Everton will be looking to record back-to-back victories for the first time this season when they host Crystal Palace at Goodison Park on Sunday. Last season the Toffees defeated the Eagles 3-1 in this fixture, while the reverse match at Selhurst Park ended 2-2. Striker Oumar Niasse scored in both matches, but this season he wasn't given any Premier League starts by manager Marco Silva. Overall, Everton have won just two of the last six direct matches, while the other four were draws. Crystal Palace have not defeated Everton since 2014, but that year they beat them in two consecutive matches.
Everton are still struggling to find some consistency this season, they have not managed to win consecutive matches up to this point but have only lost two of their eight Premier League matches so far. Before the international break they were knocked out of the League Cup by Southampton, but a few days after that they recovered with a 2-1 Premier League victory at Leicester. Right-back Seamus Coleman is still sidelined with an injury, but Everton are eagerly awaiting the debuts of summer signings Andre Gomes and Yerry Mina, who are finally match fit. Idrissa Gueye picked up a knock during the international break and is an injury doubt ahead of this match.
Crystal Palace haven't recorded consecutive wins this season either, but they have lost no less than five of their eight Premier League matches so far. However, they are still involved in the League Cup after having defeated West Ham 3-0 in the third round, but after that match they lost 2-1 at Bournemouth and 1-0 at home against Wolves in the Premier League. Striker Christian Benteke is out of contention for the Eagles, but Connor Wickham and Scott Dann have recovered and are ready for some first-team action, albeit from the bench. Wilfried Zaha seems to have aggravated a groin issue while on international duty with Ivory Coast, so he is an injury doubt for this match.
Probable line-ups:
Everton: Pickford - Kenny, Keane, Zouma, Digne - Davies, Schneiderlin - Walcott, Sigurdsson, Bernard - Richarlison
Crystal Palace: Hennessey - Wan-Bissaka, Tomkins, Sakho, Van Aanholt - Townsend, McArthur, Milivojevic, Schlupp - Ayew, Zaha
My prediction: Everton to win 2-1, the Toffees should be much stronger once Mina and Gomes enter the starting line up.
Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:
Everton win - 1.85
Draw - 3.60
Crystal Palace win - 4.75
Your feedback
Please enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
