Crystal Palace host Everton at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon in Round 36 of the Premier League, with both sides looking to steady themselves after mixed late-season runs.
The fixture carries added weight because recent meetings have leaned Everton’s way, while Palace are trying to halt a slide that has taken the shine off their home form.
Look at our Data and Stats for Crystal Palace vs Everton
Why it matters
For Palace, this is a chance to reset after back-to-back league defeats and protect the value of their home performances, which have been more reliable than their away results. With the season entering its final stretch, a strong response would help restore momentum and confidence.
Everton, meanwhile, arrive with a point to prove after a run that has included spirited draws and narrow defeats. Their recent results suggest a side still competing hard, but one that needs a cleaner finish to turn performances into a more convincing end to the campaign.
Form picture
Crystal Palace’s league form has become uneven, with defeats at AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool interrupting a spell that included a goalless draw with West Ham United and a home win over Newcastle United. The pattern is clear: Palace have been harder to break down at Selhurst Park, but their attacking output has dipped in the tougher away fixtures.
Across all competitions, the picture is similar. A strong win at Shakhtar Donetsk offered a brief lift, but it has been followed by setbacks against Liverpool and Fiorentina, leaving Palace searching for a more settled rhythm.
Everton’s recent league results have been more open, with a 3-3 draw against Manchester City standing out alongside narrow losses to West Ham United and Liverpool. They also drew at Brentford and beat Chelsea, which underlines a side capable of competing with stronger opponents but not always closing games out.
That mix of resilience and frustration has defined Everton’s recent spell. They have shown enough attacking threat to stay in matches, yet the margins have repeatedly gone against them, especially away from home.
Key storyline
The main tactical question is whether Palace can use their home setting to control Everton’s compact 4-2-3-1 shape and create enough pressure between the lines. Palace have recently alternated between a 3-4-3 and a 3-4-2-1, suggesting a flexible approach that can either stretch the pitch or add an extra creator behind the striker.
Everton’s recent games point to a side that is comfortable absorbing pressure before breaking forward through midfield runners and direct attacking play. If Palace commit numbers high up the pitch, Everton will look to exploit the spaces left behind and turn the game into a more transitional contest.
Team news
Crystal Palace remain without Evann Guessand because of a knee injury, which narrows their attacking options. The likely shape again looks to be a back three, with Dean Henderson behind Chadi Riad, Jaydee Canvot and Maxence Lacroix, while Daniel Muñoz and Justin Devenny provide width from deeper positions.
Further forward, Palace appear set to keep Brennan Johnson, Jørgen Strand Larsen and Yéremy Pino in the attacking unit, with Daichi Kamada and Jefferson Lerma offering support from midfield. That structure suggests Palace will try to keep enough control in the centre while still carrying pace and movement in the final third.
Everton are expected to be without Jarrad Branthwaite through a hamstring injury, which is a notable absence in defensive terms. Jordan Pickford should again be protected by Jake O'Brien, James Tarkowski, Michael Keane and Vitaliy Mykolenko, with the familiar 4-2-3-1 shape likely to remain in place.
In midfield, Everton have options to balance industry and creativity, with Iliman Ndiaye, James Garner and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall all likely to feature prominently. Beto is the probable focal point up front, giving Everton a direct outlet if Palace push their defensive line high.
[Tactical Battle]
The key area is likely to be Palace’s wing-back and wide-forward combinations against Everton’s full-backs and holding midfield screen. If Palace can pin Everton back early, they may force the visitors into a deeper block than they would prefer.
Everton’s best route may be to keep the game tight, deny central space and wait for moments to break through Beto and the runners around him. That should make the first goal especially important, as it may decide whether the match becomes controlled and cautious or stretched and open.
Tactical battle
The tactical picture is likely to be shaped by the latest available lineups: 3-4-3 for Crystal Palace and 4-2-3-1 for Everton. The key area is how each side balances their expected shape against the opponent’s recent rhythm.
Recent meetings
Everton have had the better of the recent head-to-head record, winning four of the last five meetings, including both league fixtures this season and three successive victories before the 1-1 draw in February 2024.
Reporter’s view
This has the feel of a match where Palace will want to impose themselves early, but Everton’s recent record in the fixture and their ability to stay competitive against stronger sides suggest they will not make that easy. Palace’s home form gives them a platform, yet their recent lack of cutting edge leaves little room for wastefulness.
The most likely pattern is Palace having more of the ball while Everton look to stay organised and threaten in transition. If the game opens up, Everton’s recent habit of finding goals in difficult matches gives them a route back into it, but Palace’s home resilience may be enough to keep them in control for long spells.
Prediction
A tight contest looks likely, with Palace edging the balance at home, though Everton’s recent success in the fixture suggests a narrow scoreline rather than a comfortable afternoon.
