Credit: talkSPORT/Imago
Credit: talkSPORT/Imago
Match

Jeff Stelling warns fans what not to expect in Everton vs Crystal Palace

Declan Carr
Declan Carr

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior sports journalist with experience at Sports Mole and VAVEL; Masters graduate from Liverpool John Moores University. FOCUS Breaking news, long-form analysis, and club-level insight across the Breaking Media network. THE INSIGHT Declan utilises a network of club and industry contacts to deliver verified, high-speed reporting. He provides the depth behind the headlines — from breaking news to analytical deep-dives — to ensure fans get the full story as it happens.

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Everton face Crystal Palace on Sunday, looking to put a stop to their impressive run of form.

Everton can end Palace's 19-match unbeaten run, and get back to winning ways after failing to secure victory in their last four matches.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall will miss the contest for Everton, after picking up five yellow cards in the Premier League already.

Moyes has several interesting tactical decisions that he must get right if Everton are to get a result at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on 5 October.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in action for Everton, looking angry.
Dewsbury-Hall will miss the clash with Palace. (Credit: Imago)

Everton fans should not expect a lot of goals

Everton can arrest a dismal run of form against top-half teams with victory against Oliver Glasner's side.

Jeff Stelling has warned Blues fans not to expect a lot of goals in the contest, due to the Eagles' brilliant defensive record.

Making his predictions for talkSPORT on 2 October, he said: “Sunday at two o’clock, Crystal Palace travel to Everton, now Everton have a really good record in the fixture, in fact, they are unbeaten in nine, home and away against the Palace.

“Palace, though, are so solid defensively, in fact, they have not conceded a first-half league goal all season.

“I’m not sure Everton have the capability of breaking them down, do not expect a goalfest, Everton 0-0 Palace.”

It is a stark warning, but it is not without merit.

David Moyes could try something different against Crystal Palace

Beto and Thierno Barry have both struggled to find the back of the net, so Stelling's claim about the goalscoring issues are not wrong.

Moyes has to do something to combat that problem; it could be using Iliman Ndiaye or Carlos Alcaraz up front, but change is needed before the Blues find themselves in a desperate situation.

  • Beto and Barry have both played eight times this season
  • The former has two goals, while the young French star is yet to score his first Blues goal
  • There is significant debate about who will start against Palace
  • A drastic solution could be needed if the situation does not improve

If the Toffees are to secure European qualification, which is the Scotsman's ultimate goal, then they need to start scoring more often.

Stelling is right to warn supporters not to expect a goal fest, because there has been no evidence that the Blues can consistently score lots of goals.

Until that changes, it will remain a concern, and pundits will continue to bring it up, until something is done and the Merseysiders start firing them in on a regular basis.

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David Moyes
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