It’s do or die time as Everton make the trip to South London to face Crystal Palace.
A few weeks ago, this would arguably have represented the Toffees’ best chance to pick up points from a fellow relegation struggler before they face Bournemouth on the final day.
However, the Eagles have been a team transformed since Roy Hodgson returned to the dugout with the 75-year-old winning his first three games in charge and dragging his side up to 12th in the table and all but confirming their safety.
They will be smelling blood as they come against a Blues side who lost to Fulham with little more than a whimper last weekend.
Time to fight
It was a particularly flat Goodison that witnessed that defeat to the Cottagers and there have been rallying cries galore on social media this past week.
It’s going to be another tough run-in and it is up to the supporters to attempt to recreate the atmospheres that certainly played a part in the Toffees just about staying up last season.
The chairman’s pitiful statement this afternoon will have only added fuel to the fire and hopefully Evertonians will be able to channel that anger in a positive way and create an electric atmosphere in the away end of Selhurst Park.
On the pitch, Dominic Calvert-Lewin was described as certainly in the manager’s thoughts going into this match which could be a massive boost going forward is he’s able to stay fit.
One to watch – Dominic Calvert-Lewin
If indeed he is picked in the matchday squad, the 26-year-old could be invaluable.
When he’s at his best, the striker’s composure, pace and power are all levels above any of the other strikers in the team.
It’s also worth noting his last two goals have come against Palace, with supporters needing no reminder of his winner when the sides met at Goodison in May 2022 on the night the Toffees confirmed their safety last campaign.
It’s likely he will only make the substitutes if available but even a cameo off the bench could end up having a huge impact.
One to watch – Michael Olise
There are several attacking players in the Crystal Palace who have rediscovered their form since Hodgson was reappointed and Michael Olise is among them.
The tricky winger is fourth in the assist rankings in the Premier League and grabbed three in his side’s devastating 5-1 victory over Leeds United two weeks ago.
Still only 21, he has appeared in all but one of the Eagles’ league matches this season as his career goes from strength to strength.
He will undoubtedly be one of Sean Dyche’s biggest concerns going into this game.
Final thoughts
Everton’s form on the road is nothing short of atrocious but the time for bucking trends has to be now and that starts right here.
The players need to play with a higher energy and more urgency than they showed against Fulham on Saturday and this will get the fans behind them and ready to roar them on.
We all saw how that turned out last season.
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