Match Report

Everton suffered the latest in a season full of embarrassments away from home as they were thrashed 4-0 by Crystal Palace and dumped out of the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage at Selhurst Park.

Yet again it was a case of a strong start giving way to the concession of the opening goal, this time from all-too-familiar failings defending set-pieces, as Patrick Vieira's side scored completely against the run of play after 25 minutes, doubled their lead eight minutes later, and didn't look back as the visitors folded.

Frank Lampard threw Dominic Calvert-Lewin on for the second half but apart from an excellent effort by Demarai Gray that narrowly missed and a couple of dangerous balls into the six-yard box by the winger, Everton never looked like scoring after the break.

With Allan suspended and mindful of the fact that the Blues' last visit to the Capital had ended in a 5-0 drubbing by Tottenham, Frank Lampard reverted to a three-man central defence with Seamus Coleman and Jonjoe Kenny as wingbacks and André Gomes recalled to central midfield. Andros Townsend started wide on the right of Richarlison as Calvert-Lewin was once again among the substitutes.

Everton made a terrific start to the game, pressing Palace relentlessly in the opening stages and having a chance with less than a minute on the clock after Richarlison had been fouled but Michael Keane couldn't guide a scuffed left-foot shot on target and the ball just eluded Ben Godfrey at the post.

Richarlison had a shout for a penalty when he pounced on a poor first touch by Guehi but replays showed the defender had got a toe to the ball making his recovery tackle before the Brazilian lashed a wayward shot into the stand and headed a corner over the bar after Townsend had been fouled in a dangerous area.

Townsend's afternoon — and, almost certainly, his season — was ended shortly afterwards, however, when he went down clutching his leg after planting his leg awkwardly near the touchline challenging for the ball. He eschewed the option of a stretcher, preferring to be helped around the perimeter of the pitch, but the suspicion is that he has suffered a serious knee ligament injury.

The former Eagle was replaced by Gray and it wasn't until 20 minutes had elapsed that the hosts had their first shot when Michael Olise tested Jordan Pickford who had been passed fit following illness and Asmir Begovic being the latest Everton player to be struck down by the virus that has been working its way through the camp.

Five minutes later, though, Everton's ongoing problems defending corners resurfaced. A whipped, in-swinging corner from the Palace right had been dealt with well by Pickford but the second set-piece was delivered to the edge of the six-yard box where Marc Guehi arrived unmarked to power home a header.

Gomes fired a speculative effort a couple of yards wide at one end but Everton were opened up too easily again at the other in the 33rd minute when Cheikhou Kouyate was allowed to get to the byline and cross for Wilfried Zaha but the winger swept his first-time shot wide.

Richarlison had what ended up being the Toffees' best chance five minutes before half-time when latched onto Coleman's smart ball over the top but his improvised effort with the outside of his boot was too close to Jack Butland in the Palace goal and he made the save.

A minute later, it was, effectively, game over thanks to utterly woeful defending, albeit after a clear handball by Zaha on the touchline. Eberechi Eze played Zaha in easily behind Coleman down the home side's left flank, neither Abdoulaye Doucouré nor Andre Gomes tracked their runners and when the cross came in, Jean-Philippe Mateta arrived unmarked to sweep it past Pickford first-time.

Only a brilliant saving tackle from Coleman denied the French striker a second in first-half stoppage time but it would only be a matter of time before the Eagles added to the score.

Lampard tried to change the pattern of the game by withdrawing Jonjoe Kenny at the break, somewhat curiously moving Anthony Gordon to left wing-back and introducing Calvert-Lewin but, as has so often been the case this season, Everton struggled to move the ball up the pitch unless it went long.

Gray missed the far post by inches with an impressive snap-shot midway through the second period as Everton tried to find a way through and the winger combined with Richarlison with 20 minutes to go only for his low cross to end up in Butland's arms but Zaha could and probably should have made it 3-0 12 minutes from the end.

