Everton vs Crystal Palace tips and predictions: Leggy Toffees to come unstuck against fresh Eagles
- George Dempsey
- 16 January 2024
Everton and Crystal Palace will do battle again in an FA Cup replay at Goodison Park on Wednesday and we think fresh legs could swing things the visitors way (1945 GMT).
Everton and Crytal Palace played out one of the more forgettable FA Cup third-round ties at Selhurst Park 14 days ago.
Everton were in the ascendency for large parts of that match but a red card to Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the 79th minute put them on the back foot.
Despite that, Sean Dyche’s side created some clear-cut opportunities on the break and held out for a 0-0 draw. They’ve kept back-to-back clean sheets but have failed to score in three.
On the other hand, the 0-0 draw was the first time Palace have been shutout in six matches. Roy Hodgson’s side are unbeaten in four of six during that time, losing to Liverpool and Chelsea.
Both teams typically prefer to sit back and soak up pressure but you’d expect Everton to take the initiative on home soil and that plays into Palace’s hands.
The Eagles have found the net in nine of 10 Premier League away games, a run which includes two goals at the Etihad and a solitary strike in a 1-0 win at Old Trafford.
The two losses Palace have suffered in their last six were both late in the day and a touch unfortunate, and we also have to consider the rest advantage they have.
While Everton were playing out a physical, hard-earned 0-0 draw with Aston Villa on the weekend, Hodgson’s men were enjoying some time off.
This will be Everton’s eighth match in 30 days and their second in four while the visitors will have fresh legs on the back of a 13-day break.
Team news
Dele Ali and Ashley Young are ruled out due to injury while Idrissa Gana Gueye is on African Cup of Nations duty.
Sean Dyche may rotate to keep things fresh and could hand starts to Beto, Dwight McNeil, Nathan Patterson and Michael Keane.
Calvert-Lewin is available following a successful appeal of his red card at Selhurst Park.
Cheick Doucoure, Jeserun Rak-Sakyi, Joel Ward, Rob Holding, Sam Johnstone and Michael Olise are unavailable due to injury.
Jordan Ayew is at the African Cup of Nations with Ghana.
Key stats
- Everton are winless in six matches across all competitions
- Everton have failed to score in each of their last three
- Crystal Palace have scored in nine of 10 Premier League away games
- Crystal Palace are unbeaten in four of six across all competitions
