February 10 2018

Luka Milivojevic

Crystal Palace suffered a 3-1 loss away to Everton.

Palace's new £9m striker Alexander Sorloth made an impressive debut but his injury-depleted side didn't have enough to match the Toffees who ran out fairly comfortable winners.

The opening period was devoid of many serious chances with both teams trying their luck with long-range pot shots. First up was a 40-yard attempt by Yohan Cabaye after keeper Jordan Pickford's poor clearance fell to the Frenchman.

Gylfi Sigurdsson's effort from outside the box whisked just past the upright, while down the other end, Luka Milivojevic struck a deflected shot wide.

Wayne Hennessey then pulled off a smart save by driving to his right to push out Idrissa Gueye's rasper from around 35 yards before opposite number Jordan Pickford blocked Cabaye's strike with his chest.

Christian Benteke got the ball into the Everton net after Pickford dropped the ball while under pressure from the striker, but the linesman had flagged for offside. And Palace closed the half with the best opportunity as Benteke headed just wide.

However, the match was effectively over within six minutes of the restart after two quick-fire Everton goals. The first came on 47 minutes from a long Pickford kick which James Tomkins failed to get enough power on his header out and Sigurdsson picked up the scraps before firing home.

Five minutes later, Cuco Martina crossed from the left for an unmarked Oumar Niasse who had all the time in the world to guide his header beyond Hennessey.

Benteke missed another glorious chance with a header from Cabaye's diagonal ball that bounced inches past the post.

Sorloth almost grabbed a debut goal but his header from a Patrick van Aanholt cross saw Pickford dive to his right to beat away.

Everton got their third goal of the day with 15 minutes remaining after Hennessey saved Niasse's shot and Sigurdsson clipped back in for Tom Davies to score.

Palace managed to get a consolation with a penalty on 83 minutes after Ashley Williams handledin the area and Luka Milivojevic put away the spot kick for his seventh goal of the season.

Everton: Pickford, Coleman (Kenny 46), Keane, Mangala (Williams 45), Martina, Davies, Gueye (Schneiderlin 80), Rooney, Walcott, Niasse, Sigurdsson.

Not used: Robles, Bolasie, Calvert-Lewin, Tosan.

Palace: Hennessey, Ward, Fosu-Mensah, Tomkins, Van Aanholt, Townsend, McArthur, Milivojevic, Cabaye, Sorloth, Benteke.

Not used: Henry, Wan-Bissaka, Souare, Delaney, Riedewald, Rakip, Lee.

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