Big Match Breakdown: Everton v Crystal Palace
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Odds and preview for Super Sunday clash
Super Sunday’s solitary fixture comes from Goodison Park as Everton welcome Crystal Palace to Merseyside.
The two sides have been frequent mid-table rivals in the last few seasons, but it’s Toffees who look more accomplished this term.
Marco Silva’s men sit five points above Roy Hodgson’s Eagles. The South Londoners can never be discounted, although there are injury concerns over Wilfried Zaha.
The Sky Sports cameras will be ready to go for this afternoon’s 4.00pm fixture, and we’re ready too with the Big Match Breakdown…
Head-to-Head
The two sides will meet for the 47th time today, dating back to 1906. Everton have won 19 times to Palace’s 11, with 16 draws.
Of the last 10 meetings (all in the Premier League since 2013), it reads three Toffee wins, two Eagles victories and five draws.
Everton have lost only three of their last 18 league games at Goodison, while Palace have only lost two of their last eight on the road.
Likely XIs
Silva has plenty of options to choose from this afternoon, particularly up front.
The Portuguese boss has alternated this season, utilising Cenk Tosun, Richarlison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin as the leading man.
The latter started up front in the 3-0 home win over Fulham last month, and could do so again.
That would move Richarlison out to the left, with Theo Walcott on the right and the in-form Gylfi Sigurdsson in the playmaker role in the middle.
For Palace, Hodgson has employed a number of formations this term, but none appear to have really gelled. He’s largely gone 4-3-3 away from home, however.
The former England manager has plenty of pace and skill at his disposal, in Zaha, Jordan Ayew and Andros Townsend. Zaha should be fit, so expect much of Palace’s good work to come from those three.
Key Battles
The general consensus is that if you shut down Zaha, you shut down Palace. The winger has scored three of the Eagles’ five goals this term and they’ve lost the last 12 games when their key man has been absent.
Palace will need to keep close tabs on Sigurdsson. The Icelandic international has been playing with confidence and style this season. If he is allowed time to dictate the game, then the visitors could be in trouble.
Match Odds
We make Everton the 17/20 favourites, but both of Palace’s wins this term have come away from home, and they’re 10/3. There’s 5/2 about a draw.
With so much pace on both sides, this should be an end-to-end encounter. Both teams have scored in three of the last four meetings, and it’s 5/6 to happen again.
Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin and Tosun share 5/1 favouritism in the first goalscorer market, with Sigurdsson – who has already scored four times this term – at 11/2.
For Palace, it’s hard to look past Zaha. The winger is 13/2 to bag the opener, with Ayew 17/2 and Townsend 12/1.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
