It's Crystal Palace vs Everton in the Premier League today
It's Crystal Palace vs Everton in the Premier League today
Welcome to our live coverage of the Premier League clash between Crystal Palace and Everton at Selhurst Park. Kick-off is 2pm.
It's a big game for Everton, who yesterday saw Chelsea pick up a point at Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion and Bournemouth pick up wins.
The Blues were already facing a fight to qualify for Europe after a trio of injury-time goals against them in their previous three matches saw them drop four precious points.
But should they win today against a Palace side on a high after reaching the UEFA Conference League final, they would move above Chelsea and go level on points with eighth-placed Brentford going into the final two games of the season.
So can David Moyes' men return to winning ways at just the right time? Joe Thomas and Chris Beesley are at Selhurst Park to find out.
Our Everton reporters will bring you all the build-up to kick-off, including team news when it drops at 12.45pm, followed by an in-game commentary stream and the best post-match reaction and analysis.
Details how you can watch the game are HERE.
Everton manager David Moyes brought in Tim Iroegbunam and Merlin Rohl against Manchester City on Monday and safe to say he was impressed.
The Blues boss said: "I think both of them have given me something to think about for most of the season but, for long parts of the season, we've been relatively settled in some ways. Idrissa Gana Gueye and Jimmy Garner have played very well in the middle of the pitch, so we've known [Iroegbunam and Rohl's] capabilities.
"Tim has probably had a bit more than Merlin but I think Merlin is also getting used to the speed of the Premier League as well. They both played really well, I have to say."
I had a bit of a debate with Chris Beesley this week about who should start up front today. Here's my thoughts:
Lows and then highs, highs and then lows... to say Thierno Barry's first season at Everton has been a rollercoaster would be an understatement. There were big question marks over the Premier League rookie after his poor miss at Sunderland but he won a lot of Evertonians over with his whole-hearted display against Fulham the following week and no-one could have been happier for him than when he broke his duck for the club shortly after.That expertly-taken strike against Nottingham Forest kick-started a run of five goals in nine Premier League appearances and while a sequence of four games without scoring followed, his winner at Newcastle United underlined the progress he was making.Then came the events of Arsenal, which it's fair to say, judging by the smattering of boos that have accompanied his introduction in home matches since, hasn't been forgotten by some Blues. But the bigger gripe among supporters was Barry's disappointing showing in the devastating defeat to Liverpool. It is, of course, hard to pick up the pace of a game as a substitute, especially in a Merseyside derby, but the young striker did not silence any of his doubters with his display off the bench that afternoon. But then came Monday night. This time, there was no questioning his work-rate and, as he has shown throughout his debut campaign on Merseyside, Barry is an adept finisher, and it would now appear his season-long battle with Beto has tilted back in his favour.To give Beto his due, he is still the forward in better form, with five goals in his last seven appearances.But does coming off the bench against Manchester City and scoring twice to spark the best Hill Dickinson Stadium atmosphere yet warrant a recall to the starting line-up?I'd say it does.
Read what Chris had to say HERE.
So who starts up front, then?
Beto is the better forward in form, with five goals in his last seven appearances.
But surely Thierno Barry will be pushing hard after his brace off the bench against Manchester City.
Here's what Everton manager David Moyes had to say: “A little bit when somebody scores two goals. Beto has been quite consistent in the last month or so from that point of view there’s another argument to that.
“I think all season I’ve had a decision to make. We’ve chopped and changed a little bit with them to find who’s in form, who is scoring, who looks good in training.”
Beto replaces Thierno Barry during Everton's draw with Leeds United
Beto replaces Thierno Barry during Everton's draw with Leeds United(Image: (Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images))
Hopefully no surprises come team news at 12.45pm, but if not, Everton look set to be without three players this afternoon: Long-term injury victims Jarrad Branthwaite and Jack Grealish, as well as Idrissa Gueye, who missed Monday's 3-3 draw with Manchester City at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Asked about the veteran midfielder, whose contract runs out in the summer, Blues boss David Moyes said: "He's fine. He's not training yet but it's not a serious injury, so we hope he'll be back soon."
Idrissa Gueye of Everton during the Premier League match between Brentford and Everton at the Gtech Community Stadium. Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Idrissa Gueye of Everton during the Premier League match between Brentford and Everton at the Gtech Community Stadium. Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Burnley vs Aston Villa (2pm)
Crystal Palace vs Everton (2pm)
Nottingham Forest vs Newcastle United (2pm)
West Ham United vs Arsenal (4.30pm)
If the Blues can get the job done at Selhurst Park, Newcastle dropping points at Forest wouldn't be bad either.
The Magpies have a LOT of work to do, but you don't them building up a head of steam.
So the results didn't go Everton's way yesterday. Chelsea drew 1-1 at Liverpool while Bournemouth won 1-0 at Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion brushed aside relegated Wolves 3-0 at the Amex.
Sunderland, who visit Hill Dickinson Stadium next Sunday, drew 0-0 at home to Manchester United.
Here's how those results have left the Premier League looking:
The current state of the Premier League table, from sixth to 15th
The current state of the Premier League table, from sixth to 15th
Morning, morning.
The sun is out here on Merseyside but, let's face it, our mood all depends on what happens come 4pm this afternoon.
By then we should know the outcome - please no more injury-time drama! - of Everton's match at Crystal Palace this afternoon.
The big game kicks-off at 2pm and we will be across the all action.
And, given the results yesterday, and given the heartbreak of their last three matches, nothing less than three points for Everton today will be good enough.
But should they pick them up... well, we could be in for a very exciting final two weekends of the season.
Let's do this!