The Ivorian had been played into acres of space in front of goal as the Blues chased the game but he dallied before shooting and Mason Holgate blocked his eventual effort away.

Zaha would get his goal a minute later, though, when Olise popped up in space himself and tried to bend one into the top corner. The ball seemed to come off his standing leg, however, spun onto the post and with Everton's players rooted to the spot, Zaha tucked the rebound in from the angle.

Gray finished off a rare move of quality from Lampard's men with eight minutes to go and all that was left was for Palace to complete the rout, this time with Conor Gallagher forcing a superb save from Pickford but, unfortunately, the keeper's parry fell to substitute Will Hughes and he despatched the rebound into the net.

So, the question of whether a continuing FA Cup run would be a help or hindrance to Everton's quest to avoid relegation from the Premier League was rendered moot by yet another big set-back on the road, a result that means the Blues have conceded seven goals on this ground alone this season, nine in their last two visits to London and they must return to the Capital in a fortnight's time time to face West Ham.

Lampard will, no doubt, welcome the international break to try and refocus his charges but the fact that the likes of Richarlison, Doucouré and Gordon will be away on duty for their countries and, therefore, not able to rest will be a cause for concern.

The biggest worry, though, is Everton's continued failings in defence where mistakes and an openness stemming from midfield are routinely undermining their efforts to start matches on the front foot. It's an issue that will need attention before the Premier League resumes and especially in the crucial away games at Burnley and Watford to come.

Lyndon Lloyd

Matchday Updates

Everton tore into Crystal Palace with tremendous energy and intent for the first 15 minutes, but crucially failed to score in this FA Cup Quarter-Final before they lost Townsend and gave up 4 far too easy goals in what turned into an embarrassing day out in London.

Jordan Pickford returns from illness after missing out against the Magpies on Thursday night, his stand-in, Asmir Begovic, not in the squad this afternoon due to illness, with both Lonergan and Tyrer retained on the bench.

Donny van de Beek is cup-tied, as are Dele Alli and Anwar El Ghazi while the Blues also have Yerry Mina, Tom Davies and Fabian Delph all still ruled out because of injury. Gomes starts in place of the suspended Allan.

Up front, Richarlison continues, with Calvert-Lewin on the bench, while Andros Townsend gets an increasingly rare start, preferred to Demarai Gray.

The home side got things going in the packed and noisy Selhurst Park, Everton winning an early free-kick that Townsend put in brilliantly, Keane mishit it and Godfrey could not finish at the far post.

Richarlison tried his best in dramatic dives to win an early penalty, running in on a defender passing back and writhing in agony thereafter but well was unmoved. Everton continued to apply early pressure, winning the first corner, that did not beat the first defender. But Everton were doing a great high-press, winning another corner to the far post where Holgate got way underneath it..

Richarlison again got past the defender a d went sprawling as the ball came through for him but no need for a penalty call as he was flagged offside this time He then shot wildly over. But Everton had started at 100 mph... could they sustain the pressure on the hosts?

The answer was Yes as Richarlison and Townsend won another free-kick by the corner flag. Townsend's delivery was better but very poorly headed well over by Richarlison. He should at least have got it on goal.

Coleman looked to overlap but was driven wide where Townsend came to his aid but lost all body shape and rolled his ankle clumsily, stopping the game after he rolled himself back onto the pitch. After called for the stretcher, hobbled off around the pitch; Demarai Gray replaced him after a long stoppage.

A Gordon centre was hit first-time goalbound by Holgate and deflected for corner, this one defended away by Palace. Nearly 20 minutes ad the home side made their first forward venture, a soft shot at Pickford

But Everton had nothing to show for their tremendous early energy, Gomes causing local anguish with a high kick in Gallagher's face, Atwell strangely not showing him a yellow card.

