After a worrying lack of intent in their 0-0 draw at Leicester last weekend, Crystal Palace rediscovered their attacking flair on Tuesday night to beat Wolves 2-1 at Selhurst Park.
That performance again showcased the gutsy attitude that Partick Vieira has instilled at Palace, who have come from behind in all three league victories this season and remain unbeaten in all six matches against teams outside the current top four.
Hosts Everton were also credited with improving their defensive resolve after conceding an average of less than a goal per game in their opening eight league fixtures of the season.
However, after six matches without a defeat, they have now lost three in a row, and the Toffees have offered very little in the final third.
Rather than looking resilient, Everton now simply look scared of overcommitting, and manager Frank Lampard has work to do if he is to stop his team from slipping back towards the relegation scrap.
Team news
Lampard welcomed Mason Holgate back to the squad in midweek, but fellow centre-back Ben Godfrey is unlikely to return before Christmas, while Yerry Mina has suffered a setback in his recovery from an ankle injury.
Fellow defender Nathan Patterson is still a couple of weeks away from returning, and winger Andros Townsend is expected to be out until after the World Cup.
However, key man Dominic Calvert-Lewin is getting closer to full match fitness after playing over 70 minutes against Newcastle on Wednesday.
Patrick Vieira was without six players against Wolves, but the Crystal Palace manager will hope that midfielder Will Hughes recovers from a virus in time for the trip to Merseyside.
Defender Nathan Ferguson also has an outside chance of returning from injury, but centre-back Chris Richards is expected to be out for at least another week, while right-back Nathaniel Clyne is hoping to return in a fortnight or so.
Goalkeeper Jack Butland and midfielder James McArthur are again set to miss out.
The stats
Everton have not lost any of their last seven home meetings with Crystal Palace. However, the Eagles drew 1-1 at Goodison Park in 2020-21 and went 2-0 up last May before Everton mounted a stunning late comeback that secured their Premier League status.
That 3-2 loss to Everton is one of only four defeats in Palace’s last 16 Premier League outings, with each of the other three coming against ‘big six’ opponents Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal.
There have been six draws in that run, including four stalemates in the Eagles’ last six away trips. Vieira’s men last won on the road seven games ago at Southampton in April.
Everton have lost only three of their last 11 home games, both beating and losing to both Manchester United and Chelsea in that run, as well as holding Liverpool.
Prediction
The arrival of Crystal Palace will spark fond memories for Everton supporters following May’s victory over the Eagles, which helped them secure safety.
However, that game was an anomaly, as it meant everything to Everton and very little to Palace.
This weekend’s meeting will be an altogether different affair, with both teams equally determined to win. However, they may have to settle for a point apiece, with the draw and under 2.5 goals available at 27/10 via LiveScore Bet.
Both teams have struggled for goals, with Everton netting just three in five home games this term and Palace scoring just three in four away games in this season, blanking in their last two road trips to Newcastle and Leicester.
And while Vieira’s men did create a few more openings at home to Wolves in midweek, a record of four draws and two defeats in their last six Premier League away games makes them hard to trust against Everton.