Our picks

Crystal Palace vs Everton: 10/08/2019 – match preview and predicted starting XIs

Crystal Palace vs Everton

Date: 10/08/2019

K/O: 15:00

Venue: Selhurst Park

Referee: Jonathan Moss

The Premier League season returns this weekend and it is one of the most anticipated campaigns so far. Everton’s first fixture is a visit to Selhurst Park where they face Crystal Palace; a team who denied the Toffees Wilfried Zaha all summer and will look to deny Marco Silva’s side any points this time around.

After missing training and developing a tenuous relationship with the Palace hierarchy, Zaha is unlikely to start against the team that pursued him up until transfer deadline day but the show must go on. Both teams have strengthened over the summer with each side likely to start a number of their new signings in Saturday’s clash. 

The Eagles were active in the transfer window and despite selling Aaron Wan-Bissaka to Manchester United, they managed to hold onto key players and add bolster their squad, adding Jordan Ayew up top, signing veteran Gary Cahill for free and bagging two central midfielders on transfer deadline day. James McCarthy became a permanent addition to the Palace squad while a loan for Victor Camarasa from Real Betis was also agreed. Having only lost one key player in the summer, Palace will be happy with the improvements they have made and will have aspirations for a top-half finish in 2019/20. 

Meanwhile, their opponents have different goals for the upcoming campaign. While falling short of the Europa League qualification last season, they will be hoping they can finish higher than 8th this round. A win at Selhurst Park would set clear intentions and Silva’s statement signings will be looking to do exactly that. 

Moise Kean and the transfer deadline day signing of Alex Iwobi shows that Silva was willing to add more firepower to his already dangerous attack. With Richarlison and Sigurdsson providing over 10 goals each from the midfield, Silva perhaps wanted a striker who was going to do the same and we will see if Kean can be that man.

After losing Idrissa Gueye to Paris Saint Germain, Everton quickly replaced him with the signing of Jean-Philippe Gambin, whilst also bolstering the midfield with Andre Gomes’ permanent move and Fabian Delph joining from Manchester City.

Although this is the first game of the season, the meaning for the two sides is significant. Both Roy Hodgson and Marco Silva will be hoping that their preseason tactics and training come to fruition and they get the ball rolling with three points to commence their respective campaigns. 

This game will be a greatly anticipated one for both sets of fans as the new season can’t come quickly another. With an array of new talent potential on show and form to gain, these two teams who spent most of the summer at loggerheads in meetings now have a point to prove on the pitch.

Team News

Crystal Palace are likely to start at least one of their new signings this weekend but fans might not see McCarthy appear against his former club so soon after leaving. However, he does provide extensive Premier League experience that Camarasa is yet to gain despite a sole season with Cardiff in the 2018/19 season.

All of Hodgson’s side are fit however, and it becomes a choice of who to start against an attacking team. Last time the two met at Selhurst Park it ended in a goalless draw as Palace stifled Everton’s forwards – Hodgson may be hoping to do the same this time around.

Everton have an abundance of new players and fans will question how their team will lineup. After failing to bring Kurt Zouma back to Goodison, a back three seems unlikely. However, all of Silva’s squad are fit which means we are likely to see Michael Keane and Yerry Mina form the central core of the Toffee’s defence.

Iwobi is unlikely to start after signing so soon but we are likely to see Kean’s debut as he looks to gel with Everton’s attack. Another question Silva faces is over his midfield selections. After adding his summer targets early, all of the players seem to have had time to incorporate at Finch Farm and Silva is spoilt for choice.

Predicted Starting XIs

Crystal Palace (4-4-2): Guaita; Van Aanholt, Dann, Kelly, Ward; Meyer, Milivojevic, McArthur, Townsend; Ayew, Benteke

Everton (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Coleman; Keane, Mina, Digne; Gomes, Delph, Richarlison, Sigurdsson, Bernard, Kean

Prediction: Crystal Palace 0 – 1 Everton

Everton came into their own defensively towards the end of last season, with nine clean sheets in 15 games. If they can continue that form, the quality and depth they have after the transfer window should get them the three points at Selhurst Park.

90MAAT News Now

Premier League Table

90MAAT Social Media

ScoopDragon Football News Network

Search The Site