ECHO Everton writers Joe Thomas and Chris Beesley consider how they would line up at Selhurst Park
Thierno Barry celebrates scoring Everton's third goal with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall during the Premier League match against Manchester City at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Photo by Lee Parker - CameraSport via Getty Images
Thierno Barry celebrates scoring Everton's third goal with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall during the Premier League match against Manchester City at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Photo by Lee Parker - CameraSport via Getty Images
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Everton head to Crystal Palace knowing a win is crucial to their European ambitions.
The Blues have won their two most recent Premier League trips to Selhurst Park and it was the scene of a valuable win in the early weeks of David Moyes' second stint last season, when Beto and Carlos Alcaraz led the way on a gloomy late winter afternoon in south London.
Can they do it again? Everton are four without a win but could take heart from their second half in the draw against Manchester City on Monday, while Palace will be back in action just days after qualifying for the final of the Europa Conference League. Here, Blues reporters Joe Thomas and Chris Beesley consider how they would set up.
Joe Thomas
I find it hard to suggest that David Moyes should do anything different to Monday night. The first half was a difficult watch but, that being said, Jordan Pickford did not have a save to make until he watched the first of two wonderful Jeremy Doku finishes fly past him just before the break.
That second half was just so, so good though - at least with the exception of Everton switching off for City's second and then that Doku equaliser deep in stoppage time. The rest of it was brilliant.
I had hoped Moyes would freshen up the XI at various points in recent weeks and the introduction of Tim Iroegbunam and Merlin Rohl did just that. Iroegbunam deserved his man of the match accolade and brought a physicality to the midfield Everton have missed for much of this season. He should keep his place given Idrissa Gueye will remain out injured but I think it was a change that was overdue.
I'm trying to work through a scenario in my head where I move Jake O'Brien to centre back, Merlin Rohl to right back to then free up the potential to have both Rohl's pace AND another attacking option on the pitch but I think there is a danger of over-thinking a game against a Palace side fresh from their midweek celebrations.
Everton's best bet is probably to stick with what they are comfortable with and hoping they can do it with more intensity than their hosts. This team has been crying out for pace and while I was surprised to see where it came from, Rohl's ability to penetrate deep into City territory was so valuable and I would look to carry the same threat again.
Beto would keep his place for me, too. Good as it was to see Thierno Barry get that brace I think Beto offers more and remains in good form. He should be a handful for that backline.
My team: (4-2-3-1): Pickford; O'Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Garner, Iroegbunam, Rohl, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Beto**.**
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As David Moyes said in his pre-match press conference: “Beto has been quite consistent in the last month or so,” but it would surely be a harsh decision not to pick Thierno Barry to spearhead Everton’s attack at Crystal Palace after he scored two goals in the space of 13 minutes past a Manchester City side with Gianluigi Donnarumma, arguably the world’s best keeper between the sticks.
Like Moyes, I agree that there has been a certain level of performance from Beto of late but after returning to the team against Pep Guardiola’s men after suffering concussion against Liverpool, Barry has now taken his chance against top-class opposition. The pair’s respective fortunes have waxed and waned throughout the season and if we’re picking a team on merit then it’s now the Frenchman’s turn again.
Like all those others who were fortunate enough to see Everton’s 2-1 win at Selhurst Park last season, I witnessed Beto find the net that day, along with Charly Alcaraz, but that doesn’t mean the Argentinian is getting the nod from me either. Once more, if we’re selecting a team on form, Merlin Rohl did enough as the latest option to occupy the right-wing berth for the Blues to continue in that role against the Eagles and with Moyes insisting that Idrissa Gueye is still out, hopefully Tim Iroegbunam can continue alongside James Garner in the engine room after impressing against Manchester City before being forced off with what his manager confirmed was cramp, just before the visitors’ last-gasp equaliser.
My team (4-2-3-1): Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Iroegbunam, Garner; Rohl, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Barry.