Everton vs Crystal Palace - e-Football Preview

Article by Ivory Clark - twitter: @ivorypunkture

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After Roberto Martinez's successful first game in charge of Everton in a European competition on Thursday night against Wolfsburg, attention now turns to this Sunday's Premier League clash against Neil Warnock's Crystal Palace.

Everton fielded a side unchanged from their victory at West Bromwich Albion last weekend. This was encouraging as too often we have seen players rotated or 'rested' in cup games and past forays into European action. Last night was a statement of intent from Martinez showing that he is determined to use the competition to prepare Everton for the more prestigious Champions League.

The Goodison faithful and all watching Evertonians were really treated to a full blooded and at times rampant display from the Blues. Apart from a lull after the game was put to bed with a third goal literally moments after the restart for the 2nd half, Everton looked in control and totally at home playing against European opposition.

No injuries have been reported since Thursday's game so we should expect either the same line-up or only slight tinkering if there are any changes. Darron Gibson may well get a starting spot if Gareth Barry feels any strain of playing 2 games in quick succession, or Samuel Eto'o may get the nod over the improving Romelu Lukaku as the young striker still looks for top form after a busy summer at the World Cup.

Having said that, with a League Cup clash against Swansea only two days later on Tuesday, Martinez could opt for any tinkering to be done in that game, especially as the first Liverpool derby clash is the following weekend.

Sylvain Distin was absent for the victory at West Brom and not included on the bench against Wolfsburg. John Stones and Phil Jagielka should therefore be the centre back partnership again after 2 recent successful outings.

Aiden McGeady is in fine form and looks to be really starting to enjoy his football at Everton. His trimmed down body and confidence taking on players was in evidence last night winning Everton a penalty for the third goal that effectively ended Wolfburg's chances of getting anything from the game. There have been recent rumours that last season's on loan Spanish wonder-kid Gerard Deulofeu's current loan to Sevilla will be cut short and that a return to Goodison is a strong possibility. As exciting a prospect as that is, Everton already have Christian Atsu on loan from Chelsea and, injuries aside, the chances of both loan signings getting the substantial game time that would no doubt be part of the terms is doubtful.

Crystal Palace under Tony Pulis last season were the team with fighting momentum that derailed Liverpool's challenge for the title and also Everton's chase for 4th spot. The atmosphere amongst the home support at Selhurst Park all season was a weird mixture of Italian-styled Ultras and an inoffensive South London family club.

The return this season of former manager Neil Warnock along with prodigal son Wilfried Zaha have lifted the mood slightly after Tony Pulis's exit. The shock news of Pulis' fall out with Palace baffled most football fans after his teams outstanding performances last season to not only beat the drop but rise all the way to 11th in the league, a position that I'm sure every Palace fan would have taken at the beginning of the season let alone at the point Pulis took over from Ian Holloway.

Palace's style has been tough tackling in the middle of the park and at the back with Jedinak and Delaney being standout performers for them last season, doing a lot of 'dirty work' to allow flair players Yannick Bolasie and Jason Puncheon freedom to attack with pace.

Fraizer Campbell and Kevin Doyle have arrived to add to Palace's attacking threat after Marouane Chamakh's indifferent season last time around and James McArthur's addition to the battling midfield is another good piece of business.

Zeki Fryers, formerly of Manchester United and Tottenham has joined to add to Palace's robust if one dimensional defence. It will be a stern test of their resolve this Sunday going to Goodison to take on not only Everton's in-form and confident Kevin Mirallas and Aiden McGeady, but also physically imposing Lukaku and the intelligent Eto'o.

Steven Naismith put in another outstanding performance last night for Everton. His quick runs and hassling of the man in possession led to numerous mistakes by Wolfsburg's under pressure players. The high line and high intensity style of closing down that Barcelona were so successful with a few seasons ago seems to be part of Roberto Martinez's blueprint for Everton.

The aforementioned Jedinak and James McArthur will have to be at their bruising and aggressive best to win the battle for midfield against McArthur's former Wigan team mate James McCarthy and the amply experienced and composed Gareth Barry.

Judging by the form Everton are now entering into and despite Palace's so far respectable (by their standards) beginning to the season, the trip to Goodison this Sunday will likely be a fixture that Palace players and fans alike will be more than happy to get out of the way, with a draw being considered an excellent result, but a loss being the most likely.

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