Everton: Alan Pardew moots ‘big week’ at Goodison Park ahead of ‘huge’ Crystal Palace clash
Alan Pardew has insisted this week will be a big one for Everton, with the Premier League clash against Crystal Palace a “massive” game to kick it all off.
The former Palace manager detailed that Everton will be expecting their points deduction appeal to come through in the next few days in a hugely concerning situation for the club.
Paddy McCarthy is expected to lead the Eagles in tonight’s clash, with Roy Hodgson taken ill, and Pardew expects him to be well-equipped for the role.
Speaking live on talkSPORT [19 February, 10:41], Pardew shared: “Paddy [McCarthy] has got the role tonight ahead of a massive game for Palace and for Everton.
“Everton have got their points deduction appeal coming through as well in the next few days, so it’s a big week for Everton. It’s a huge game.
“Paddy [McCarthy] is well-equipped, he did a great job with the under-21s, he’s been a coach under Patrick Vieria and now Roy [Hodgson], so they’re looking to get something on the board. Points are very much needed for Crystal Palace.”
Everton v Crystal Palace is a huge game for both sides
The clash with Crystal Palace at Goodison Park is a true relegation six-pointer. If Sean Dyche’s side come out with all three points they will cut the cap to Palace to just two points, and with the appeal verdict to follow shortly, could leapfrog the Eagles by the end of the week.
It was originally suggested that the Goodison Park side could hear the result of their appeal ahead of the Palace clash, but that opportunity now looks to have passed, with the decision unlikely to be revealed ahead of the game.
Tonight’s game could be the first step towards Premier League survival for Everton if they can pick up all three points, with this week likely to determine whether or not they will stay up.
The points appeal will be crucial, although, with another charge hanging over their heads, some concern will still remain amid ongoing uncertainty at Goodison Park this season.
In other Everton news, Robbie Savage made a new relegation prediction live on air.
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