Crystal Palace vs.Everton: Preview, Odds, Predictions (April 22)

Initial Thoughts

Palace are on the up and Everton are looking worried. Can Roy Hodgson extend his winning record since rejoining in the Eagles last month, and pile even more pressure on Sean Dyche and the Toffees?

The Narrative 

Two sides on their second managers of the season, Crystal Palace and Everton made changes at the top in 2023 with results on the slide and a relegation battle looming.

For the Toffees that change took place back in January when ex-Burnley boss Sean Dyche was drafted to replace Frank Lampard, in the hope of arresting an eight game winless run that had left Everton second from bottom in the table.

Dyche’s side enjoyed the briefest of new-manager-bounces, beating table-topping Arsenal before 1-0 at home before 2-0 loss to Liverpool away in the Merseyside derby. But since then the Toffees have only two wins to show from their last eight matches, making modest gains in the table to rise to 17th place.

Few were surprised Crystal Palace terminated the services of Patrick Viera last month, with the Eagles on a 12 game unbeaten run and having suffered four straight defeats in the run-up to the Frenchman's departure.

But more than a few eyebrows were raised when 75 year old Roy Hodgson was tempted out of retirement to rejoin the club he managed between 2017 and 2021.

The doubters have been proved wrong though, with Palace putting together a season-defining three game winning run, taking maximum points since Hodgson’s arrival and looking well placed to retain their Premier League status next season.

The Eagles saw off Leicester, Leeds and Southampton by a high scoring aggregate scoreline of nine goals to two, and Hodgson will hope to put another struggling side to the sword when they welcome the Everton to Selhurst Park on Saturday. 

Nuts and Bolts

Hovering just above the drop zone, the Toffees are separated from 18th placed Nottingham Forest by goal difference alone - and goals, as well as points, have been an issue in recent games.

Dyche’s team have scored more than a single goal only twice in their last 13 league outings, and failed to find the net six times during that time frame.

Everton arrive in this matchup winless in four, and having lost both of their last two games - a 2-0 defeat away to Man United followed up by a 3-1 loss to Fulham at Goodison Park last weekend.

Only six points separate the Toffees from 14th placed Bournemouth, and any of the bottom nine clubs - including Palace - could still theoretically be drawn into a relegation battle with seven games to play.

Sean Dyche failed to keep Burnley in the league last season, and he’ll be keen to avoid being responsible for Everton’s first exit from the Premier League since 1951.

For Palace, a win on Saturday would see Hodgson’s side draw level with Chelsea in the table, and a fourth consecutive victory tomorrow would be just one less than Eagles had achieved across their previous 28 games this season.

Everton have won just a single away game from home this campaign, while Palace have suffered only one defeat at Selhurst park across their last six matches.

In the absence of injured Wilfred Zaha, Eberechi Eze stepped up to score two impressive goals last weekend, and the stage is now set for another Eagles win against this struggling Everton side on Saturday.

Homestand Picks

All odds courtesy of Northstar Bets

Crystal Palace moneyline (+105)

Palace lost the reverse fixture 3-0 back in October, but since then each team has a new boss and vastly different form in recent games.

Eberechi Eze anytime goal (+380)

With two goals and starring role in last week’s 2-0 win away to Southampton, we’re backing Eze to find the net against an Everton defence that’s conceded two more goals in six of their last eight outings.

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