- Everton’s Beto and Palace’s JP Mateta traded goals on either side of half-time
- January signing Carlos Alcaraz restored Everton’s lead with 10 minutes to play
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Will Liverpool recover from Everton blow in season-defining week?
Just when we thought Moyes the messiah had played all the aces up his sleeve, he managed to pluck another one out of thin air.
Even considering Everton’s remarkable resurgence under Moyes, a result at Crystal Palace seemed unlikely.
Given the toll of that unforgettable final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, where the energy of every man in blue was sapped dry.
Given the torrid injury situation Moyes finds himself in, with nine players unavailable for the trip to Selhurst Park.
But, not for the first time in his long managerial career, Moyes turned the doubters into believers.
Only three wins came from the opening 19 league games this season. Goals from Beto and Carlos Alcaraz secured a fourth victory in the six league games since the ‘Moyes-iah’ returned. Where the threat of relegation once loomed large like a menacing shadow, now it is firmly in the rear-view mirror.
Carlos Alcaraz scored his first goal in an Everton shirt to seal the points for the visitors
The fear of relegation is now firmly in the rear-view mirror for David Moyes’ Everton side
The goals secured a fourth victory in the six league games since the ‘Moyes-iah’ returned
That’s not to say that this victory didn’t come without the odd scare.
Everton fans won’t ever take James Tarkowski’s name in vain after his role in the final Goodison Park derby. That theory was almost put to test in the opening stages when the defender flung a lazy leg at Jake O’Brien’s wayward pass and diverted the ball into the path of Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.
After getting the better Jarrad Branthwaite, Mateta took an age to survey his options before firing too close to Jordan Pickford, who saved down to his right.
Palace thought they’d taken a deserved lead when Jefferson Lerma headed home Justin Devenny’s corner with aplomb. That joy was short-lived.
Eagle-eyed linesman Adam Nunn reckoned that the ball had gone out of play as it was swung into the box, his call confirmed shortly after by a remarkably quick VAR check.
The Palace fans could still muster a laugh when the stadium PA initially blared out ‘Decision – goal’, a clarification following shortly after.
There was more agony to come for the hosts. Defender Chris Richards squirmed his way towards the Everton goal before Mateta’s clever flick found Ismaila Sarr, who blasted the ball against the underside of the bar before it dropped to safety.
Palace had every right to feel they hadn’t had the rub of the green but could have no complaints about the manner in which they fell behind.
Jean-Philippe Mateta levelled the scoring after Beto gave Everton the lead at Selhurst Park
The win takes Everton level on points with Palace in the Premier League table, sitting in 13th
Tyrick Mitchell directed a throw in Lerma’s direction. Only Lerma wasn’t even looking in Mitchell’s direction and wasn’t ready to receive the ball.
That allowed Carlos Alcaraz, making his full debut for Everton, to storm clear before he found Beto. The old Beto would have found a way to fluff his lines. This new, improved version kept his head before finishing past Dean Henderson.
Palace boss Oliver Glasner turned to England duo Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton at half-time and 90 seconds into the second half his side were level.
Wharton headed the ball back into the box after Everton cleared a corner, only for Tarkowski and O’Brien to get in a tangle. Marc Guehi pounced and played a cute ball over his head into the path of Mateta, who made no mistake and finished past Pickford. Palace fans feared the worse when a lengthy VAR check for off-side followed. This time, the decision fell in their favour.
The game continued at its frenetic pace, Beto going close to his second before home debutant Ben Chilwell forced Pickford into a save at the end of a buccaneering run from deep.
But it was the visitors and Alcaraz who had the last laugh. The attacker was in the right place at the right time to pick up the pieces after Ashley Young’s shot was blocked by Will Hughes. Alcaraz fired low past Henderson and Everton clung onto all three points despite a late onslaught.
