Jarrad Branthwaite is back in Everton's team after completing his very lengthy recovery from surgery on what was described initially as a 'minor' groin problem.
Sean Dyche is still without Nathan Patterson, Youseff Chemiti, and Arrnando Broja, but Idrissa Gana Gueye returns from a week of bereavement leave, mourning the death of his father in Senegal.
And as was widely expected, experience is preferred over the exuberance of youth at right-back with Ashley Young chosen again over Roman Dixon, who is not even named on the bench.
The visitors kicked off in the autumn sunshine, and knocked the ball about, Pickford forced out of his area to clear. Branthwaite was almost caught out by Mateta as he tried to build an Everton attack. Young gave away an unnecessary free-kick that saw Nketiah almost win a corner off Tarkowski.
McNeil tried to drive forward but had the ball taken off his toes and Crystal Palace mounted an attack that required some stalwart defending before Ndiaye tried to break out with the ball but he was stalled. Matteta got behind the Everton line far too easily but the cross was cleared by Young.
Palace surged again, Eze about to strike before Doucoure pushed him off the ball for a very dangerous free-kick 25 yards out. This was drilled into the large wall, then driven wide by Wharton. But from the corner, Guehi snuck it in as the ball was recycled at the far post, for a very soft opening goal that admittedly they had threatened from the start.
Kamada fouled Ndiaye and McNeil delivered his free-kick high and wide to Tarkowski, the clearance coming to Ndiaye who jinked and jived to win a free-kick. That one was headed by Tarkowski into Guehi for an Everton corner that was punched clear as Branthwaite was dragged down by Wharton; no penalty given.
Palace attacked again, Tarkoski making desperate clearances for the Blues under siege. The Blues were really making a mess of going forward, gifting the ball to Palace again. Young tried to get it don the wing to Calvert-Lewin who lost out to Lerma.
Everton tried to build an attack but it was very fragmented, Mykolenko trying a long-range shot that Henderson gathered at the near post. McNeil delivered a beautiful ball for Calvert-Lewin but as usual he was the wrong side of the defender. The ball was recycled a couple of time from the ensuing corner with no end result and Young agains fouuled his man as Palace broke out.
Mangal got the ball to McNeil who put in a superb cross and this time Calvert-Lewin was properly positioned would surely convert from 2 yards out… but no, he jumped out of the way of the ball!
Palace went up and won a corner that almost saw a repeat of the goal at the far post, A tremendous shot from Nketih was headed up high by Tarkowski and came down on the goalline amongst a group of players, Pickfrd flapping at it wildly before Tarkowski finally booted the loose ball away. Classic Keystone Cops, Everton all at sixes and sevens.
Everton tried to break forward again but Palace seemed to want every ball just that little bit more. McNeil tried to play in Calvert-Lewin with a nice ball but he was half-asleep.
Everton tried some possession play that eventually won a corner, Lindstrom to the far post, delivered well but headed clear. Calvert-Lewin won a throw but then gave the ball away for another Crystal Palace attack that was upfield in a flash.
A better attack saw McNeil play in Mykolenko for a cross that looped over Calvert-Lewin
Tarkowski appeared to catch Mateta just inside the Everton penalty area but the referee did not think it was a foul and was backed up by VAR. But a free-kick for Palace further out was almost met by Lacroix at the far post, somehow missed.
Palace again mounted a fearsome attack but Whaton fired it at Pickford. Eze was next but his shot was weak. Everton's possession lay was just too naive and simplistic as the sneaky Palace players used a number of dirty tricks to brush off the Everton players and recover the ball.
A hugely disappointing half with Everton comprehensively outplayed in virtually every area of the field, and a few muted boos on the half-time whistle. Simply not good enough from Everton and Dyche.
Harrison replaced the ineffective Lindstrom for the second half, a rash move by the normally conservative Sean Dyche. Harrison somehow won an early free-kick wide right, McNeil delivering it well but Guehi beat Calvert-Lewin to the ball.
But an absolute beauty of a curler from Dwight McNeil put Everton back into the game!
Everton kept up the forward pressure, recirculating the ball around the Palace area with a lot more desire. Ndiaye got a chance to break from the half-way line and fed McNeil but his gift set-up to Calvert-Lewin saw the forward facing the wrong way and stumbling over the ball.
A deep free-kick from Pickford was controlled brilliantly and crossed by Harrison to Dwight McNeil wide of the far post and he just controlled it beautifully before driving it home from a narrow angle for his second goal in less than 10 minutes!
It had been all Everton since the break and they had their reward as Nketiah cynically held Mangala, but nothing came of the free-kick. Palace countered but Everton seemed to stop them and revere the flow much more easily, and MccNeil almost released Calvert-Lewin but his quick ball was a yard short.
Palace looked to regroup around the hour mark, Munoz winning a corner off Ndiaye. Mykolenko gave away a soft free-kick but Pickford came off his line to gather the ball. But Everton seemed to have stopped snapping at the ball and Palace were getting a lot more time and possession again.
Young and Calvert-Lewin combined well to won a corner that McNeil delivered to the far post but Calvert-Lewin caught it off the side of his head and missed the target.
At the other end, Branthwaite did well against Mateta. Calvert-Lewin looked to release Harrison down the wing but Lacroix was across at pace. Doucoure foued Nketiah but Branthwaite headed the free-kick clear.
Ndiaye was too easily knocked off the ball and Palace were quickly up the wing, a cross to Mateta defended by Branthwaite. The Palace corner was cleared and Calvert-Lewin had a good footrace with Guehi.
Calvert-Lewin found himself driving down the channel but with no-one to cross to. Young fought off Lerma to cross but too deep for Calvert-Lewin. Ndiaye and McNeil tried to get forward down the left but messed it up and Palace got back into the Everton area, Mateta unable to profit from a good ball played back to him.
Lerma put in a superb cross but Branthwaite was perfectly positioned to head it clear although it came to Eze and his shot needed the block by Tarkowski. But each Palace attack seemed to increasingly carry the threat they had in the first half.
Calvert-Lewin fed Doucoure for a breakaway although he looked offside as his treacle-deep run slowed to a pathetic stumble. Palace attacked again, winning a corner that was headed behind.
Calvert-Lewin stupidly kicked the ball away at a Palace free-kick for the first yellow card of the game. But a decent Everton attack saw numerous circulations of the ball that eventually won a corner as they searched for that third goal. But Ndiaye's delivery was very poor.
That allowed Palace to venture out of the headlock they had been in, Branthwaite having to put it behind for a corner, delivered well but defended well; rinse and repeat for a second Palace corner as the final minutes ticked away, with 4 minutes added on — could Everton hang on to a precious win?
Another forward move by Palace saw Brantwaite forcing the ball behind for a goal-kick. Garner was sucked into a silly foul on Guehi and Henderson came forward but could only head it behind and the Blues clung on for a very important 3 points.
Everton: Pickford [Y:90+3'], Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Doucoure, Mangala (83' Garner), Lindstrøm (46' Harrison), McNeil (83' Gana), Ndiaye, Calvert-Lewin [Y:84'].
Subs: Virginia, Keane, Beto, O’Brien, Iroegbunam, Armstrong.
Crystal Palace: Henderson, Munoz, Lacroix, Guehi, Lerma, Mitchell, Wharton (88' Hughes), Kamada (62' Sarr), Eze, Nketiah (&3' Schlupp), Mateta.
Subs: Turner, Ward, Clyne, Chalobah, Umeh, Agbinone.
Referee: Andy MadleyVAR: Graham Scott
Attendance: 38,954
