Charly Alcaraz scored a late winner on his first Everton start as they won 2-1 at Crystal Palace to continue their terrific turnaround under David Moyes.
The Deadline Day signing’s 80th-mintue strike ensures Everton have, for now, moved above Moyes’ former side Manchester United after claiming 13 points from a possible 18 since the Scot was reappointed as manager.
Palace had pegged back Everton through Jean-Philippe Mateta, scoring his seventh goal in six games this calendar year, after Beto took advantage of a major mix-up from Tyrick Mitchell and Jefferson Lerma to give his side the lead just before half-time.
Jean-Philippe Mateta stays onside to give Palace the equaliser against Everton.
Palace had to wait for a lengthy VAR check before they could celebrate Mateta’s equaliser, with the striker just on the shoulder of the Everton defence as Marc Guehi played him in behind. Soon such checks will be a thing of the past with semi-automated offsides.
Beto puts Everton ahead at Selhurst Park after an awful mistake from the home side.
Everton were handed a clear path to goal for the opener as Lerma turned away just as Mitchell threw the ball to him. Beto expertly lifted the ball over Dean Henderson for his fourth goal in four league games after a through ball from Alcaraz.
Lerma had a first-half goal contentiously disallowed after a linesman ruled Justin Devenny’s corner had gone out of play. VAR looked and neither the officials nor Sky Sports could find conclusive evidence to ascertain whether the ball had gone out or not.
Everton could – and probably should – have been at least a goal down in a first half in which they were uncharacteristically sloppy in defence. Ismaila Sarr struck the bar for Palace from less than six yards, while Mateta was denied one on one with Jordan Pickford.
Palace and Everton are now level on 30 points after 25 games after Moyes triumphed over Oliver Glasner for the first time at the fourth time of asking. Both are above Manchester United for now, but more importantly, 13 points above the relegation zone.
More to follow…
