeat.
In contrast to the Toffees’ midweek loss to Newcastle United on the road, the Eagles overcame a deficit to defeat Wolverhampton Wanderers at home.
Our Match Preview: Everton vs Crystal Palace
Frank Lampard looked to be developing momentum with Everton at the start of this season, going seven games undefeated in all competitions between August and October. Merseysiders have subsequently lost three straights, including 1-0 against Newcastle on Wednesday.
They are now 15th in the Premier League, one point above the relegation zone. Lampard has lots to think about as they approach their last five games before the World Cup, but he’ll be confident that Saturday’s match against Crystal Palace will get them back on track.
Everton is undefeated in their past seven home encounters against Palace, including last season’s 3-2 triumph thanks to Dominic Calvert-85th-minute Lewin’s winner.
No top-flight club has scored fewer goals on home soil than the Toffees, with only three in their first five league matches. Lampard will be looking for indications of progress in the final third after Everton’s solitary chance against Newcastle.
Crystal Palace overcame Wolves 2-1 at home a week after beating Leeds United 2-1 at home. Adama Traore’s 31st-minute header gave the visitors the lead, but Eberechi Eze equalized two minutes later.
Wilfried Zaha’s 70th-minute goal capped Palace’s comeback. Patrick Vieira’s side is now three points above Everton and six points behind the top five.
Closer to Europe before the World Cup cannot be ruled out for the Eagles, who face Everton, Southampton, West Ham United, and Nottingham Forest.
Three of these games, including this weekend’s trip to Goodison Park, are away from home, and they have yet to win on the road this season, drawing three times, including two goalless draws.
Only Fulham in December 2008 has ever played three consecutive 0-0 matches in the Premier League. Crystal Palace has only won one of their past 15 top-flight encounters with Everton, 3-1 at Selhurst Park last season, so they’ll need to be on top of their game on Saturday.
Our Team News: Everton vs Crystal Palace
While Ben Godfrey (fractured fibula) and Nathan Patterson (ankle) are still out, Yerry Mina (calf) and Andros Townsend (ACL) are both expected to return next month.
Calvert-Lewin played 73 minutes in his first start of the season against Newcastle, and the 25-year-old striker has a chance to keep his starting spot in the starting lineup against Neal Maupay.
The recent decline in Idrissa Gueye’s play has opened the door for either James Garner or Tom Davies to start in the middle of the field for Everton alongside Amadou Onana and Alex Iwobi (who scored in their last home game against Manchester United).
Will Hughes is questionable with sickness and will be evaluated before kickoff, while Crystal Palace is still without Nathaniel Clyne (ankle), Nathan Ferguson (ankle), James McArthur (groin), Chris Richards (thigh), and Jack Butland (wrist).
Perhaps Vieira will go with the same starting XI that defeated Wolves on Wednesday, with Michael Olise starting in place of Jordan Ayew in the front three with Wilfried Zaha and Odsonne Edouard.
The back four of Joel Ward, Marc Guehi, Joachim Andersen, and Tyrick Mitchell will be looking to defend goalkeeper Vicente Guaita, who has preserved two clean sheets and made 11 saves in his past two away games.
- Everton Possible Starting Lineup: Pickford, Coleman, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Iwobi, Garner, Onana, Gray, Calvert-Lewin, Gordon.
- Crystal Palace Possible Starting Lineup: Guaita, Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell, Eze, Doucoure, Schlupp, Olise, Edouard, Zaha.
Our Prediction: Everton 1-1 Crystal Palace
The two teams enter Saturday’s match on the heels of outcomes that couldn’t be more different from one another, and Crystal Palace will be aiming to build on their victory from the previous week to keep their spot in the top half of the league.
The Eagles may have a difficult time picking up another three points against an energized Everton team. We believe Everton will break their winless run and earn at least a point in front of the Goodison Park fans if they can secure a draw or better in this match.
