Crystal Palace vs Everton Preview: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats

Relegation-threatened Everton travel to London for a game against the resurgent Crystal Palace, as Sean Dyche demands positive results.

Crystal Palace, who face Everton next, will feel vindicated for re-appointing Roy Hodgson, resulting in an amazing turnaround. Having seen their name mentioned along with other relegation battlers, the Eagles did come close to the bottom three at one stage.

Hodgson has managed three wins since taking over from Patrick Vieira, pushing them nine points clear of 18th-placed Nottingham Forest. A finish in the top half remains possible if Palace continue to wrap up results, particularly against the teams near the bottom three.

Last weekend, they dispatched off bottom-placed Southampton away from home, with two goals from Eberechi Eze. Hodgson will hope the revival will continue and his Palace side will keep their strong form on all fronts. Now, they host Everton, as a win on Saturday could put them level on points with Chelsea, who are not playing this weekend.

Sean Dyche had a positive start to life as Everton’s boss. He has since managed three victories in eleven games, which has pushed the Toffees back in the mix for relegation. Last weekend’s home loss to Fulham may have discouraged them. But the manager will want to make it count in the remaining games.

After a brief revival, Everton find themselves level on points with 18th-placed Nottingham Forest and only ahead on goal difference. It is not ideal for the Toffees, who have many difficult fixtures before the season ends.

Hence, collecting points from games against teams like Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Wolves, and Leicester City is imperative. They might not stand a chance to take anything against Brighton & Hove Albion, Manchester City and Newcastle United.

Team News & Tactics

Crystal Palace

Roy Hodgson may resist changing his winning formula, meaning an unchanged side could take the field. Palace could also have Wilfried Zaha and Vicente Guaita absent for this home game. Nathaniel Clyne continues to recover from a minor knee problem on the sidelines.

There are no fresh injury concerns for Hodgson after last week’s victory. Sam Johnstone should continue between the posts for this encounter. He will have a familiar back four of Joel Ward, Joachim Andersen, Marc Guehi and Tyrick Mitchell ahead.

After a brace against Southampton, Eberechi Eze will hope to make an impact again from his midfield position. He will likely take up an advanced role compared to other midfielders. Cheick Doucoure and Jeffrey Schlupp could stay deeper than the England U-21 star.

Michael Olise will continue to take his place on the right side of the front three, with Odsonne Edouard, the leading striker at this stage. Jordan Ayew will also hope to continue his impressive run since Hodgson’s arrival and will take his spot on the left side of the front three.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Johnstone; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Eze, Doucoure, Schlupp; Olise, Edouard, Ayew

Everton

The news on Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Amadou Onana will have boosted Dyche. The striker has gained massive fitness ahead of the weekend and participated in a behind-closed-doors game at Finch Park. As for the Belgian, he has recovered from a groin injury and comes back into contention.

Seamus Coleman remains out of the contest with a hamstring problem, while Abdoulaye Doucoure serves the final game of his three-match suspension. Meanwhile, Ruben Vinagre has suffered an injury that may require surgery, thus effectively ruling him out for several weeks.

Onana, if fit, and Idrissa Gueye will form the midfield partnership, with Alex Iwobi and Dwight McNeil taking the wide spots in a 4-4-2. Michael Keane should keep his place in the centre of defence alongside James Tarkowski. Nathan Patterson and Vitaliy Mykolenko will resume their roles as full-backs.

Dyche will make a late call on Calvert-Lewin and could use him alongside Demarai Gray up front. If the former does not prove his fitness, Ellis Simms could lead the line for Everton against Crystal Palace.

Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Pickford; Patterson, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Iwobi, Onana, Gueye, McNeil; Calvert-Lewin, Gray

Key Stats

• Crystal Palace have been drawing at half-time and winning at full-time in their last three matches in the Premier League.
• Crystal Palace have won their last three matches in the Premier League.
• Crystal Palace have only one victory at home in 2023, having been victorious five times here all season.
• Everton have only one victory in their last eight games in the Premier League.
• Only Nottingham Forest (6) have picked fewer points away from home than Everton (9) in the Premier League this season.

Player to Watch

Eberechi Eze

The England Under-21 star has been in sensational form since Roy Hodgson’s arrival. His performance against Leeds United recently may have made him realise the role he can play here with freedom. He duly executed it again when facing Southampton last weekend.

Eze will remain key to Palace’s chances to steer further clear of the danger zone and possibly stake their claim for a top-half finish. The Palace supporters will settle their eyes on Eze, hoping he again dazzles at Selhurst Park.

Prediction

Crystal Palace 2-0 Everton

Everton are not in the best of forms and come to London with the second-worst away record in the league. Going by recent results, nobody will credit the Toffees for getting anything out of Selhurst Park on Saturday, and they could lose again.

They will hope Everton do not have a good weekend, as Crystal Palace are clear favourites to take three points by two clear goals. Roy Hodgson has a well-oiled unit under his command and will look to make it four victories in as many games since his return to the London club.