Crystal Palace will host Everton in the Premier League this weekend, looking to build on the win over Burnley in their last league outing.
Crystal Palace are 11th in the Premier League table, and they will be hoping to push for a top-half finish this season, meaning the game against Everton at Selhurst Park on Saturday is crucial for the home side.
Meanwhile, Everton are 16th in the Premier League standings, and they cannot afford to drop points. They have been fighting their relegation battle over the last couple of seasons, and it seems like they could be in for a similar fate this time around as well.
The Toffees are coming into this game on the back of a draw against Brighton & Hove Albion. Sean Dyche and his charges will be now hoping to pull off a positive result away from home when they take on Crystal Palace.
Both teams will fancy their chances of picking up a victory against each other, and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top in the end. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Crystal Palace
The Eagles will be without the services of Michael Olise and Dean Henderson because of their respective thigh injuries. James Tomkins is sidelined with a calf injury. They will likely shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Sam Johnstone in goal.
Joel Ward and Tyrick Mitchell will be deployed as the full-backs here, and they will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Joachim Andersen and Marc Guehi will start in the central defensive unit.
In the midfield pivot, Cheick Doucoure will start alongside Jefferson Lerma. The two players will look to protect the defenders and break up opposition attacks.
Jordan Ayew and Jeffrey Schlup will be deployed as the wingers, and they will look to open up the Everton defence with pace and flair. Eberechi Eze will be deployed as the central attacking midfielder here and he will link the midfield with the attack. Odsonne Edouard will lead the line for Crystal Palace here.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Johnstone; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Doucoure, Lerma; Ayew, Eze, Schlupp; Edouard
Everton
The away side will be without the services of Dele Alli because of a groin injury. Andre Gomes and Seamus Coleman are set to miss out with their respective fitness issues as well. Everton will shape up in a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Jordan Pickford in goal.
Ashley Young and Vitaliy Mykolenko will start as the full-backs. They will look to protect the central defenders and help out during counterattacks. Jarrad Branthwaite will start alongside James Tarkowski at the heart of the defence.
Jack Harrison and Dwight McNeil will add pace and creativity from the wide areas. James Garner will start in the middle of the park alongside Idrissa Gueye. The two players will look to help out defensively and protect the central defence.
Abdoulaye Doucoure will start as the centre attacking midfielder here and he will look to add drive to the midfield. Finally, Dominic Calvert-Lewin will lead the line for Everton.
Probable Lineup (4-4-1-1): Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Garner, Gueye, Mcneil; Doucoure; Calvert-Lewin
Key Stats
- 18 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between the two sides.
- Everton are unbeaten in four of their last six league games.
- Crystal Palace have won just two of their last six league games.
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There have been under 2.5 goals scored in Everton‘s last 3 games in the Premier League.
Player to Watch
Eberechi Eze
The 25-year-old Crystal Palace midfielder has been in fine form this season, and he will look to help create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates with his flair, link-up play and vision in the final third.
Crystal Palace will need him to step up and deliver if they want to grind out all three points here. Meanwhile, the English international is set to sign a new long-term contract with Crystal Palace and will look to celebrate that with a game-changing performance.
Prediction
Crystal Palace 1-1 Everton
Both teams will be desperate for a victory here, and this is likely to be a close contest. Neither side are solid defensively, and there will be goal-scoring opportunities for both teams. They are likely to get on the score sheet here but it will be hard to separate the two teams. Crystal Palace and Everton are likely to cancel each other out in a draw this weekend.
