Chris Beesley with the big talking points following Everton's 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the Premier League on Sunday
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 10: James Tarkowski of Everton celebrates with teammates Beto, Tim Iroegbunam, Merlin Röhl and Michael Keane after scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Everton at Selhurst Park on May 10, 2026 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)
James Tarkowski celebrates with team-mates Beto, James Garner, Tim Iroegbunam, Merlin Rohl and Michael Keane after putting Everton in front at Crystal Palace
View Image
(Image: Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)
Knowing that realistically they needed a win at Crystal Palace to keep their European qualification hopes alive, Everton were left desperately disappointed by twice relinquishing a lead against Crystal Palace to draw 2-2 at Selhurst Park.
When speaking to this correspondent in Chicago last July during the Premier League Summer Series, Blues boss David Moyes said: “I wouldn’t want to use the word dream, but I’ve got an ambition to see if I can get Everton back towards European football.
“That’s what I think I have to make my first target. There are nine teams from the Premier League in Europe next season and somehow, we have to give ourselves some goals.
“I could be shooting way above the level, but I feel like I have to shoot high because I’ll not be around doing this for another 10 years and I don’t expect to be. I just want to be able to leave Everton in a good place, whenever that time comes.”
While the Blues weren’t ultimately shooting above the level and they’re still not mathematically out of the hunt, this always felt like it was a must-win game for them and although there was no stoppage time heartbreak for a fourth straight match, having got their noses in front twice, the disappointment is huge again despite this being a performance to take several positives from again.
Taking your chances
Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall are certainly a couple of ‘good eggs’ when it comes to being inspirational figures for Evertonin the final third but as Moyes admitted after his side twice squandered a lead to draw 2-2 with Crystal Palace, the pair of them were “off the boil,” when it came to their finishing at Selhurst Park.
History maker Ndiaye will always be etched into the annals of Blues history after following up the final goal at Goodison Park with the first at Hill Dickinson Stadium but after being denied what would have been a landmark of hat-tricks in the first Merseyside derby at the club’s new home when his effort was chalked off for Jake O’Brien’s offside, the Senegal international seems to have mislaid his shooting boots in recent weeks.
Normally, the Senegal international is the coolest and most assured finisher within the group and the Everton player you would want going through one-on-one against an opposition goalkeeper, yet having been profligate against Manchester City on Monday, nothing quite came off here against the Eagles.
Ndiaye had already failed to make the most of some inviting opportunities when his big chance arrived in stoppage time. At least this time he brought the best out of Dean Henderson to bring the best out of the Palace keeper rather than his relatively tame efforts against Gianluigi Donnarumma.
For Dewsbury-Hall, it was a similar tale of frustration. Sometimes it takes a miss from him before he emphatically sticks a chance away but it’s seldom that he wastes several good opportunities in a game and only an offside flag spared his blushes on this occasion when hitting the post when one-on-one with Henderson late on.
Soft centre?
As EFC Statto pointed out online, Everton have conceded two plus goals in five consecutive Premier League games, the first time they have done so within a single season since October-November 2020, so that is always going to make things difficult for you to win games. That run was in the weird and not-so-wonderful world of football behind closed doors because of coronavirus-induced restrictions.
Back then, Carlo Ancelotti’s Blues enjoyed the creative talents of James Rodriguez with his brace in a 4-2 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion starting the run that was followed up by a 2-2 draw with Liverpool and then a hat-trick of defeats to Southampton (2-0); Newcastle United (2-1) and Manchester United (3-1). On that occasion, there was a sixth consecutive match, winning 3-2 at Fulham and the sequence was only broken by a 1-0 loss to Leeds United, the first of nine occasions that Everton were beaten at Goodison Park that season – so much for Carlo’s ‘catenaccio.’
This time around, the loss of Jarrad Branthwaite has not helped with the defensive colossus also bringing the best out of James Tarkowski and Vitalii Mykolenko either side of him when he’s on the pitch. Michael Keane has proven an able deputy for most of the campaign, earning his new deal after over 30 appearances in which he’s arguably been the most consistent performer at the back among the outfield players, but wherever the blame lies, such openness is not a typical hallmark of a Moyes team.
Beto getting better
In this corresponding fixture last season, Beto fired Everton in front with what proved to be the penultimate strike in a February purple patch of five goals in four Premier League games. On this occasion, Moyes made the bold call of sticking with his number nine despite Thierno Barry coming off the bench and bagging a brace against a Manchester City side who are one of the best teams in the world.
While it might be seen as harsh on the Frenchman, ultimately the ruthless decision is what the Premier League’s most experienced active manager is paid to the big bucks and ultimately he will feel vindicated given the performance the Guinea-Bissau international put in. Beto kept Palace’s defenders occupied for the whole time he was on the pitch and when he did get his opportunity, he not only overpowered Maxence Lacroix but showed the kind of smart finishing that demonstrates the crucial improvements in his game.
Now 28, the former Udinese striker believes that he has become a better all-round performer playing under Moyes and the numbers back up his claim with eight of his 10 goals for the season having arrived since the turn of the calendar year.
Given that Beto is poised to enter the final 12 months of his current contract this summer, Everton could have a big transfer decision on their hands on whether they want to stick or twist.