Everton XI: Pickford, Mykolenko, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Godfrey, Garner, Gueye, McNeil, Doucoure, Young, Calvert-Lewin.

Subs: Virginia, Lonergan, Patterson, Keane, Onana, Harrison, Beto, Chermiti, Dobbin.

Crystal Palace XI: Johnstone, Munoz, Andersen, Ward, Mitchell, Wharton, Richards, Ayew, Lerma, Edouard, Mateta.

Subs: Henderson, Tomkins, Franca, Clyne, Ahamada, Riedewald, Ozoh, Umeh-Chibueze, Raymond.

Edited by glazedallover (19 Feb 2024 7.05pm)

3 CBs vs DCL whilst we have 2 CMs against their 3 seems perfectly set up for our defence to be sat on the edge of the 6 yard box whilst they pull back to an unmarked Doucoure making a late run.

I'm expecting

Johnstone

Richards Andersen Ward

Munoz Wharton Lerma Mitchell

Ayew Mateta Edouard

Richards looks a far better CB than CM.

Edited by ambrose7 (19 Feb 2024 7.13pm)

26th January 2010 - Enter Administration
2nd May 2010 - D-Day 1 - Survival at Hillsborough
1st June 2010 - D-Day 2 - Survival at Lloyds
7th June 2010 - CPFC2010 exchange contracts.

It has to be 4-4-2. I actually like it, as Mateta would have a hard time against their 2 CBs (and has in the past this year).

Team looks good to me.
I’m happy to see Mateta and Edouard together, not because they are brilliant strikers but because we have to find a way of carrying more threat to the opposition.
I’m hoping Ward’s organisational skills, experience and competitiveness will help the defence .
I anticipate a direct game without much intricacy in midfield.
It looks like we’re trying to fight fire with fire.

Easiest Everton-game in years to predict:

We will get beaten. We will get comfortably beaten. Calwin-Lewis will score.

A single positive:

Sam is back in goal, so no thrashing on the cards.

Two bits of good news. Johnstone in goal and Onana not fit to start. But we are going to be defending a lot and have no speed on the counter. Mateta's improved hold-up play is much more effective when he is laying it off to Olise or Eze rather than Ayew and Edouard