Crystal Palace vs Everton: Premier League Clash at Selhurst Park

Selhurst Park stages a mid-table Premier League meeting on 10 May 2026 as Crystal Palace host Everton, with both sides still jostling for final league position rather than survival. Palace come into the round 15th on 43 points, while Everton sit 10th on 48, eyeing a top-half finish.

Context and stakes

In the league, Palace’s campaign has been defined by inconsistency: 11 wins, 10 draws and 13 defeats across 34 games, with a goal difference of -6 (36 scored, 42 conceded). Everton, a little further along at 35 matches played, have a perfectly balanced goal record (44-44) and a slightly stronger W-D-L spread of 13-9-13.

For Palace, this is about consolidating safety and avoiding being dragged back towards the lower reaches in the final weeks. For Everton, three points would strengthen their grip on a top-half spot and keep the possibility of climbing further alive.

Tactical snapshot: Palace

Across all phases, Palace are a low-scoring, structurally cautious side. Their 36 league goals from 34 matches (1.1 per game) underline the lack of attacking punch, particularly at Selhurst Park where they average just 0.9 goals per home game (16 in 17). The flip side is a relatively controlled defensive record: 42 conceded in total (1.2 per game), with only 19 at home (1.1 per game).

The season data points clearly to a back three as the tactical bedrock. Palace have lined up in a 3-4-2-1 in 30 matches and a 3-4-3 in four, so it would be a major surprise if they deviated from a three-centre-back system here. That shape has delivered 12 clean sheets (seven at home), but at a cost: Palace have failed to score in 11 games overall, including seven at Selhurst Park.

Jean-Philippe Mateta is the obvious focal point. The French striker has 10 league goals in 28 appearances, with 24 starts and 2,095 minutes on the pitch. His shot volume (53 total, 30 on target) and penalty contribution (four scored, none missed) make him the primary goal threat, both from open play and the spot. Palace’s team penalty data (7/7) aligns with his individual record; he alone accounts for more than half of their successful penalties.

The wing-backs and the pair behind Mateta in the 3-4-2-1 are crucial to Palace’s chance creation, but the numbers suggest they do not flood the box: only 36 goals, and the biggest home win just 2-0, indicate a side that relies on narrow margins and set pieces rather than sustained attacking onslaughts.

Injuries complicate matters. Palace will definitely be without C. Doucoure (knee injury), E. Guessand (knee injury), E. Nketiah (thigh injury) and B. Sosa (injury). The loss of Doucoure removes an important midfield presence in front of the back three, while Nketiah’s absence reduces attacking rotation options around or instead of Mateta. Sosa’s unavailability also limits flexibility on the left flank, which is key in a wing-back system.

Tactical snapshot: Everton

Everton’s season profile is more expansive but also more volatile. In the league they average 1.3 goals for and 1.3 against per game. Away from home, they mirror Palace’s attacking output (1.1 goals per game, 19 in 17) but are slightly leakier at the back than Palace are at Selhurst (20 conceded away, 1.2 per game).

Tactically, Everton are built around a back four. They have used a 4-2-3-1 in 21 matches and a 4-3-3 once, suggesting a preference for a double pivot shielding the defence and a band of three supporting the centre-forward. That shape gives them more natural width and an extra attacking midfielder between the lines compared to Palace’s 3-4-2-1.

Their “biggest wins” data hints at their ceiling: a 3-0 home victory and a 0-2 away success show that when it clicks, Everton can control both ends of the pitch. But the “biggest loses” section – 1-4 at home and 2-0 away – reveals how quickly their structure can unravel.

Everton have 11 clean sheets (five away), and have failed to score in nine matches overall (five away). This underscores their inconsistency but also suggests that, on a good day, they can shut games down, especially if they score first. From the spot, they are 2/2 on penalties this season, with no misses recorded at team level.

