Palace Travel To Goodison In Search Of Win

Everton`s impressive 4-1 win over VfL Wolfsburg in the week will leave the Toffees buoyant if not as fresh as tomorrow`s (21st September) opponents Crystal Palace who have had over week to recover from their stalemate with newcomers Burnley.

Julian Speroni`s late penalty heroics kept the relegation six-pointer goalless and saw Neil Warnock`s squad earn a much deserved home point in the Yorkshireman`s first game back in charge following the resignation of Manager of the Year winner Tony Pulis. Palace are, however, one of four sides still searching for their first victory of the 2014-15 campaign with the club`s only other point achieved away in a 3-3 draw at under pressure Newcastle. The 19th placed side could move as high as 12th with an emphatic three points over Roberto Martinez`s men.

Everton are the third highest goal scorers so far, having netted nine times in their first four matches. Only Chelsea (15) and Arsenal (10) have found the net more frequently. Goals from Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas saw the Merseyside club record their first win of the Premier League season last time out against West Brom. The Blues failed to hold a 2-0 lead against fellow high scorers Arsenal, before leaking six goals at home to clinical Chelsea on 30th August. With an opening day 2-2 draw with top tier new boys Leicester City also recorded, Everton sit in 12th position with five points from four games.

Thanks to their superior league position and points tally and their ambitions of bettering last season`s fifth place finish, the North West club have been installed as strong 4/9 favourites to see off Palace (Coral, ladbrokes, paddy Power, Stan James). The Eagles can be backed at 17/2 with betfair to travel back to London having pocketed all three points with a draw available at 4/1 (bet365, betfred, Betvictor, boylesports, Totesport).

Martinez`s men may well be without England international Leighton Baines who suffered a blow to the head in Everton`s first Europa League appearance in five years. The 41-year-old waits on the results of a scan before considering the risks of having his dependable left-back feature. Should the Merseysider be rested, Frenchman Sylvain Distin may be called upon after being sidelined with a number of niggling injuries in a short period of time.

The Toffees will be keen to have all their star defenders fit having already shipped 10 goals and with the attacking threat of the Eagles plain to see.

In a conversation with his club`s official website Baines warned his team-mates of Warnock`s men`s potency in front of goal.

`They have got some really threatening players.

`They have got some good attacking options and will be really keen to get their season started.`

Indeed, Palace do look stronger with the return of Marouane Chamakh. The 30-year-old former Arsenal striker is looking to feature after successfully recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in the team`s high-scoring draw against Newcastle. The Moroccan scored six times in Palace`s phoenix-like rise from the foot of the table last season. He is 11/2 (boylesports) to feature on the scoresheet tomorrow.

Warnock will also be able to draw upon Joe Ledley and Wilfried Zaha, both returning to full fitness after knocks in their last league game out against the Turf Moor outfit.

The combination of Everton`s potent goal scoring instincts and their propensity to throw caution to the wind when defending should see fans treated to an end-to-end clash with a number of goals likely. Sporting Bet are offering 9/5 on their being more than four goals with 9/2 on the match producing at least five.

Go To bet365

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20/09/2014     © Frixo 2026