Do Everton get the win they need to stay in the league?

Numerous decisions are still to be made in the English Premier League in the final week of the season. However, before the 38th matchday is played on Sunday afternoon, there are still a few catch-up games during the week that could decisively change the standings before the final. For example, in the tight relegation battle.

Everton Football Club have the chance to clinch relegation in front of their home crowd on Thursday night. The Toffees take on the Eagles from the capital at Goodison Park. To save themselves ahead of the final day of fixtures, however, Everton and Crystal Palace must be predicted to win at home. Any other result will leave the Lampard eleven shaking further.

Although Everton are favoured against Crystal Palace according to the odds, it must be remembered that the visitors from London have been in very decent form recently, going unbeaten four times in a row and picking up eight points from a possible twelve.

The home side’s situation is further aggravated by the fact that both direct duels in the current season have gone to the Vieira side. Once in the Premier League, once in the FA Cup. For the first time in history, the Eagles could even complete the so-called season double (victory in the first and second legs). In our eyes, such a match outcome is by no means out of the question.

Everton – Statistics & current form

It was thought that after the unexpected wins against Chelsea and at Leicester City at Everton FC, the issue of staying in the league could finally be put aside. However, instead of following up in the two subsequent games at Watford (0-0) and at home against promoted Brentford (2-3), the Toffees failed to make the final breakthrough and therefore still have to worry about staying in the Premier League just a few days before the end of the season.

Although Liverpool have the best starting position in the three-way battle with Leeds and Burnley, they also have a tough opponent in Arsenal FC on the last matchday. In order not to further strain the already strained nerves of their own supporters, it would therefore be worth its weight in gold to close the proverbial bag on Thursday evening and celebrate their relegation. The prerequisite for that is a home win against Crystal Palace.

Everton are waiting for the final liberation blow

However, given the performances so far in the current round, we would be cautious about betting on the Toffees between Everton and Crystal Palace. In 36 matches, the former European Cup participants have celebrated just ten meagre victories. Nevertheless, eight of these ten victories came in front of a home crowd.

In the recent past, however, Lampard’s team has had an easier time against teams that play an attacking style and thus open up spaces. The comparisons against defensively minded teams, however, have rarely been pretty to look at and have rarely been crowned with success. It is precisely this perception that makes the match against the Eagles so difficult, as there is hardly any other team in the Premier League that is as focused on defence as Vieira’s eleven.

Everton particularly unsuccessful on Thursdays

For the superstitious betting enthusiasts, it is also worth noting that the Blues have a lower winning percentage on any other day of the week than on Thursdays. Only three of the twelve Thursday matches in the Premier League have been victorious. Repeated indiscipline could also have a negative impact. Branthwaite and Rondon were sent off against Brentford. For the season as a whole, Everton have been sent off six times – the highest number in the English top flight.

In addition to the suspended Branthwaite and Rondon, coach Lampard, who as a player won only one of his 13 matches against his counterpart Patrick Vieira (nine defeats, three draws), will have to do without a whole armada of injured professionals. Mina, Delph, Townsend, Patterson and Sigurdsson are definitely out. Keane, van de Beek and Godfrey are also doubtful. The first eleven will therefore be more or less self-forming. The Brazilian Richarlison, who was recently linked with a move to FC Bayern, will definitely be included.

Predicted line-up of Everton:
Pickford – Holgate, Keane, Coleman – Mykolenko, Gomes, Doucouré, Iwobi – Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin, Gordon

Last games played by Everton:

Premier League
15/05/2022 – Everton 2 – 3 Brentford

12/05/2022 – Watford 0 – 0 Everton

08/05/2022 – Leicester 1 – 2 Everton

01/05/2022 – Everton 1 – 0 Chelsea FC

24/04/2022 – Liverpool FC 2 – 0 Everton

Crystal Palace – Statistics & current form

For Crystal Palace, a really solid season in the Premier League comes to an end this weekend. The Londoners never had to worry about staying in the league. Instead, they were able to play carefree throughout the season and develop their own identity, which can clearly be attributed to the signature of coach Patrick Vieira.

Already as a player, the Frenchman was more of a clearer and two-fighter in his position in central defensive midfield than a box-to-box professional and idea generator. Exactly this way of playing football is now also noticeable in his first coaching station in the Premier League. The current twelfth-placed team has only suffered eleven defeats. Even the European Cup contenders Arsenal and West Ham have lost more often than that.

The Eagles are very uncomfortable to play against

In the bottom half of the table, there is no other club that has conceded fewer goals than Crystal Palace. In fact, only five other teams have conceded fewer goals, which impressively underlines their defensive strength.

Despite having nothing at stake for several weeks now, the Eagles have managed to keep the tension high. They have picked up a remarkable eight points from their last four matches. Looking back on the past eleven Premier League games, the Londoners have only suffered two defeats. On Thursday evening, they could even jump into the top half of the table. If the prediction of a three-goal win for Everton against Crystal Palace pays off, the capital club could even climb to ninth place.

However, a statistic must be polished up for this to happen, as only in three of the last twelve Premier League seasons was the final away game victorious. The chances of a fourth success of this kind are not bad in our eyes, especially as the way Palace defend and counterattack does not suit the Toffees at all. Coach Vieira can also draw almost from the whole squad. Only Nathan Ferguson is certain to miss out. McArthur is a question mark.

Projected line-up of Crystal Palace:
Butland – Mitchell, Guéhi, Andersen, Clyne – Schlupp, Kouyaté, Gallagher – Eze, Zaha, Olise

Last matches played by Crystal Palace:

Premier League
15/05/2022 – Aston Villa 1 – 1 Crystal Palace

07/05/2022 – Crystal Palace 1 – 0 Watford

30/04/2022 – Southampton 1 – 2 Crystal Palace

26/04/2022 – Crystal Palace 0 – 0 Leeds

21/04/2022 – Newcastle 1 – 0 Crystal Palace

Everton – Crystal Palace Direct comparison / H2H record

There have been 43 meetings between these two clubs in England’s top flight to date. Everton have won 17 and drawn 15 of their encounters. Crystal Palace have come out on top on eleven occasions.

The Toffees have lost only one of their last 14 Premier League encounters with the Eagles, but that was in the first half of the season when they lost 3-1 at Selhurst Park. The Londoners also beat Everton 4-0 in the FA Cup this season. Will this be the third win in a row for Patrick Vieira’s team?

Everton – Crystal Palace Tip

Many English football fans are looking forward to Liverpool next Thursday. There it comes to the important and trend-setting clash between Everton and Crystal Palace. Although the betting odds point to the home side being the favourites, there are plenty of arguments to suggest that the visitors from the capital definitely have what it takes to take home something worthwhile.

The Eagles, for example, have the sixth-best defence in the Premier League, have lost only two of their last eleven league games and have also won both of their season duels against the Blues. Furthermore, because the form is also consistent with four unbeaten matches in a row, we believe that the value is more likely to be with the team from London.

It is also clear that the greater pressure is on Frank Lampard’s team. In case of a win, they could celebrate their safe relegation; in case of a draw or a defeat, the Toffees will have to tremble until the last matchday. Especially against defensively strong teams Everton have had a hard time this season. As a result, we’re forgoing a win bet in favour of the relegation candidates.