Paul Merson predicts Everton vs Crystal Palace result amid doubt over crucial Michael Olise
Paul Merson has predicted a draw as Everton travel to Crystal Palace this weekend in what he believes would constitute a “good result” for the visitors.
In his Sportskeeda column on 9 November the Sky Sports pundit highlighted the importance of attacking duo Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze to the Eagles’ ability to threaten the Toffees but doubts the former will be fit for Saturday (11 November).
Therefore Merson believes a 1-1 “stalemate” is on the cards, but suggested another game unbeaten for Sean Dyche’s men would indicate a third-straight struggle against relegation is unlikely this season.
Merson said: “The thing with Palace is that they need Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze to get going. If those two players return for the game against Everton, the Eagles will be able to take the game to Everton.
“Having said that, I think this game might come a little too early for Olise.
“I think this will be a draw and that will be a good result for Everton. If they settle for a stalemate at the end of the game, they will have gone three games without a defeat.
“We rarely see those kinds of runs from teams involved in the relegation battle. So a positive result will be important for the Goodies.”
Tangible improvement
Dyche has finally managed to make Everton hard to beat, a characteristic that was presumed as his likely impact immediately upon arrival but has taken some time to instil.
A big part of that has to be the emergence of Jarrad Branthwaite as a regular at the back alongside James Tarkowski, so the manager and the fans will be hoping there are no issues from the defender’s “knock” revealed at the pre-match press conference.
Merson is right that the more often the Toffees continue to avoid defeat the more it reinforces the notion that the kind of scramble away from danger that has become par for the cause at Goodison Park doesn’t happen once more.
An away game at Selhurst Park is the sort of fixture that could go either way on paper, with the two sides in similar form of late, but there is at least now a regular feeling that Everton can get something from these games.
Dyche’s men may still sit 15th in the Premier League table currently but this time around they are on the right side of a widening gap, currently five points, to the four sides at the bottom.
If Luton, Burnley, Bournemouth and Sheffield United continue to struggle then the chances of three being worse than Everton over the course of the season increase.
But it can’t be taken for granted, especially when the Hatters have already come to Goodison Park and recorded the first Premier League win in their history, so amid positive signs the players must stay focused.
In other Everton news, a finance expert was shocked to be sent 777 Partner’s pitch to investors unexpectedly and potentially in error.