Preview: Everton vs Crystal Palace – stats, team news, line-ups

Goodison Park forms the backdrop for Monday’s solitary Premier League fixture as Everton and Crystal Palace renew hostilities for the fourth time this season.

Everton produced a masterful defensive display when they tackled Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium last weekend and managed to get to the 70-minute mark with their clean sheet intact.

However, they were ultimately undone by Premier League top scorer Erling Braut Haaland, who bagged a sublime brace in the latter stages, condemning the Toffees to a fourth consecutive fixture without a win.

Sean Dyche’s troops are desperate to end their three-match winless streak in the Premier League (D2, L1) as they sit one point behind 17th-placed Luton Town, who also have a game in hand.

Luton face Manchester United at Kenilworth Road later this afternoon, and Everton would be eager to capitalise on a likely falter from the spirited Hatters.

Meanwhile, Palace head into the Monday night showdown looking to snap a two-match losing streak, most recently falling to defeat against capital rivals Chelsea at Selhurst Park.

Jefferson Lerma’s first-half belter bolstered beliefs of ending their losing streak against the Blues, but a second-half brace from ex-Palace loanee Conor Gallagher and a late strike from Enzo Fernandez squashed those hopes.

After shipping in seven goals in their last two games, they’d be hopeful of posting a positive result against their Merseyside counterparts, but they’ll have to do so without the under-fire Roy Hodgson in the dugout.

The 76-year-old reportedly took ill in training, and his right-hand man, Paddy McCarthy, is expected to step in for Monday’s match.

Match preview

After a remarkable start to the festive period, picking up four wins in December’s first four Premier League fixtures, Everton have hit a rough patch, failing to secure a single top-flight victory in their last seven matches (D3, L4).

No team in the division can boast of a worse run of form, but Dyche would be more worried about his side’s struggles in the final third, which doesn’t bode well for their chances of a renaissance.

The Toffees have reverted to their precarious attacking woes, failing to score in four of their last five Premier League games. However, their only win from their previous 11 games (D4, L6) came against Palace in the FA Cup.

McCarthy may only be taking the reins temporarily, but his previous caretaker spell doesn’t inspire confidence in his ability to steer the Eagles to victory.

The Irishman previously assumed the head coach role temporarily last year but could do nothing as his side fell to a thumping 4-1 defeat at the hands of capital rivals Arsenal.

With Palace dangerously looking over their shoulders on the league standings, a third consecutive defeat could spell danger for the falling Eagles.

Their feeble rearguard have shipped in 14 goals over the last four games, so they’ll need to solidify their leaky defence if they’re to come away from Goodison Park with a win for the first time since September 2014.

Team news & potential line-ups

Abdoulaye Doucoure is back in the fold after recovering from a hamstring injury and is in contention to feature in Monday’s showdown.

Arnaut Danjuma (ankle) and Andre Gomes (calf) are unavailable, but Amadou Onana and Seamus Coleman have been handed a clean bill of health and should make the cut.

Meanwhile, there is little in the way of positive team news for Palace, who are still without dynamic duo Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze due to hamstring problems.

Everton potential starting line-up:

(4-5-1): Jordan Pickford; Seamus Coleman, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite, Vitaly Mykolenko; Jack Harrison, Amadou Onana, James Garner, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Dwight McNeil; Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Crystal Palace potential starting line-up:

(4-3-3): Dean Henderson; Daniel Munoz, Joachim Andersen, Chris Richards, Tyrick Mitchell; Naouirou Ahamada, Jefferson Lerma, Adam Wharton; Jordan Ayew, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Matheus Franca.