1. Footymad
  2. Toffees Mad
  3. Toffees Latest
  4. Toffees News

Everton 3-1 Crystal Palace: Report, Ratings & Reaction as Richarlison Goal Masks Pickford Blunder

​Everton have moved up to seventh place in the Premier League table thanks to their 3-1 win over Crystal Palace, where Brazil international Richarlison proved his worth once again with a stunning match-winning goal.

Patrick van Aanholt came close to breaking the deadlock when his deflected shot came back out off the base of the post, and Crystal Palace were made to pay at the other end of the pitch when Bernard smashed Theo Walcott's inch-perfect cross into the back of the net.

There wasn't too much quality throughout the rest of the first half, but there was almost a derby feel to the game as referee David Coote struggled to keep a lid on things at Goodison Park, frustrating both sets of fans and players.

FBL-ENG-PR-EVERTON-CRYSTAL PALACE

Crystal Palace were back on level terms shortly after the restart through Christian Benteke, although it was a goal that was only made possible following an awful mistake from Jordan Pickford in between the sticks for Everton.

The Toffees looked lost at sea, but Richarlison scored a brilliant solo goal to restore the hosts' lead, cooling the nerves at Goodison Park and getting the fans back on side.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin put the game to bed with a simple goal in the last minute of the match, reacting the quickest to tap the ball into the back of the net after Richarlison's header came off the underside of the crossbar.

Everton

Key Talking Point

It wasn't a game that was full of quality, but it was Theo Walcott who stepped up with the one bright spark in the first half which put the hosts into a comfortable position.

Bernard,Richarlison,Gylfi Sigurdsson

There was little to no problems at the other end of the pitch, with Crystal Palace failing to create any chance of note aside from Patrick van Aanholt's tame shot which deflected onto the post.


There were a few nervy moments at the start of the second half when Palace found the back of their equaliser, but Richarlison stepped up when it really mattered for Everton by netting the match-winning goal.

Player Ratings

Pickford (7); Coleman (6), Keane (8), Mina (6), Digne (7); Walcott (8), Sigurdsson (7), Schneiderlin (6), Bernard (7); Calvert-Lewin (7), Richarlison (8).

Substitutes: Sidibe (4), Davies (6), Holgate (N/A).

Richarlison

It wasn't Richarlison's busiest afternoon of football. The Brazil international was a passenger throughout much of the first half and had to drop into deeper position to even touch the ball in the second.

But when Everton needed him most, Richarlison stepped up with a confident solo effort at a crucial point in the match which restored their one-goal lead just as Crystal Palace were starting to build some momentum.

Crystal Palace

Key Talking Point

Roy Hodgson forced two strikers into his starting lineup at Goodison Park, with Christian Benteke and Jordan Ayew rotating between who played out wide - more often than not, it was the latter who tried to offer width.

With with two centre forwards who aren't known for their regular goalscoring ability and an out of form Wilfried Zaha, Crystal Palace were painfully uninventive going forward.

Christian Benteke

Benteke scored a goal that shouldn't have gone into the back of the net and then missed a golden chance minutes later, a brief spell in the match which perhaps sums up Crystal Palace's problems this season in a nutshell.

Player Ratings

Guaita (7); Ward (5), Tomkins (4), Cahill (6), van Aanholt (5); McCarthy (6), McArthur (6), Ayew (6), Milivojevic (6), Zaha (5); Benteke (5).

Susbtitutes: Dann (5), Meyer (6), Kouyate (6).

Vicente Guaita

Sorry Crystal Palace fans, but we do have to nominate someone to be your star player in that match.

Maybe Benteke? I mean he did score, but he also missed a sitter. What about Zaha? He picked up the assist but also wasted too many great attacking opportunities.

So for little reason other than he didn't really do anything wrong and even made a couple of impressive saves to keep the scoreline down, let's talk about Vicente Guaita.

​​

​​

The Spaniard doesn't have long left on his contract at Selhurst Park, but time and time again this season he's been one of Roy Hodgson's overperformers, proving to be vital in their fight against relegation.

Looking Ahead

It's winter break time in the Premier League for both these sides. 

A trip to Arsenal will be up next for Everton, while Crystal Palace will be looking to get some points on the board at home to Newcastle United.

For more from Ben Carter, follow him on Twitter!


Source : 90min