But the one-way traffic period was over, Richarlison gifting the ball hopelessly in midfield allowing Palace to surge forward and win their first corner. Pickford had to punch it away off the line. And the next one was just headed in by Guuehi with such maddening simplicity, Keane no doubt to be slaughtered as his marker.

Utterly soul-destroying for Everton, who should have created at least three goal-scoring chances from their early forrays but now had it all to do — and more

Everton go forward but a poor, poor shot from Gomes went wide. Gordon won a free-kick with his step-across, getting fouled by Mitchell on his heel. Gray delivered it to any of 4 Everton players, all unforgivably offside.

At the other end, a lightening Palace break saw a great cutback that Zaha fairly smashed into the side netting. Gordon hard learned to collapse in Richarlison style whenever he felt a player behind him. But they advanced to win another corner, his one from Gray very deep, headed poorly well wide by Godfrey.

Everton were trying to work it forward but Richarlison, who should have held it up and beaten his man, went down in a heap instead. Nothing given. A throw-in from Kenny to Richarlison was wasted with a poor return ball.

Coleman played a great ball for Richarliso to go for, the Brazilian shooting directly at Butland with his right foot, under pressure.

Up the other end a simple but lethal construction at pace, overlapping [pass to Zaha, down to the byeline and his cutback is driven home low under Pickford by Mateta. Far too easy.

Gordon got a talking to for treading on Gallagher. Mateta was put through again with all the time in the world — except for Coleman zooming in like a freight train to tackle him before he could shoot.

Everton played out the 4 minutes of added time trying to hold their line. and keep the score at 2. But they got forward again, Coleman feeding Gray for a shot that was blocked. Kinda summed up Everton's shocking lack of quality going forward.

Lampard switched out Kenny for Calvert-Lewin at the restart to renergize the seriously flagging Everton attack. Gordon was called for an early foul. Elize danced in and it needed 3 to stop him at the expense of a corner that Pickford punched out before Palace were offside on the recycle.

Zaha advanced to win another Palace corner. Gallagher's effort was repelled but Everon wanted far too much time to build any attack.

A Pickford clearance sort of found Calvert-Lewin but bounced off him. Everton tried to press but largely failed. Doucourée was gifted the ball in the middle and he gifted it back to Palace with a horrible hospital pass. When they did get possession, the build-up was just so painfully slow… back to Pickford, hoofed long and possession lost.

Richarlison got a chance to make something happen in a forward play but fired his pass too hard, through the advancing Gray. A third of the half gone and not a sniff of goal. Coleman suddenly had four in the Palace area to cross too but choose to play it safe and sideways.

Gordon committed another foul, holding Olise, and saw yellow. Gomes was next with one of his more robust interventions on the same player. 65 minutes gone and 20 minutes of Calvert Lewin had made no difference. Gray finally produced an Everton shot but it was always going wide.

Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison should have combined on the edge of the Palace area to make something positive but any opportunity was wasted as Calvert-Lewin turned back.

Holgate gave Palace a chance with a foul but Pickford caught it and tried to set Gordo going but he wanted to do it all himself... and failed. A nice cross in to Richarlison but he got well underneath it rather than going strongly for goal.

Everton got a decent free-kick, wide right but Gordon opted for a bizarre daisy-cutter that was easily cleared. Everton got forward Richarlison to Calvert-Lewin to Iwobi, and crossed in to no-one.

In a better move, Gordon fed Gray who shot in low, should have been played more to Gordon's feet rather than within saving range of the keeper. At the other end, Zaha should have scored a third but took an age and lost an obvious chance.

They did finally get the third in a strange way, Olise's mishit curling onto the post and back out for Zaha to tap in easily.

Gary had a chance to do better, set up by Calvert-Lewin, but he hit his shot softly to Butland.

Pickford saved a Gallagher shot but Hughes was able to finish off the rebound to underline the error of Everton's strange ways.

Everton are perhaps fortunately spared the embarrassment of playing at Wembley and being unable to score there as well.