In terms of team news, J. Branthwaite (hamstring injury) and J. Grealish (foot injury) are ruled out. Branthwaite’s absence is significant for the back line, particularly against a physical striker like Mateta. Grealish’s injury removes a high-level creative and ball-carrying option from the attacking unit. I. Gueye and T. Iroegbunam are both listed as questionable, which could affect the structure of the midfield double pivot if they are not fit enough to start.

Form and momentum

In the league table, Palace’s recent form is listed as “LLDWD” – two straight defeats followed by a draw, a win, then another defeat. That pattern fits their season-long profile in the statistics block: a form string of “DDWDWWLDLWDWLWWLLLDLDLLDWLWLWDWDLL”, which is choppy and streaky, with no long winning run (their longest winning streak is just two games).

Everton’s form line reads “DLLDW” in the standings – a draw, two losses, a draw and a win. Their broader form string (“LWWDLDWLLDWWLWWLLDWLDWDDWLLWWLWDLLD”) similarly shows short bursts of victories but no extended dominance. Both teams, then, arrive in patchy shape, which increases the likelihood of a tight contest rather than a one-sided affair.

Head-to-head: Everton edge

Looking at the last five competitive meetings (excluding friendlies):

• On 5 October 2025 in the Premier League at Hill Dickinson Stadium, Everton beat Crystal Palace 2-1.
• On 15 February 2025 in the Premier League at Selhurst Park, Everton beat Crystal Palace 2-1.
• On 28 September 2024 in the Premier League at Goodison Park, Everton beat Crystal Palace 2-1.
• On 19 February 2024 in the Premier League at Goodison Park, Everton and Crystal Palace drew 1-1.
• On 17 January 2024 in the FA Cup 3rd Round replay at Goodison Park, Everton beat Crystal Palace 1-0.

Over these five competitive fixtures, Everton have four wins, Crystal Palace have none, and there has been one draw. Notably, Everton have won both league meetings in 2025 by the same 2-1 scoreline, including at Selhurst Park.

Key battles

• Mateta vs Everton’s reshaped defence: With Branthwaite out, Everton’s centre-back pairing will be under pressure from Mateta’s aerial presence and penalty-box movement. His 10 goals and strong penalty record make him the primary danger man.
• Midfield control: Palace’s injuries in central areas, especially Doucoure’s absence, could tilt the midfield battle towards Everton if I. Gueye is fit enough to feature. If not, both sides may struggle for sustained control, increasing the importance of transitions and set pieces.
• Flanks and width: Palace’s wing-backs against Everton’s wide attackers in a 4-2-3-1 will be a key structural duel. If Everton can pin Palace’s wing-backs back, they will limit Palace’s ability to support Mateta and could stretch the back three.

Discipline may also play a role. Palace have accumulated a significant spread of yellow cards across all time ranges, while Everton’s card profile shows a spike in bookings between 46-90 minutes, hinting at potential late-game scrappiness.

The verdict

The data paints a picture of a balanced, attritional game. Palace are stronger defensively at home than their league position suggests, with seven clean sheets at Selhurst Park and relatively few heavy defeats (their biggest home loss is 0-3). Everton, however, carry a clear psychological and tactical edge from recent head-to-heads, with four wins and a draw in the last five competitive meetings and back-to-back 2-1 league victories in 2025.

Everton’s slightly superior attacking output across all phases (44 goals vs Palace’s 36), combined with their more flexible 4-2-3-1 and better league position, marginally tilts the balance in their favour. But injuries on both sides – particularly Branthwaite at the back for Everton and Doucoure/Nketiah for Palace – and Palace’s solid home defensive numbers suggest this is unlikely to be a high-scoring rout.

A tight contest with one goal either way, or a draw, fits the statistical profile. If Palace can supply Mateta consistently and leverage their flawless penalty record this season, they have enough to disrupt Everton’s recent dominance in the fixture. Everton, though, enter as slight favourites to extend their strong head-to-head run and reinforce their top-half credentials.