Crystal Palace vs Everton Report

Scorers: Mateta 47’; Beto 42’, Alcaraz 80’

Everton continued their resurgence under David Moyes with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, extending their unbeaten Premier League run to five matches.

Goals from Beto and January signing Carlos Alcaraz secured all three points for the Toffees, leaving Palace with just one win in their last 21 league encounters against Everton.

Bright Start for Palace But Everton Strike First

Fresh off their dramatic 98th-minute equaliser against Liverpool, Everton arrived at Selhurst Park in buoyant mood. However, it was the hosts who made the brighter start.

Jean-Philippe Mateta had an early sight of goal following sloppy play from Everton’s backline, before Marc Guéhi tested Jordan Pickford with a powerful header.

Crystal Palace thought they had taken the lead when Jefferson Lerma headed home from a Justin Devenny corner, but the goal was controversially ruled out after VAR adjudged that the cross had drifted out of play before reaching him.

The home side continued to press, and Ismaïla Sarr came closest before half-time, rattling the underside of the crossbar after excellent work from Chris Richards.

Just moments after Sarr’s near miss, Everton capitalised on a Palace error. Tyrick Mitchell’s misjudged throw-in allowed the visitors to break at speed, and Beto made no mistake when played through on goal, calmly slotting past Dean Henderson to give Everton the lead against the run of play.

Mateta Equalises Before Alcaraz Wins It for Everton

Palace didn’t have to wait long to restore parity after the restart. Everton failed to clear a corner, and Guéhi reacted quickly to hook the ball back into the box, where Mateta swept home to make it 1-1.

A lengthy VAR check followed, but the goal stood, sparking a chaotic spell of end-to-end football.

Everton almost reclaimed the lead twice in quick succession, but Henderson produced fine saves to deny Jesper Lindstrøm and Beto from close range.

At the other end, Palace substitute Ben Chilwell, making his first Premier League appearance since April 2024, saw a low strike across goal pushed away by Pickford.

As the game entered its final stages, Everton found their decisive moment. Alcaraz, making his mark after joining in January, turned in his first goal for the club amid penalty appeals from the visitors. The goal proved enough for Everton to see out the win and continue their climb up the table.

What This Means for Both Teams

• Everton: The Toffees’ revival under Moyes continues, with the victory lifting them to 13th in the table, level on points with Crystal Palace. Their form under the returning boss (four wins and a draw in their last five) has eased any relegation fears and put them in contention for a strong mid-table finish.
• Crystal Palace: The Eagles’ inconsistent form at home remains a concern, with just two league wins at Selhurst Park this season. They now sit seven points adrift of the top half, and their failure to convert chances will frustrate manager Oliver Glasner as they look to push up the table.

Final Thoughts

Everton once again showed their growing confidence and resilience under Moyes, taking their chances at key moments to secure another vital win.

While Palace had the better of the first half, their defensive lapses proved costly, and Everton’s clinical finishing ensured they came away with all three points.

As Everton continue their steady rise, Palace must find a way to turn performances into results, especially at home, if they are to challenge for a place in the top half.

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Crystal Palace v Everton, 2024/25 | Premier League