Everton host Crystal Palace at Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon. The Toffees are aiming to win their third straight match in the Premier League while Crystal Palace will be keen to avoid a third straight loss. The Eagles have lost 3 of the last 5 games in the league, drawing one and winning one. Roy Hodgson simply has to get his boys back to winning ways.
Everton won their previous two games against Fulham and Leicester before the international break and will be among the clubs who hope the international break does not hamper their progress. A third win for Everton will make it the first time since 2007 that they have achieved three consecutive league wins. The record was also achieved against Palace that year. For Crystal Palace, Hodgson will hope the break has afforded his players a chance to clear their heads and return rejuvenated for a reaction in the fixtures ahead.
Palace centre-back James Tomkins said “The international break, people sometimes say has it come at a good time? But I think it's nice to have that rest early on in the season and hopefully we can put things right on Sunday." Hodgson’s magic wand that saved Palace from relegation last season and saw them finish 11th will have to be rediscovered with palace sitting just four points above the relegation zone in 14th place, a far cry from what they must have anticipated at the beginning of the season.
Marco Silva may view this as a bit of grudge match against Palace. He lost games against The Eagles during his tenure as manager for both Watford and Hull City. He will be hoping to secure a first win this time around. Something he has in his favour is the form of Icelandic midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson who has been involved in seven goals in six league starts against Palace and also has three goals in the last four Premier League games. Silva will at the same time be wary of Palace’s recent form at Goodison – 2 wins and 2 draws from the last 5 games there. Historically, this fixture is a fairly high scoring one with an average of 2.67 goals per game over the last 14 matches.
No matter how much Hodgson tries to deflect it, Palace are heavily reliant on Wilfred Zaha. Without him playing a part, Palace are yet to win a game since a September 2016 win over Sunderland. Next to him on the Palace goal scoring charts is left-back Patrick Van Aanholt. Connor Wickham who has not played a competitive game for Palace since November 2016, made his return in a friendly during the break but will not up be up to speed for Sunday. Wilfred Zaha has overcome a groin injury and will be available while Scott Dann and Christian Benteke are still injured. Max Meyer may start in midfield.
Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes are both available for selection for Everton for the first time since their arrival from Barcelona. James McCarthy is not likely to be selected despite making a return from his double leg break in a fixture for the U-23 side. Seamus Coleman has recovered from an ankle injury and is in line for selection.
Verdict
Hodgson knows his side face three of the top five very soon and will see this game as one to take all three points. Their only wins in the league this season have come on the road. Everton can be susceptible to lack of concentration this season, so I expect this to end in a draw or an away win for Palace.
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