Everton player ratings: 'unlikely' 8/10 but three score 5/10 in thrilling Crystal Palace victory - gallery
Will Rooney
·4-min read
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 11: Vitaliy Mykolenko of Everton celebrates with teammate James Garner after scoring the team's first goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Everton FC at Selhurst Park on November 11, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images)
Everton's impressive Premier League away form continued as they earned a rip-roaring 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Vitalii Mykolenko, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Idrissa Gana Gueye were all on target as the Toffees stretched their unbeaten run to four matches in all competitions.
The game started at a frenetic pace, with Everton taking the lead after just 52 seconds. Jack Harrison stood up a cross and there was Mykolenko to head home for his second goal in as many games.
Didn't have a save to make in the first half until stoppage-time. Far busier in the second half, making two good saves but seemed to be in a mix-up with Tarkowski for Palace's second goal.
However, the visitors' advantage would last less than four minutes. Palace were awarded a penalty when Eberechi Eze was adjudged to have been clipped inside the box by Jarrad Branthwaite and a penalty was awarded. Eze stepped up to nonchalantly beat Jordan Pickford in the Blues goal.
While there would be few goalscoring chances for the remainder of the first half, both sides continued to play at a high tempo - and it cranked up several notches in the second period. Everton were again ahead in the 49th minute when Mykolenko's fine volley struck the post but there was Doucoure on hand to finish into an empty net.
But Everton were then forced into a rearguard action, with Palace turning the screw in search of an equaliser. It would arrive in the 74th minute when Odsonne Édouard finished from close range following a mix-up between Pickford and James Tarkowski.
There would be more action to unfold - and Sean Dyche's side would snatch a winner through an unexpected source. Doucoure wonderfully spotted the run of Gana Gueye, who burst into the box and managed to nestle a finish into the bottom corner despite being off balance.
Put in a couple of decent crosses in the first half but legs tired as the game wore on. Subbed in the closing stages.
Palace put Everton under siege as they chased a point yet the away side stood firm. The Blues signed off before the international break with a win and moved up to 14th in the table. Here's how we rated the Everton players.
Completely dominant in the first half, winning everything that came his way. Continued that way in the second period making a series of blocks but then let himself down with a baffling decision not to clear the cross that led to Edouard's goal. Luckily that error didn't mean Everton dropped points.
Was perhaps harshly penalised for Palace's spot-kick but got away with a loose header in the closing stages of the first half. Also survived another penalty appeal. Improved after the break and made one fine challenge.
Kept his cool to head home but then should have showed Eze the outside which allowed the Palace man to burst into the box and win a penalty. Displayed excellent technique with a volley that hit the post and allowed Docuoure to bag the second. Had a battle with Olise and the foul he committed on the Palace dangerman to earn a booking in stoppage-time was well worth it.
Put a fine cross in for the opening goal but didn't do enough otherwise. Worked hard, to his credit.
Battled away in the middle of the park but couldn't stop the runs of Eze and didn't have a real impact on the ball in the first half. Subbed at the break.
Made one huge tackle in the first half to deny Eze on the edge of the box and was unlucky not to have been awarded a free-kick in a dangerous area. Forced to play on the backfoot for much of the second half and made one excellent challenge to deny Joel Ward a shot on goal on the edge of the box.
Had one volley saved in the first half but not as involved as he'd have liked. Too quiet in the second period.
Played a perfectly-weighted pass for Harrison to cross for the opener and then got over the ball to score Everton's second and then slid in the ball for Gueye's goal. Played better over 90 minutes this season but was involved in all three goals.
Fed off scraps for much of the game and didn't win as many duels as he'd have liked. Pretty anonymous, in truth.
Miss-hit volley found its way to Mykolenko that led to Everton's second goal. Gave the Blues more energy in the middle of the park then came up with the unlikely winner.
Helped give Everton more up front and fired one effort just wide.
The banner flourished in the Gallowgate End before kick off was unequivocal: “We don’t surrender,” it read. Had the Manchester United fans been so inclined, they could have responded with a sign which encompassed the attitude of several of their players on the St James Park pitch: “We don’t compete.”
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