‘Plenty of suffering’ – Hodgson believes Everton will be stern test for Palace
Roy Hodgson has admitted that he is expected a stern test when his Crystal Palace side take on Everton at Goodison Park on Monday.
The Toffees had been in miserable form prior to the international break, having lost their last three games in all competitions, and Carlo Ancelotti will be hoping to see his side get back to winning ways.
Palace meanwhile had seen mixed fortunes in March, with the Eagles beating West Brom and drawing with Manchester United at Selhurst Park, though they fell to heavy defeat against Tottenham.
Talking to Crystal Palace’s official website prior to the game on Monday night, Hodgson conceded that Everton would likely prove to be difficult opponents for his side.
Hodgson said: “Any time you go to Everton, you’re going to face a very very difficult game. They are a good team, well coached and the players they’ve brought in have made them much stronger. We have to prepare as well as we can and have faith that if we play as well as we know we can do, we can get a good result.
“I think it will be a very different team [to the last meeting at Goodison Park]. Carlo [Ancelotti] is working with them and improving them all the time. Almost a year has gone by so that’s another year of working with Carlo. He’s brought in players that have strengthened the players even more. We know it will be a tough game, but unfortunately almost every game in the Premier League is a tough one.
“I don’t think the game on Monday night will give me any respite from that. There will be plenty of suffering on the touchline but I think our aim is to give them suffering too, so I hope my anxiety on the touchline is matched by Carlo’s.”
Can’t afford to slip up
Everton have ten ‘cup finals’ to play as the season draws to a close, with European qualification not yet secured for the Toffees, and a win against Crystal Palace would get the ball rolling nicely.
Ancelotti has undeniably improved Everton this season, not just in terms of the personnel at the club’s disposal but also in regards to how they approach games this season.
Unfortunately though we’ve seen a number of disappointing results at Goodison Park this season, most notably clubs that find themselves in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
Fulham, Burnley and Newcastle have all come to Merseyside and taken three points from Everton this season, and Ancelotti needs to ensure that Palace don’t do the same.
Roy Hodgson has made Crystal Palace a difficult side to break down, but while they thrive defensively they don’t have the same success going forward, with the Eagles having scored just 31 goals this season, almost averaging one goal per game.
Everton must treat Palace with respect if they are to best them, and they must remain focused if they wish to secure European football ahead of what will be a club defining campaign during the 2021/22 season.
In other Everton news, Everton reportedly make move for 20y/o forward available for £8.5m.
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