Crystal Palace vs Everton Predictions

• Both teams have scored in eight of Palace’s last nine games.
• Everton won 3-2 at Selhurst Park in November in the Premier League.
• Everton have scored in nine of their 12 away games across all competitions.

Cup a potential distraction for Premier League strugglers

The FA Cup third round starts on Thursday with an all-Premier League affair as Crystal Palace entertain Everton.

The league is clearly the priority for the visitors as three straight defeats mean they are just one point above the drop zone.

Palace did end their own eight-game (D3, L5) winless run with a much-needed victory over Brentford last time out, but they are just six points clear of danger and they would be below Everton in the table had the Merseyside outfit not been hit by a points deduction.

Both teams to score the starting point

Everton were the team that started Palace’s winless streak as they claimed a 3-2 win at Selhurst Park in early November, but Thursday’s renewal could be a different affair. Both managers will probably rotate for this cup assignment so the best option for our main bet could be both teams to score – particularly if a few key defenders are rotated.

Both teams have scored in eight of Palace’s last nine games and they have scored themselves in five of their last six home games, conceding in all of those.

Everton are generally good for a goal on their travels, drawing blanks in just three of their 12 trips across all competitions, so both teams can find a way through in this FA Cup meeting.

The Eagles should take some confidence from their 3-1 win over Brentford but Everton have been strong travellers and have 16 points from 10 games away from home in the Premier League. A 2-2 draw looks a reasonable correct score prediction as these sides appear fairly evenly matched and games involving these teams tend to be fairly high-scoring, with over 3.5 goals landing in four of the last six head to head meetings.

Odsonne Edouard was an unused substitute in Palace’s win over Brentford and could return to the starting XI here after a brief spell on the sidelines. The Frenchman has six goals in 15 Premier League games this term and represents a good value pick for an anytime goal at the time of writing if he is handed a starting spot.

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