Crystal Palace’s Eze plots Everton fall

Crystal Palace have reported no new injury concerns, with the same squad available from the win at Southampton. Nigeria-born England-based striker, Eberechi Eze, who scored three goals in his last two Premier League appearances, is aiming to compound Everton’s woes today.

If he scores against Everton today, it will be the first time he scores in three successive games in his career. Nathan Ferguson and Nathaniel Clyne will be assessed, but Wilfried Zaha and Vicente Guaita are still sidelined.

Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin is set to return to the matchday squad for the first time since 4 February, while Amadou Onana is back in training.

Abdoulaye Doucoure serves the final game of a three-match suspension and Seamus Coleman remains out. It is almost three years since Palace last won four league games in a row and they’ve only done it nine times in total in the top flight in the Premier League era.

On the other side, Everton are creaking, and cannot afford to lose this match. Crystal Palace’s 3-1 home victory against Everton last season is their only win in 16 Premier League meetings.

Everton can complete their first league double over Palace since 2004-05. Palace could triumph in three successive home fixtures versus the Toffees for the first time.

Crystal Palace have earned three successive victories since the return of Roy Hodgson, having previously been winless in 13 games. They last won four in a row in June 2020 during Hodgson’s previous stint at the club.

Palace have scored nine goals in three matches since Hodgson returned – as many as in their previous 16 league fixtures. They were the joint-lowest scorers in the division before his appointment.

The Eagles have won all four Premier League home games this season against teams below them in the table by a single-goal margin. Palace have won a league-high six matches when conceding the opening goal this season.

Everton won two of their first three Premier League fixtures under Sean Dyche but have since managed just one victory in eight attempts. The Toffees are winless in 11 Premier League away games (D4, L7).

Everton can go 14 successive away matches without a win in all competitions for the first time since a run of 24 from September 1979 to September 1980.