Everton left it late to secure a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace at the Goodison Park on Sunday evening. Substitutes Cenk Tosun and Dominic Calvert-Lewin struck twice within the last three minutes to seal all three points for their side leaving Palace devastated in the process.
It was a rather stale game, however, with both teams failing to find any attacking rhythm, especially in the first hour of the match. That being said, the Toffees got better as the game wore on and eventually notched up a much-needed win as Marco Silva’s men climbed above Wolves in the league table.
Here are the Everton players rated in their win over Crystal Palace.
Jordan Pickford (9/10): Showed exactly what he’s capable of with a stunning performance that saw him thwart Luka Milivojevic’s spot-kick while making a couple of other important saves to preserve a well-deserved clean sheet. He will be delighted with this performance especially after a slow start to the season.
Seamus Coleman (7/10): His poor defending led to the penalty in the first place but that being said, Coleman fared rather well considering the fact that he was returning from an injury. He notably won four aerial duels while his experience helped Everton dominate the flanks.
Michael Keane (8/10): An absolute rock at the back, Michael Keane’s excellent defensive display served as one of the main reasons behind Everton’s win over Crystal Palace. Indeed, Keane was dogged in defence, winning nine aerial duels while making eight clearances as well as nine tackles – most defensive actions than anyone else on the pitch. However, he did look tentative, at times, especially in the first half.
Kurt Zouma (7.5/10): Complemented the work of Michael Keane and partnered him well at the heart of the Everton defence. He appeared a little more composed than his defensive partner, which was crucial for the home side.
Lucas Digne (6.5/10): He was heavily restricted in his attacking surges down the flank with Palace posing a solid threat in the wider areas of the pitch. That being said, he did end up with three key passes – a tally only equalled by Sigurdsson and Bernard.
Andre Gomes (8/10): Looked extremely impressive on his Premier League debut as he orchestrated the play with his excellent passing. His ball carrying ability was also evident as he played a key role in Everton’s transition from defence to offence. His return will be a huge boost for Marco Silva, especially with Gueye also back in action after a slight niggle.
Idrissa Gueye (7.5/10): Doubtful going into the game, Gueye produced yet another convincing display in the middle of the park. His pinpoint tackles(success rate of 100%) often disturbed Palace’s flow in midfield, ultimately minimizing their offensive surges.
Theo Walcott (6.5/10): A rather quiet evening for the former Arsenal star, who was presented with a golden opportunity to put his team in the lead in the second half. But, he failed to beat goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey despite being in a one-on-one situation. Rightly made way for Calvert-Lewin later in the game.
Gylfi Sigurdsson (7.5/10): Yet another impressive performance from the Icelandic international, who continues his great form this season. Sigurdsson was tireless without possession while he looked menacing whenever he was on the ball. He ended up creating three chances, reflecting his creativity in the final third.
Bernard (6.5/10): Although not as influential as Sigurdsson, Bernard did trouble the opposition, at times with his clever positioning. But overall he was poor in his decision making and lacked the clinical end product required in these games.
Richarlison (6.5/10): Failed to make much of a difference as the centre-forward, as the Palace defenders did their best to mark him out of the game. Richarlison is definitely better suited playing as a left-winger, where he can utilize his pace and dynamism.
Substitutes
Cenk Tosun (7.5/10): A smart decision from Marco Silva to bring on Cenk Tosun in the 67th minute as he not only led the attack responsibly but also doubled Everton’s lead to seal all three points for the Toffees.
Dominic-Calvert Lewin (NA): Although he had very little time to make an impact after coming on in the 82nd minute, his clinical header in the final few minutes of the game proved to be the main difference between the two sides.
Ademola Lookman (NA): Should definitely start more often as his sheer pace and scoring prowess could be helpful for Everton in the final third. He provided the assist for Calvert-Lewin’s opener in the 87th minute.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
