Everton vs Crystal Palace LIVE: Premier League result and score as fans invade pitch after Calvert-Lewin goal
Everton 3-2 Crystal Palace: Follow live reaction as Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s late header rescued the hosts and secured their survival
Follow live reaction as Everton came from two goals down at half-time to beat Crystal Palace and secure their Premier League safety at a raucous Goodison Park.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s 85th minute winner rescued Frank Lampard’s side and sparked a pitch invasion from the home supporters, after goals from Michael Keane and Richarlison pulled them level.
At half-time, and with Burnley leading Aston Villa, Everton were facing the possibility of needing to go to Arsenal on the final day of the season and getting a result.
Despite making a positive start in what was a noisy atmosphere at Goodison Park, the visitors took the lead when Jean-Philippe Mateta was allowed space to score a free header from Eberechi Eze’s free-kick.
It went from bad to worse for Everton as Jordan Ayew, who was fortunate to escape a red card for a high challenge on Anthony Gordon, punished a series of defensive mistakes to double Palace’s lead.
Michael Keane got one back after half-time to spark the comeback, and Richarlison equalised with 15 minutes of normal time remaining with a scrambled finish. But Calvert-Lewin’s header was greeted by wild scenes - which continued at full-time as the Toffees celebrated staying in the Premier League.
Lampard insists Everton are not a dirty team despite red-card woes
Frank Lampard has insisted Everton are not a dirty team, despite the club getting the most red cards in the Premier League during his reign.
“I just think you have to look at the red cards,” he said. Discussing the two dismissals against Brentford, he added: “The first red was a footballing error and the second was a bad foul. Salomon appreciates that. We have got red cards and I am not proud of that, but a lot of them have been footballing errors.
“I don't think Allan was a red against Newcastle because it is a lunge we see a lot. I saw one on the [Championship] play-off semi last night, yellow card offences. So that’s gone, but the other ones were double yellows where it is diving in and lunging when you don’t need to, it’s not a reckless tackle.
“They are footballing mistakes because at that point you should stay on your feet and stay away. On a football level if you are on a yellow, you don’t dive in, you don’t tug a shirt.”
Frank Lampard insists Everton are not a dirty team despite red-card woes
The Toffees were reduced to 10 men in their loss to Brentford as the chance to guarantee Premier League safety eluded them
Everton vs Crystal Palace team news
Here is how the two teams line up this evening then:
Everton XI: Pickford; Coleman, Holgate, Keane, Mykolenko; Iwobi, Gomes, Doucoure, Gordon; Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison.
Crystal Palace XI: Butland; Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Hughes, Schlupp, Eze; Ayew, Mateta, Zaha.
Other Premier League games
If Everton fail to win tonight then there will be a lot of interest in what happens at Villa Park as Aston Villa host Burnley - with the match kicking off at 8pm, 15 minutes after the Toffees’ game.
A defeat for Everton and win for Burnley would mean the alarm bells will be ringing louder than ever at Goodison Park and Elland Road.
It goes without saying that Leeds supporters will be Crystal Palace and Aston Villa fans for the next few hours.
Relegation battle
So Everton sit two points above Burnley and one point above Leeds heading into tonight’s game against Crystal Palace.
A win tonight would clinch safety for Frank Lampard’s men, but anything other than that would send it to the final day.
Here is what’s to come over the next 72 hours.
- Everton (36pts): Crystal Palace (H), Arsenal (A)
- Leeds (35pts): Brentford (A)
- Burnley (34pts): Aston Villa (A), Newcastle (H)
Who’s going down?
Everton vs Crystal Palace
And here is how Palace are looking heading into their penultimate game of the season.
Crystal Palace will be missing Michael Olise after his recent knock, with the forward joining long-term absentee Nathan Ferguson on the injury list.
James McArthur‘s calf strain could also keep him sidelined but goalkeeper Vicente Guaita should be available for selection once more and goalscorer against Aston Villa, Jeffrey Schlupp, is pushing for a start with Eberechi Eze - who Vieira is being careful with after his own long-term injury - the most likely candidate to drop out.
Everton vs Crystal Palace
Some early Everton team news for you.
Everton duo Jarrad Branthwaite and Salomon Rondon will serve suspensions after being sent off against Brentford, although Michael Keane is expected to have recovered from the illness that ruled him out of that game.
Nathan Patterson, Andros Townsend, Fabian Delph and Yerry Mina are all absent but Andre Gomes came through his first start since February against the Bees and may hold on to his place ahead of the likes of Donny van de Beek, Allan and Tom Davies.
Good evening
Good evening and welcome to tonight’s live text coverage of the Premier League, as Everton host Crystal Palace and Burnley take on Aston Villa on what is a huge night in the relegation fight. Everton can secure their Premier League status with a victory at Goodison Park, as it would take them four points clear of Leeds United with just one game remaining, but anything less would leave Frank Lampard’s side in grave danger with a trip to Arsenal to come on the final day of the season on Sunday.
Brentford’s 3-2 win at Goodison last weekend showed how unpredictable the survival fight can be, and Leeds and Burnley will for Patrick Vieira’s side can play their part. It is Burnley who occupy the final spot in the relegation zone, with Mike Jackson’s team sitting one point below Leeds, but if they were to avoid defeat at Villa Park their survival hopes would be back in their own hands. It would mean a victory against Newcastle at Turf Moor on the final day would be enough, regardless of how Leeds perform at Brentford.
It’s shaping up to be a thrilling last few days of the season at both ends of the table but tonight the focus is all about survival. Who can hold their nerve and boost their hopes ahead of the final day?
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