The Premier League weekend kicks off with another Friday Night Football this week and it comes from Goodison Park where high flying Everton take on in-form Crystal Palace in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
Everton go into the match in fifth place in the table but have the chance to move back up to second ahead of the rest of the weekend’s matches but Crystal Palace aren’t far behind them and a win will have them dreaming of big things.
Everton
The Toffees lost their unbeaten record last week at Bournemouth so they will be looking to get back to winning ways here. If you include the EFL Cup defeat to Norwich they have now lost two matches in a row and they won’t want that run to be extended so this is a fairly crucial match for them.
It was a surprising defeat for Everton last week because they have a defensively sound platform and have plenty of attacking options going forward but everyone is allowed a bad day but they don’t want to compound it here especially in such a relatively high profile match like these Friday night games are.
Crystal Palace
Alan Pardew’s charges will be heading to Merseyside in fine fettle after a miraculous escape from 2-0 down last week. That win against Sunderland was obviously good but it did paper over some cracks because falling 2-0 down to Sunderland clearly isn’t a good sign but credit to them for turning things around.
If anything last week is likely to have got Pardew thinking about his defensive structures and ensuring that they tighten up at the back but that isn’t easy for a side who play expansively when they go forward and who carry the odd luxury player.
Team News
Romelu Lukaku is expected to start for Everton despite suggestions that he is struggling with a toe issue. The home side will be without James McCarthy while Leighton Baines still isn’t 100% fit.
Crystal Palace will welcome Wilfried Zaha back after injury forced him out of the dramatic win at Sunderland last week. He is likely to be the only change for the Londoners in this one.
Betting
This isn’t a match which inspires me from a betting point of view. I’m never one to take Everton at home as their record there has been pretty poor over the last little while and yet I’m not convinced I want to back Crystal Palace either.
I do think Palace will be threatening during the match but I’m far less convinced that they can keep the back door shut but I can’t really find a price that carries enough value to reel me in with any confidence. That means I’ll sit this one out.
Tips
No Bet
