Palace 0 Everton 0

Summary:

• França makes first start and Schlupp returns to Palace’s starting XI
• Schlupp tests Virginia inside three minutes
• Danjuma denied by Richards block after quarter-of-an-hour
• Everton attacker then sees strike from a tight angle tipped over by Henderson
• Garner corner almost sneaks in at the near post, but Henderson clears smartly
• Lerma blasts over Eze lay-off from the edge of the box
• HT: Palace 0-0 Everton
• Powerful Eze effort beaten away as Palace start second-half brightly
• Calvert-Lewin breaks free on the hour mark, but fires tame effort at Henderson
• Onana heads over for Everton when well-placed
• Calvert-Lewin sent off 11 minutes from time for adjudged high tackle on Clyne
• Palace mount late pressure but cannot force a breakthrough
• Garner and Harrison miss presentable opportunities for Everton
• Eze denied from distance with last meaningful attack
• FT: Palace 0-0 Everton

The departure of Jordan Ayew for the Africa Cup of Nations, and injury to Michael Olise, saw manager Roy Hodgson make a brace of attacking changes: summer signing Matheus França was handed his first start for the club, whilst Jeffrey Schlupp was restored to the starting XI.

Near-torrential downpour could not dampen the enthusiasm of a fervent Selhurst Park’s first match of 2024, the new year welcomed in with a spectacular pre-match lights show.

The Eagles also emerged from the tunnel sporting their special-edition fourth shirt – to be signed and auctioned at full-time, raising funds for Palace for Life Foundation – for the first and only time in competitive action.

Looking to build on the weekend’s win over Brentford, Palace were first to hit the target after three minutes. Jean-Philippe Mateta’s knock-down on the edge of the box gave Schlupp the chance to strike a first-time volley goalwards. His effort bounced up and tested Everton goalkeeper’s João Virginia’s handling amidst slippy conditions.

At the other end, Arnaut Danjuma provided the majority of the visitors’ early threat. Clever feet from Dominic Calvert-Lewin on the edge of the box created space for the Dutchman to take a touch and side-foot an effort goalwards; Chris Richards did well to get across and deflect it into the side-netting.

Moments later, Jack Harrison found space in midfield to break forwards and slide Danjuma in down the inside-left channel. Carrying the ball away from goal, under pressure from Marc Guéhi, the forward’s rising strike towards the near post was tipped over smartly by Dean Henderson, who adjusted his feet well to meet the effort.

The Eagles were forced to wait just over 20 minutes before França was able to provide the first real glimpse of his doubtless talents; quick feet capped a darting run from the right flank, winning a free-kick inside the ‘D’ which Ebere Eze sadly could not direct on target.

At the other end, a set-piece of Everton’s posed Palace further problems: James Garner’s low delivery appeared to creep beneath França’s foot, and almost flew straight in at the near post – but Henderson got across well to clear off the line with his leg.

Palace finished the half the stronger. Moments after a Schlupp cross from the byline took a deflection off James Tarkowski and forced Vitalii Mykolenko to clear from beneath his own bar, the Eagles went close again: Tyrick Mitchell and Eze combined on the edge of Everton’s box, but Jefferson Lerma could not keep his rising drive beneath the bar.

After a first-half in which neither side was able to truly ignite in an attacking sense, they both started the second with incisive moves, França leading a counter-attack which culminated in Eze’s powerful shot from the edge of the box being turned over by Virgínia.

The tense nature of the contest soon returned, however, and the closest either side came in the next 15 minutes was when Calvert-Lewin burst onto Dwight McNeil’s curling pass, but produced an unconvincing finish across goal which Henderson was able to field.

Set-pieces were looking either team’s most likely route to a breakthrough, and one such Everton corner on 66 minutes saw Tarkowski nod back across goal – but Amadou Onana unable to keep his own header down.

Then, with 12 minutes remaining – and moments after Henderson got down low to deny Danjuma once more – the tie threatened to explode.

A bouncing ball saw Calvert-Lewin contest possession with Nathaniel Clyne, the Everton forward scraping the full-back’s standing leg with his outstretched boot. The on-field decision was to play on but, following a lengthy VAR review, the visiting attacker received a straight red card.

That granted Palace the impetus to go on and, buoyed by fresh legs in attack, and Naouirou Ahamada swept a shot across before goal before Eze's excellent touch made space for a strike which was deflected over the bar.

But Everton’s direct approach continued to create opportunities of their own, Garner blasting over from close range and Harrison also volleying over in injury-time when well-placed inside the box.

In the final knockings, Eze wound up an effort from 25 yards which Virgínia did well to get down low and turn around the bar.

But ultimately nothing could separate the two sides, despite nine minutes of added time – and both were forced to settle for a replay at Goodison Park.

Palace: Henderson (GK), Clyne (Ozoh, 85), Guéhi, Andersen, Mitchell, Lerma (Edouard, 84), Richards, Schlupp (Hughes, 71), Eze, Mateta, França (Ahamada, 71)

Subs: Matthews (GK), Tomkins, Adaramola, Riedewald, Ebiowei

Everton: Virgínia (GK), Coleman, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Garner, Onana, McNeil (Gomes, 89), Harrison, Calvert-Lewin, Danjuma (Beto, 80)

Subs: Pickford (GK), Patterson, Keane, Godfrey, Chemetri, Hunt, Dobbin