Everton must maintain momentum of Arsenal win at Palace

After grabbing an injury-time winner against Arsenal securing a first win in nine matches, Everton must do everything they can to maintain that new momentum at Crystal Palace.

That victory at Goodison Park ended an eight match run for Everton without a win and has bought manager Rafa Benitez and the club hierachy a bit of time.

But, it won’t mean anything if the Blues’ travel to South London and get beaten again. Despite the recent protests and obvious unhappiness of so many supporters with what’s happened at the club this season, they got behind the home team on Monday night and helped to push it to a hugely needed three points against Arsenal.

However, as the recent protests have shown this patience is very fragile and if the Toffees’ fall to a bad defeat at Selhurst Park, that frustration will surface again.

Everton were much better against the Gunners than they have been for far too long during that awful run of poor performances and results. They played with an urgency and collective effort we’ve seen far too little of during the last few months.

Rafa Benitez was also under huge pressure to get it right in terms of team selection and tactics after some highly questionable decisions in recent weeks which had cost the team.

The biggest decision he made was to drop left-back Lucas Digne and play Ben Godfrey in his place. As we know, Godfrey had played there effectively for much of last season and again on Monday he was strong and solid, offering greater defensive resistence than Digne has shown recently.

With Godfrey at left-back, the defence was generally better – even when Yerry Mina’s return from injury was cut short again and Mason Holgate replaced him – and Micheal Keane in particular had a fine game.

The manager stuck to his guns and continued with a 4-4-1-1 type formation, despite so many of us urging him to go with three in midfield. But, he did have Andros Townsend playing as a sort of number ten who dropped deeper to suppliment the midfield two of Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure.

Both wide players Demarai Gray and Anthony Gordon played well with Gray especially outstanding and offering a constant threat to the Arsenal defence with his speed, skill and movement. And of course, he went on to score a brilliant winner.

Up front Richarlison was again preferred to Salomon Rondon as the lone striker and while the Brazilian has had a mixed season so far, he was superb on Monday.

He gave Arsenal’s £50 million centre-back Ben White (who Everton had been strongly linked with this summer) a torrid time as he exhibited in full his pace, power and work ethic.

Richarlison battled for and held the ball up well and offered a constant goal threat. He could but for VAR, have had a hat-trick and it was good to see how sharp and hungry he was to score goals.

With the match finely balanced, Benitez brought on Andre Gomes and this changed it providing the platform for the Toffees’ to go on and win it.

Gomes’ coming on allowed Doucoure to get further forward and with his powerful running and attacking qualities, the Blues’ were able to take control and eventually find that winner from Gray.

So, I would stick to the same side against Palace, with one change. Instead of Townsend in the hole, I would move Doucoure there and bring in Fabian Delph to support Allan. While Gomes was excellent when he came on and has been a good substitute at times this season, often he’s been a player who has flattered to deceive and I would keep him as an option off the bench.

Palace have been struggling themselves recently and have lost the last three Premier League matches. But, as we know from so many examples, including Brentford just two weeks ago, Everton are often a perfect side to play when you need a win. That can’t happen again on Sunday.

They are big, powerful side, have some good players and offer a goal threat with Connor Gallagher having an excellent season for the Eagles. Wilfried Zaha is always a danger too.

As well as a positive result, I think we need to see a similar sort of performance to Monday night and then perhaps we can start thinking that maybe the team have turned a corner.