Kick-off: 12:30 pm GMT, Sunday 20 March 2022 on ITV in the UK

Crystal Palace: Butland; Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Kouyate (83' Hughes), Gallagher, Eze (71 Milivojevic); Olise (83' Benteke), Mateta (71' Edouard), Zaha.
Subs not Used: Guaita, Ward, Tomkins, Kelly, Riedewald,.

Everton: Pickford, Coleman (73' Iwobi), Kenny (46' Calvert-Lewin), Holgate, Keane, Godfrey, Doucoure, Gomes [Y:65'], Townsend (17' Gray), Gordon [Y:62'], Richarlison.
Subs not Used: Lonergan, Tyrer, Patterson, Mykolenko, Branthwaite, Price.

Referee: Stuart Attwell
VAR: Lee Mason

Michael Kenrick

Match Preview

Everton travel back to the Capital for a date with Crystal Palace in the FA Cup Quarter-Finals knowing that a rare away win would see them back at Wembley for a cup tie for the first time in six years.

Roberto Martinez was in his final days as the Blues' boss the last time they contested a cup semi-final and Frank Lampard, no stranger to playing under the arch himself, would love nothing more than to emulate Joe Royle by guiding his new charges back there for a major final.

The Londoner first has to negotiate a tricky tie against an improved Palace side made all the more difficult by Everton's dreadful form away from home this season. The Toffees have just one win on the road in the Premier League but have cup victories at Huddersfield and Hull City under their belt from Rafael Benitez's ill-fated few months at the helm.

Lampard will, no doubt, be hoping that the combination of Thursday's emotional victory over Newcastle United, which gave Everton renewed hope in their quest to avoid relegation this season, and the prospect of a win-or-bust cup tie will provide the catalyst for a better away performance.

They should certainly look to improve on their last visit to Selhurst Park in mid-December when they went down 3-1 thanks to a limp display on their own part and a superb individual display by Conor Gallagher.

Asmir Begovic has played in all but one of Everton's cup matches this season but Jordan Pickford is, regardless, ruled out because of illness after missing out against the Magpies on Thursday night.

Donny van de Beek is also unwell but is cup-tied, as are Dele Alli and Anwar El Ghazi and the Blues will otherwise be as-is, with Yerry Mina, Tom Davies and Fabian Delph all still ruled out because of injury. The rest of the squad will be assessed for knocks, with Lampard admitting the short turnaround for a 12:30pm kick-off in London was not helpful.

Lampard explained in his press conference that although the win over Newcastle will have provided a lift to the squad, he is keen that no one get too high off the result.

"I don't think the win, other than a good feeling, changes the story if we [had] won or lost last night with 10 men,” the manager said. “I had a version of a plan for what Palace might look like. The [Newcastle] result won't sway me either way.”

For Palace, Patrick Vieira looks set to be without Nathan Ferguson and James McArthur while Luka Milivojevic and Will Hughes will be assessed closer to the game as they recover from illness of their own.

Since losing to Liverpool at home in January, the Eagles have lost just once in all competitions and managed to shut Manchester City out in their last home fixture so they will not be an easy nut to crack for Everton.

Lampard's biggest headache will be whom to deploy in midfield alongside Abdoulaye Doucouré. The process of unwanted elimination has left him with André Gomes as the only senior player left which explains why Isaac Price is expected to travel with the squad, with Tyler Onyango ruled out because of the hernia issue that kept him out of contention for the tie against Boreham Wood in the previous round now requiring a small operation.

Kick-off: 12:30pm, Sunday 20 March 2022 on ITV in the UK
Referee: Stuart Attwell
VAR: Lee Mason
Last Time: Crystal Palace 2 - 2 Everton (January 1972, FA Cup Third Round)

Predicted Line-up: Begovic, Coleman, Holgate, Keane, Godfrey, Doucouré, Gomes, Gordon, Iwobi, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin

Lyndon Lloyd

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