Four takeaways from Crystal Palace’s 3-0 defeat to Everton – Lessons must be learned as flimsy Eagles brushed aside

BY ADAM SELLS

Goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Anthony Gordan and Dwight McNeil handed Everton a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace.

Here are Adam Sells’ takeaways from Goodison Park:

NO POSITIVES

In fact, there weren’t any. This was possibly the worst day of Patrick Vieira’s tenure. 

Last season, there were only a couple of occasions comparable to this. The away games at Chelsea on the opening day and the miserable performance at Tottenham Hotspur on Boxing Day are the only two that spring to mind.

 Vieira used the term “Non-performance” when addressing the media post-match, and it was perhaps the best way to describe a terrible afternoon for his Palace team.

 The nature of the goals conceded and the fact that the visitors barely dirtied the palms of Jordan Pickford’s gloves made it a miserable ninety minutes for ‘The Eagles.’

 TIME TO CHANGE SHAPE?

 Vieira has wanted to adopt a 4-1-2-3 shape in pretty much most of his games in charge.

 Without the combative Cheick Doucoure in midfield, the Palace boss opted to retain the same shape, with Luka Milivojevic slotting in at the defensive ‘6.’

Given the second half of the game last May, when Everton completely outpowered Palace, having been comprehensively outplayed in the opening forty-five minutes, it would surely have been more suitable to play with two holding midfielders, particularly without the energetic Doucoure.

The home side set up with Idrissa Gueye and Amadou Onana in front of the back four and this was the platform for Everton’s success – the duo completely dominated the middle of the pitch.

With the physicality of Dominic Calvert-Lewin again giving Marc Guehi a difficult afternoon, Palace were never really in the contest – bar a bright spell just after half-time.

It appeared that Palace started the second by matching up the 4-2-3-1 shape deployed by the hosts, but with Eberechi Eze alongside Milivojevic.

MIDFIELD CHANGES HARD TO FATHOM

Given the difficulty Palace were having in the midfield battle, it was extremely surprising to see Vieira remove Milivojevic, his only defensive ‘guard’ during Palace’s best spell of the game, for Jeffrey Schlupp – another more attacking choice. 

Surely Will Hughes or Jairo Reidewald would have been a more appropriate swap for the experienced Serb, just when his men were gaining a foothold in the game.

At best you could describe the move as ‘brave’ though, in truth, ‘naive’ would be more appropriate.

Palace looked extremely flimsy without any form of defensive stability, and the game was effectively over within moments as Anthony Gordon tapped home a second.

TOO EASY TO PLAY AGAINST?

The nature of the goals Palace conceded were a real cause for alarm.

The first came after Miliviojevic was dispossessed in the defensive third, but Marc Guehi would have been embarrassed with the ease that Calvert-Lewin beat him and slipped the ball past Vicente Guaita, particularly with the England manager watching on in the stands.

Guehi has been exceptional since his arrival at the club but has struggled on this ground twice and perhaps his form has dipped a little for the standards set. Likewise, Tyrick Mitchell has not hit the level of consistency previously demonstrated since making his England debut back in March.

The second saw the untracked Vitaliy Mykolenko enjoy the freedom of Goodison Park, with his effort half-stopped by Guaita, with Gordon able to stroke home unchallenged.

The third saw substitute Dwight McNeil drive unchallenged away from Malcolm Ebiowei, Joel Ward, Schlupp and Joachim Andersen, and exchange passes with Alex Iwobi to slot home.

If The Eagles are going to glean a reasonable haul of points on the road, they are going to need to be much more resolute.

There is absolutely no doubt that Vieira has some really talented ball carriers at his disposal – players that can win games with a moment of inspiration – but you must be able to get these players on the ball.

Palace have yet to win on the road in five attempts and are yet to record a clean sheet in six home matches – suggesting the balance is not right.

PLENTY TO CHEW ON

There is much work to do both tactically and in terms of recruitment if Palace are to improve on last season’s showing.

There is certainly a need for reinforcements in January. Midfield and attack are light, both in terms of numbers and physical presence.

Christian Benteke must be replaced. Palace sorely miss the evergreen James McArthur, for his energy and leadership, but again it is unrealistic to be over-reliant on a 35-year-old in the Autumn of his career.

It goes without saying how much Doucoure was missed just a few months into life in South London.

Like any manager, Vieira will rarely be able to call on a fully fit squad at any time, as he acknowledged after the game, but his team cannot look so lightweight with the loss of a key midfielder going forward.

‘A bad day at the office’ can happen of course, but lessons must be learned.