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Everton 3 Crystal Palace 0: Blues crush Eagles to end losing run

By Matt Townsend

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Anthony Gordon of Everton celebrates with teammates after scoring their team's second goal during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Crystal Palace at Goodison Park on October 22, 2022 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Anthony Gordon of Everton celebrates with teammates after scoring their team's second goal during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Crystal Palace at Goodison Park on October 22, 2022 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) /
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Everton rebounded from three consecutive Premier League defeats to thrash Crystal Palace three nil this afternoon at Goodison Park.

It had been a difficult few weeks for the Everton team and manager with Wednesday’s loss at Newcastle United representing perhaps the worst performance of the season so far.

The Toffees’ attack in particular had failed to fire and coming into today’s match there were serious questions about how Frank Lampard could revive it.

To try and do just that, Lampard made several changes to the team and formation and started Dominic Calvert-Lewin up front who looked sharp.

These changes worked and the home team started very well and got on top of Palace, pressing the ball well and never letting the visitors settle.

And, they deservedly went one up through Calvert-Lewin who turned and finished superbly after great work from the again outstanding Alex Iwobi.

With their impressively high-energy and attacking approach, Everton had dominated the first half although Palace always offered a threat with the pace and power they have in their side.

Although the visitors were better after the break, the Blues’ added a second through Anthony Gordon who ultimately pounced on a mistake from the Palace keeper to slot it home.

At first the officials on the pitch ruled it offside and then came the inevitable wait for the wretched VAR to either confirm or alter that decision. Eventually, it returned the right verdict and it was 2-0.

The match had become very scrappy and Palace were using their physicality to try and disprupt the home team’s rythym.

At one stage there was a serious argy-bargy after a poor tackle from Wilfried Zaha, involving a number of players with the referee booking several from both sides.

This was potentially a danger for Everton as given the Toffees’ lack of luck with officials, I was thinking if a player gets sent off it will be one in a royal blue shirt.

That might well have given Palace a foothold in the game they didn’t deserve. Further physical challenges followed and it was a surprise nobody got sent off.

However, the Blues’ scored a late third to kill off the match and ensure they collected all three points for the first time since the win at Southampton. 

And, it was the player who scored the winner at St Mary’s as McNeil found the back of the net after delightful play once more from Iwobi set him up.

So, a much improved performance overall, especially in the first forty-five minutes and three goals scored for the first time this season, with the additional bonus of a clean sheet too.