Frank Lampard has a job to arrest his side’s slump and avoid a fourth successive defeat when Everton welcome Crystal Palace to Goodison Park.
Everton, who face Crystal Palace next, seem to have lost a bit of momentum recently as they seek to avoid a fourth successive loss in the Premier League. After going six games unbeaten following the defeat to Aston Villa, the Toffees have succumbed to consecutive losses to Manchester United, Tottenham and Newcastle United recently.
Everton started the season well, and after narrowly scrapping through a relegation battle, Frank Lampard seemed to build a strong foundation this season. But the recent dropped points have taken them closer to the relegation zone than the top half of the table.
Moreover, despite the slender loss to Newcastle United, it was the third game in a row where Everton failed to threaten the opposition. Their attack has been lacking ruthlessness and inability to create clear-cut chances. However, Lampard will look to channel the belief and take inspiration from the game against Crystal Palace back in May. The Toffees had come from two goals down to beat the Londoners late last season.
In contrast, Crystal Palace are enjoying decent form in the build-up to the clash at Goodison Park. Patrick Vieira is yet to oversee a rich vein of form, as the Eagles’ performances have been largely inconsistent. The Londoners have gone unbeaten since their disappointing outcome against Chelsea despite a promising display.
Vieira’s men responded with a comeback victory against Leeds United on home soil. And they replicated that result against Wolverhampton Wanderers in midweek, as goals from Eberechi Eze and Wilfried Zaha earned the Eagles all three points. But Crystal Palace could only manage a draw away to Leicester between those two games.
Those results showcase the inconsistencies, although their recent good form could help Vieira build valuable momentum. Everton are a tough side at Goodison Park, and Palace will have to find the form to get the ball rolling against Lampard’s men.
Team News & Tactics
Everton
An injury update ahead of #EVECRY from Frank, who says Nathan Patterson could be back for #FULEVE next week.
Watch: https://t.co/iQ5CUd7Xp6 pic.twitter.com/78VPy5KWWH
— Everton (@Everton) October 21, 2022
Frank Lampard will be happy with injury news as Everton came through the Newcastle United game unscathed. Nathan Patterson, Yerry Mina, Andros Townsend and Ben Godfrey are the only absentees. The Colombian was inching closer to a return, but he has reportedly suffered a fresh setback.
Everton fans will have been delighted to see Dominic Calvert-Lewin start a game and play for 73 minutes against Newcastle. The English striker could be expected to remain in the eleven against Crystal Palace. Lampard would like the forward to get a run of games in the hope of finding his lethal form in front of the goal.
Meanwhile, the Everton boss will have to decide in midfield. Idrissa Gueye has been on a downward spiral in recent weeks, which has resulted in Everton losing control in midfield. Hence, Tom Davies or James Garner could start against Palace, with Alex Iwobi and Amadou Onana on either side.
Otherwise, there are not many changes expected, with Lampard likely to retain most players. Mason Holgate was on the bench against Newcastle, but the Everton manager will continue with Conor Coady and James Tarkowski in central defence.
Probable lineup (4-3-3): Pickford; Coleman, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Iwobi, Davies, Onana; Gordon, Calvert-Lewin, Gray
Crystal Palace
Patrick Vieira will travel with a squad still missing several first-team players. Jack Butland, James McArthur, Nathaniel Clyne, Nathan Ferguson, Chris Richards and Will Hughes are all out. Hughes could still be in contention as he only has an illness.
Despite the many absentees, Vieira can name a strong and unchanged side from the Wolverhampton Wanderers game. The back-four of Joel Ward, Joachim Andersen, Marc Guehi and Tyrick Mitchell are set to start against Everton.
"We know how difficult it is to go there because of the pressure and atmosphere. We will have to be ready." 📢#EVECRY 🔜 #CPFC pic.twitter.com/5hKRBe1dYG
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) October 21, 2022
Cheick Doucoure has been slightly off form recently, but Vieira will likely go with him again and keep Luka Milivojevic on the bench. Eberechi Eze and Jeffrey Schlupp will keep their places alongside Doucoure in the middle of the park.
Wilfried Zaha will continue his role as the de-facto leader of the Crystal Palace attack against Everton. Odsonne Edouard’s hard-working display against Wolves keeps him ahead of Jean-Philippe Mateta in the pecking order, while Michael Olise is likely to start on the right.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Guaita; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Schlupp, Doucoure, Eze; Olise, Edouard, Zaha
Key Stats
- Everton have lost their last three matches in the Premier League.
- Everton are undefeated in their last seven home matches against Crystal Palace in all competitions.
- Crystal Palace have failed to win their last six away matches in the Premier League.
- Crystal Palace have scored at least two goals in their last three matches against Everton in all competitions.
- Crystal Palace are unbeaten in their last three Premier League games.
Player to Watch
Wilfried Zaha
✌️ @wilfriedzaha #CPFC pic.twitter.com/kP0S5YjF0T
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) October 21, 2022
After scoring the match-winner against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Zaha could yearn to return to being at the show’s top. The Crystal Palace talisman has endured an inconsistent season, but things look bright for him. More than anything, his form has coincided with Palace’s inconsistencies, which Vieira would like to improve upon.
Zaha will have the spotlight on him against Everton, and he will have to deliver once more. While there has been chatter this Palace team could cope without the Ivory Coast international, he still has a huge role to play if the team are to better their finish from last season.
Prediction
Everton 1-1 Crystal Palace
These are two inconsistent sides vying to stay relevant in the season. The most obvious prediction would be a Crystal Palace win, but Patrick Vieira’s men have not won six of their last away games. Everton have fallen prey to their old disastrous form, which may see an evenly-matched contest at Goodison Park.
Wilfried Zaha and Eberechi Eze have shined for Crystal Palace, and one would expect them to do so against Everton. But the Toffees have home advantage, and their record against the Eagles has been quite good in recent seasons. In the end, this game is headed for a draw.
