Crystal Palace will host Everton in the third round of the FA Cup on Thursday. The Eagles and the Toffees, who were eliminated in the third round of the competition by Southampton and Manchester United, respectively, will be looking to improve on their performances from the previous year.
Preview (Crystal Palace vs. Everton)
Crystal Palace finished 2023 on a positive note after going winless for eight games in the Premier League. Last Saturday, they overcame Brentford 3-1 at Selhurst Park. Keane Lewis-Potter’s goal put the Eagles behind within the first two minutes of play. However, two goals from Michael Olise and one from Edgarechi Eze gave the home team three crucial points. It relieves some of the burden on manager Roy Hodgson. Although 18th-placed Luton Town still has a game in hand, 14th-place Palace has not only moved six points clear of the relegation zone but has also managed to gain three points on five of the six clubs below them in the table.
Palace will concentrate on the FA Cup before getting ready for their upcoming Premier League match against Arsenal on January 20. The team has had varying degrees of success in this competition recently. They advanced to the semi-finals in 2021–22 but exited the competition in four of the previous six years. The Eagles’ opponents on Thursday, Everton, have only advanced from two of their previous six FA Cup matches. However, in their most recent meeting, the Eagles destroyed the Toffees 4-0 at home.
Before the holiday season, Everton had won seven of their previous nine games in all competitions. However, they finished 2023 with four straight losses over 12 days, giving up nine goals in the process. Three straight losses in the Premier League for Fulham ensued from a penalty-shootout loss at home in the EFL Cup. Last Saturday, the Toffees lost 3-0 away to Wolverhampton Wanderers. It was a game in which none of their ten shots on goal were on target.
Team News
Star winger Olise pulled up with what appeared to be a muscle ailment toward the conclusion of Crystal Palace’s victory over Brentford on Saturday, raising concerns about his fitness. Long-term absentees Cheick Doucoure (Achilles) and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (thigh) are still out, but Sam Johnstone (calf), Rob Holding (ankle), and Joel Ward (thigh) all plan to return later in the month. After missing three games due to a knee injury, Odsonne Edouard made his way back to the substitutes’ bench last weekend. Against Everton, the striker will compete with Jean-Philippe Mateta for a starting position up front, and players like Will Hughes, Jeffery Schlupp, Jairus Riedewald, and Matheus Franca will also be looking to make an impression on the starting lineup.
Idrissa Gueye, Ashley Young (both unspecified), and Dele Alli (groin) are the Everton players still out, and Abdoulaye Doucoure (thigh) is questionable and will be evaluated before kickoff. Dyche will probably switch to a four-man defense on Thursday after the Wolves took advantage of Everton’s three-man backline the previous game. Michael Keane or Jarrad Braithwaite will likely make room for a midfielder. A late fitness test may determine if Andre Gomes or Doucoure can deputize with James Garner and Andre Onana. Four offensive candidates will be vying for a starting position: Beto, Arnaut Danjuma, Lewis Dobbin, and Youssef Chermiti.
Crystal Palace 1-1 Everton
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