With the Premier League fast approaching a climax this season, teams know what they can achieve. On Saturday, Crystal Palace entertain Everton with only the latter having something tangible to play for until the end of the campaign.
Crystal Palace are safe for another season but cannot trouble the teams competing for 7th place in the table. One of those teams is Everton and the Toffees know a win in this match will give them a good chance.
The home fans will be looking forward to seeing their team in action having witnessed Crystal Palace’s excellent 3-2 win at Arsenal last weekend. It was a big shock but not the first time the Eagles have troubled one of the Champions League contenders on their travels his season.
However, form remains patchy and Crystal Palace have won three and lost four of their last seven games in all competitions. Recent wins have come at home against Huddersfield Town and away to Newcastle United are Arsenal.
Home form in the Premier League has not been good and trends show Crystal Palace have won only two of their last nine matches at Selhurst Park. There have been defeats to Chelsea, Watford, Manchester United, Brighton and Manchester City.
Crystal Palace have scored in each of their last seven home league games but have kept just two clean sheets in their last eight.
Everton produced a tremendous performance to beat Manchester United 4-0 last weekend. Despite much of the media coverage being about how bad Manchester United played, the Toffees were excellent and it was arguably their best game of the season to date.
Trends show Everton have won four of their last five Premier League games, with the wins coming at home against Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United plus away at West Ham United.
However, away form in the Premier League continues to be a problem for Everton and they have lost seven of their last eleven games on the road. There have been defeats at Brighton, Southampton, Watford, Newcastle United and Fulham, which is disappointing.
Trends show Everton have scored 2 or more goals in three of their last four away Premier League matches.
Team news and Crystal Palace are without the injured trio of Jeffrey Schlupp, James Tomkins and Mamadou Sakho. Christian Benteke will hope to keep his place up-front following his goal at Arsenal last week.
This game should be very entertaining, with chances coming at both ends of the pitch. Expect to see both teams score in what could be a draw.