Match Preview: Everton v Crystal Palace

Everton host Crystal Palace tomorrow looking to close the gap on the top four and move up to sixth in the Barclays Premier League.

The Toffees have sat and watched a number of surprising results across the weekend and now have the chance to move within five points of Manchester United in fourth place if they overcome Crystal Palace at Goodison.

The Blues will have it all to do against Palace though as the Eagles have won their last two visits to Goodison Park, losing just one of the last four meetings between the sides.

Everton midfielder James McCarthy will face a late fitness test on a hip injury that kept him out of the 2-0 League Cup victory over Middlesbrough in the week.

Phil Jagielka, Tyias Browning, Steven Pienaar and Tony Hibbert are all still sidelined for the Toffees.

In better news for the Blues, Leighton Baines could return to the starting line-up after returning to action as a second half substitute at the Riverside.

For Palace, in-form winger Wilfried Zaha is suspended and fellow winger Bakary Sako and forward Dwight Gayle are out with a hamstring injuries.

The London side will travel to Goodison with confidence, after winning four of their six trips on the road this season, including a victory on their last trip to Merseyside at Anfield.

Everton on the other hand will be hoping to continue their Monday night form, as they are unbeaten in their last 15 Premier League games played on a Monday – winning seven and drawing eight.

The in-form Romelu Lukaku is set to make his 100th appearance for the Blues, and the Belgian will be looking to net his 50th Everton goal in the process.

How Palace deal with the deadly trio of Lukaku, Ross Barkley and Gerard Deulofeu will play a huge part in whether Everton can claim victory and climb from 11th to 6th in the league table – as 15 of Everton’s last 16 goals have been scored or assisted by one of them.

My Everton 11: Joel; Coleman, Funes Mori, Stones, Galloway; Cleverley, Barry; Deulofeu, Barkley, Mirallas; Lukaku.

Key Stats:

– Everton are unbeaten in their last 15 Premier League fixtures played on a Monday night (W7, D8).

– Palace are the only side yet to throw away any points from leading positions in the Premier League this season; winning all seven games that they have led.

– Romelu Lukaku has eight goals in his last eight Premier League games.

– The Belgian also has two goals in his last two appearances against the Eagles.

– The last two meetings between the two sides at Goodison Park finished 3-2 to Palace.