Crystal Palace 2-2 Everton, result filed with both teams still searching for rhythm in the run-in. Oliver Glasner kept the 3-4-2-1 that has underpinned Palace’s recent climb, David Moyes arrived with his usual back four behind Beto, and the pattern felt familiar: Everton striking first, Palace chasing.
James Tarkowski set the tone in the 6th minute, reacting quickest inside the box to beat Dean Henderson and give the visitors an early lead. Everton fed off that start, but the discipline frayed. James Garner’s yellow card in the 30th minute slowed their tempo in midfield, and Crystal Palace used the extra space. Ismaïla Sarr levelled in the 34th minute with a simple finish born from Palace’s persistence in wide areas.
Vitaliy Mykolenko’s booking on the stroke of half-time underlined Everton’s defensive strain, yet they restarted with bite. Tarkowski dominated the first phase after the interval, heading back across goal for Beto to score in the 47th minute. That combination was Moyes’ clearest route to goal, direct and efficient, exploiting Palace’s high line.
Glasner adjusted swiftly. Jørgen Strand Larsen departed in the 65th minute for Jean-Philippe Mateta, switching the focus from hold-up play to penalty-box presence. The change worked: Mateta attacked the same central channel Everton had protected so well until then and forced the equaliser in the 77th minute. Jefferson Lerma’s arrival for Brennan Johnson at 80 minutes locked the midfield once the parity was restored.
Everton’s bench lacked the same punch. Thierno Barry replaced Beto in the 70th minute but the visitors lost their outlet. Tyrique George entered for Merlin Röhl at 80 minutes to add dribbling, then Carlos Alcaraz took over from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the 90+4th minute to close the game, yet the Toffees could not reassert control.
Statistically, Palace’s pressure deserved the point. They finished with 59 percent possession, 21 total shots and an expected goals figure of 2.56. Daniel Muñoz delivered four key passes from wing-back, Adam Wharton led the midfield with six tackles, Daichi Kamada added two, and Dean Henderson’s five saves kept the contest alive. Everton leaned on Jordan Pickford’s six stops, 10 corners, and Tarkowski’s all-action display while ending with 1.59 expected goals. Iliman Ndiaye’s dribbling gave them respite but there was no finishing touch once Beto left.
Key performers: Tarkowski’s goal and assist highlighted his leadership, yet he spent the closing stages repelling attacks after Michael Keane slipped out of position. Sarr’s direct running stretched Everton throughout, while Mateta’s cameo justified Glasner’s rotation. Wharton’s ball-winning balanced Palace’s shape whenever Muñoz ventured high.
Discipline: James Garner booked in the 30th minute for a foul, Vitaliy Mykolenko booked in the 45th minute for another foul challenge.
What it means: Palace stay 15th on 44 points with two fixtures left, still glancing at the bottom but showing resilience. Everton extend their winless run to five league matches, remain 10th on 49 points, and must respond quickly to protect their position as other mid-table sides push for European scraps.
