Crystal Palace vs Everton tips and predictions: Toffees to edge past Palace
- Thomas Ridley
- 2 January 2024
Attention turns to the FA Cup on Thursday night, as Everton take on Crystal Palace in an all Premier League third round tie (2000 GMT).
It's the weekend that football fans have been waiting for, the FA Cup third round, where David meets Goliath and the opportunity for players to write their name into folklore.
This year's draw has thrown up some classic ties including Sunderland vs Newcastle and Arsenal vs Liverpool, but for every 'glamour' tie, there's the ones where your club is drawn against a team that they have played against twice a year, for the last 10 years.
That's the case here, as Crystal Palace welcome Everton to Selhurst Park, it may not be a classic as it won't be a priority for both sides, who are anxiously looking over their shoulders in the Premier League table, but it offers the opportunity to boost confidence and give fringe players some gametime.
Everton had a 'post-points-deduction bounce', as they won four out of five games after they were docked 10 points, but it has been a nightmare festive period for the Toffees, with three defeats in the space of a week bringing them firmly back into the relegation dogfight.
Roy Hodgson's Crystal Palace side started the season well, but have struggled recently, with Saturday's 3-1 victory over Brentford giving them their first win since the start of November.
The pressure has been increasing on Hodgson after a tough run of form, so the cup could offer him the opportunity to rotate his squad or the chance to boost confidence within his core group of players.
Meanwhile, Sean Dyche has the opportunity to take Everton on another cup run after they reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, but they were brutally knocked out on penalties by Fulham.
Dyche's Toffees have been good on the road this season, picking up seven victories in all competitions including a 3-2 against Palace in November.
Palace have struggled at home this season, winning just two games at Selhurst Park, and they have failed to score in four of their 10 home games this season, only Burnley have failed to score in more home games.
Shot-shy Palace will have to get through a stern Everton defence that has kept seven clean sheets in all competitions this season.
In Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Everton have a striker who enjoys playing against Palace, he has scored five goals in nine starts against them, but has not scored against them in their last two encounters, so he is due a goal against one of his favourtite opponents.
Everton look like the best bet here and should find themselves in the hat for the fourth round.
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Team news:
Everton's top scorer Abdoulaye Doucoure is a doubt after missing the last few games with a thigh injury.
Ashley Young and Idrissa Gueye are ruled out with injury.
Crystal Palace goalkeeper Sam Johnstone is a doubt as he has a calf problem.
Rob Holding, Michael Olise, Joel Ward and Cheick Doucoure are all ruled out with injury.
Key stats:
- Palace have scored just 11 goals at home all season, only Sheffield United and Burnley have scored fewer goals at home
- Hodgson's side have been knocked out at the third round stage in three of the last four seasons
- Calvert-Lewin has scored five times in nine starts against Palace, he's only scored more against West Ham
- Everton have won five out of their last 10 encounters with Palace, with the South London side winning two and three finishing up as stalemates
