England Premier League
Monday 19th February 2024
Kick off at 8pm GMT
Venue: Goodison Park
Match Preview:
Not only have Everton and Crystal Palace got problems on the pitch they have it off the pitch too. Many problems and a win for either side will really feel like six points. For Everton their appeal for FFP charges are expected this week, will they get their 10 points reinstated, will it be a partial deduction or will they fail and be in the same situation now? There is no doubt that the charges could end up relegating Everton because if we look at what has happened on the pitch then the club would be in 12th place, challenging for a top half finish to the season and be 9 points clear of the bottom three. As it is Everton are in trouble and have managed just 3 points from their last 15 with no wins in the league this year. Last weekend was the Toffees 11th loss of the season as they went down 2-0 against Manchester City in what would have been an expected result. At home the club will need to improve but it’s been over two months since Sean Dyche’s side have experienced a win. That match was a 2-0 result over Chelsea and since then they have lost at home against Manchester City and drawn their last two games which came against Aston Villa and Tottenham.
Crystal Palace were dealt with the sad news that manager Roy Hodgson had taken ill during training and was rushed to hospital in midweek. This comes on the back of the possibility of the 76 year old being sacked after a poor run. Hodgson surely will not make this game in the dugout and is also expected to step down as a result, we shall have to wait and see how this pans out. As for the football side of things Palace are in 16th place with 24 points and have lost their last two games in a row with defeats against Brighton and Chelsea where they also conceded 7 goals in that time. They have won two of their last five games but their free fall has felt dramatic and they are on course to end up with about 10 points less than they normally take in. Away form has seen 50% of games lost and just 3 wins so far and that includes losing their last 3 in a row and conceding 9 goals in their last two games.
Team News:
Everton: Arnaut Danjuma has an ankle injury and is set to be out for a few weeks yet, Andre Gomes remains sidelined with a calf injury with no return date. Dele Alli may not appear again this season as he continues to suffer with a groin injury.
Crystal Palace: Will Hughes will be assessed for a knock but could return, Eberechi Eze, Rob Holding, Marc Guehi, Jesurun Ra-Sakyi and Michael Olise are all missing. Chieck Doucoure could be out for the season with an Achilles injury.
Everton vs Crystal Palace Head to Head:
Last season Everton won this fixture 3-0.
The teams met here last month in the FA Cup and Everton won 1-0.
Everton have avoided defeat in their last six meetings with Crystal Palace.
3 of the last four meetings have seen under 1.5 goals.
Everton vs Crystal Palace Prediction:
Everton have a good recent record over Crystal Palace and the key here will be who starts the brighter of the two. This has been a troubled season for Everton but at the same time it has been a successful one once you add the points deduction, if we compare the last couple of seasons. Dyche’s side have, at times, played good football and were even able to frustrate Manchester City at the Etihad for 70 minutes. There are two sides to this Everton team, and if they play some of the positive football we have seen them do, then beating a club around them in the league should be straightforward.
For Crystal Palace form has not been great but they do have the added motivation to get a positive result for the manager. You get the sense that the players are close to Roy Hodgson, and having him be ill may just spur them on, it would be the perfect medicine for their veteran manager. This is why we expect to see a close game, very tight in the first half. Everton need to shrug off draws but if this is a close one will they risk going all out attack?
Everton vs Crystal Palace Betting Tips:
Half Time Result: Draw at 2.10
Half Time Correct Score: 0-0 at 2.50
First goalscorer: Dominic Calvert-Lewin at 5.50
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