Crystal Palace (H)

Everton vs Crystal Palace

Premier League

Goodison Park

Saturday September 21st 4pm

A second home game in quick succession against a side who played us off the park here last season. Palace are still winless in the League this season, we need to keep this winning run going with 4 successive away games in 3 competitions coming up next.

Team News

Seamus Coleman is expected to be fit after taking a bang on the head against Wolfsburg, and Sylvain Distin is fit again.
Marouane Chamakh will miss out for Palace, but Joe Ledley and Wilfred Zaha are both expected to play after injuries last week.

Howard

Coleman-Jagielka-Distin-Baines

Barry-McCarthy

Mirallas-Naismith-Osman
Eto'o

Ones to Watch

Julian Speroni, long serving keeper who actually made his Palace home debut against us 10 years ago. Saved Palace with a late penalty save at home to Burnley last week.

Mile Jedinak, captain and Palace's Tim Cahill, an Aussie pest! .

James McArthur, midfielder and former midfield partner of our own James McCarthy at Wigan. Similar in name, similar in style too!

Wilfred Zaha, winger back at Palace on loan after a disastrous year at Man United, and made an impact already with a stoppage time equaliser at Newcastle in their last away game.

Dwight Gayle, striker who has rocketed through the leagues from non league football, culminating in a pair of late goals in that hilarious 3-3 draw with our loveable neighbours!

The Ex Factor

Andrew Johnson (Crystal Palace 2002-2006, 2014-Present)

Appearances: 154 (6)

Goals: 85

(Everton 2006-2008)

Appearances: 64 (10)

Goals: 27

Previous Meetings

(Premier League, April 16th 2014)

Everton 2-3 Crystal Palace

(Naismith 61, Mirallas 86: Puncheon 23, Dann 49, Jerome 73)

(Premier League, April 10th 2005)

Everton 4-0 Crystal Palace

(Arteta 7, Cahill 47, 54, Vaughan 87)

(League Cup 2nd Round, September 12th 2001)

Everton 1-1 Crystal Palace (AET- Palace win 5-4 on penalties)

(Ferguson (P) 6: Freedman (P) 10)

(Premier League, August 9th 1997)

Everton 1-2 Crystal Palace

(Ferguson 85: Lombardo 36, Dyer (P) 77)

(Premier League, January 21st 1995)

Everton 3-1 Crystal Palace

(Ferguson 2, 87, Rideout 53: Coleman 79)

Last Time

Everton 2-3 Crystal Palace (Naismith 61, Mirallas 86: Puncheon 23, Dann 49, Jerome 73) Premier League, April 16th 2014

One of the most disappointing results of last season, and easily one of the worst performances. We'd won 7 i a row in the League going into this and it was the crucial game in hand we held over Arsenal after we'd overtook them by beating them at Goodison 10 days earlier. James McCarthy was left on the bench after taking a knock at the weekend, and we discovered that we just cant play our all attack without those 2 holding midfielders. Palace ran rings around us and deservedly led when Jason Puncheon volleyed in half way through the first half. Scott Dann headed in early in the second to give them a cushion. With Palace now dropping deep, we had a lot more of the ball, and Naismith halved the deficit on the hour. But one of the worst defended goals of all time allowed them to restore the 2 goal lead when Jerome scored on the break. Kevin Mirallas made the most of a defensive slip late on to make it 3-2 and give us hope again but it came too late.

Memorable Meeting

Everton 4-0 Crystal Palace (Arteta 7, Cahill 47, 54, Vaughan 87) Premier League, April 10th 2005

A dream start and finish to this game. Mikel Arteta curled in an early free kick to give us a lead we never ever looked like letting up, then blew Palace away in the second half. Tim Cahill scored twice, one of them a brilliant volley after a one two with Steve Watson, before at the time, our youngest ever player (since overtaken by Jose Baxter) James Vaughan slid in to score his first goal for the club 13 minutes after coming as a sub for his senior debut. He became our youngest ever goalscorer, and still holds the record for the youngest ever scorer in the Premier League. 

Prediction

Must win. Everton 3-1 Crystal Palace