Mark Lawrenson predicts Everton v Crystal Palace
By Danny Wright
Mark Lawrenson has predicted Everton to draw 1-1 against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
The BBC Sport pundit hailed the performances of Everton’s young stars in last week’s 4-0 win against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at Goodison Park and believes they are vital to Everton’s improving form.
Davies and debutant Ademola Lookman got themselves on the score sheet with Everton last weekend and Lawrenson highlighted the Toffees’ “energy and enthusiasm” going into the weekend encounter.
“Everton have got energy and enthusiasm in their team with youngsters like Mason Holgate and Tom Davies in their line-up, and they have been getting stuck into teams,” told Lawrenson to the BBC Sport website.
“Sam Allardyce is yet to win a league game as Crystal Palace boss after four attempts and I don’t think it will be easy for him here either.
“Allardyce signed Jeffrey Schlupp from Leicester this week and it is safe to say he will not be the last new face to arrive at Selhurst Park before the January transfer window close.”
Everton are unbeaten in their last four games against Palace, although the last three have all been draws.
Belgian strikers Romelu Lukaku and Christian Benteke scored for their respective sides in this season’s reverse fixture which ended 1-1. That game also featured nine bookings.
Lukaku has scored four goals in his last five games against Palace and has scored in each of his last three appearances for the club against Manchester City, Leicester City and Southampton.
Ronald Koeman’s side’s league position will not change despite tomorrow’s result. His team are comfortably in seventh place with 33 points, seven points behind Manchester United in sixth and four ahead of West Bromwich Albion in eighth.
Palace, who are 17th with 16 points, could find themselves in the relegation zone if any of the bottom three were to win and if they lost or drew.
In other Everton news, a second bid has been tabelled for this attacker.
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