Everton secured a last-gasp 2-1 win over Crystal Palace at the Hill Dickinson Stadium to end the Eagles’ long unbeaten run on Sunday afternoon – and a David Moyes decision changed the game.
The Toffees welcomed Oliver Glasner’s side to Merseyside knowing that their London counterparts hadn’t lost in 19 games, a run stretching all the way back to April.
That looked as though it would continue when Colombian wing-back Daniel Munoz put Crystal Palace ahead in the first half.
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However, a penalty from Iliman Ndiaye brought them level, and after pinball in the box late on, the ball was cleared onto Jack Grealish and beyond Dean Henderson to send Everton delirious.
Yet it was David Moyes’ introduction of Carlos Alcaraz that changed the game and it’s something that Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall will look at in a frustrated manner.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall arguing with the referee after being booked during Everton vs West Ham United
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Carlos Alcaraz turned the game around Everton in Crystal Palace win, could spell Dewsbury-Hall trouble
Dewsbury-Hall was booked for a harsh foul against West Ham United on Monday despite seemingly winning the ball, with the midfielder having every right to be ‘disappointed’, according to TBR expert Mark Clattenberg. That followed a booking in the Merseyside derby against Liverpool the week prior, meaning there were two yellow cards that were seemingly avoidable.
It ruled the former Chelsea man out of the Palace clash, with Ndiaye taking his place in the hole, along with Grealish and Tyler Dibling occupying the wings.
Dibling didn’t have a great first half, and that saw Alcaraz unleashed in the centre, with Ndiaye heading out wide.
Alcaraz had a superb second half, bringing a tempo and energy that Everton didn’t show at all until his introduction.
He was instrumental in the equaliser, and when Ndiaye crossed for Grealish’s goal, it seemed to be a winning formula for an attacking midfield three.
Dewsbury-Hall, who cost Everton £28m, was unable to break down lowly West Ham earlier in the week prior to his booking, and Moyes may now opt without the Englishman in their next game against Manchester City after the international break, at least behind the striker.
Carlos Alcaraz dribbles with the ball for Everton vs Crystal Palace in the Premier League
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
David Moyes’ decision to bring on Carlos Alcaraz worked wonders for Everton
Alcaraz was rightly praised by Everton fans and pundits after his second-half cameo.
Their official Twitter page saw 47.4 percent of fans vote for Alcaraz as their Man of the Match, highlighting just how influential he was to secure a win that lifted the Toffees up to seventh.
Meanwhile, Everton news outlet Goodison News rated Alcaraz as an eight out of ten, stating that he was ‘easily the Toffees best player on the pitch’.
If Alcaraz is to earn more minutes, it will be through cruel decisions from Dewsbury-Hall’s perspective, but manager Moyes may not be willing to change what not only is a winning formula, but a tactic that broke down the league’s toughest side to beat.