Everton ended Crystal Palace’s undefeated streak with a dramatic second-half turnaround in front of an ecstatic South Stand at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
After yet another sedate first-half performance, which saw the Blues concede a goal through Daniel Munoz at the 37th minute, David Moyes was quick to turn things around with changes at the break.
Charly Alcaraz and Beto replaced Tyler Dibling and Thierno Barry, and it led to the Blues finding their way back into the game. Alcaraz, in particular, brought so much intensity and energy and was the brightest figure on the pitch.
Tim Iroegbunam, who came on after the hour mark to replace the injured Michael Keane, won a penalty after being fouled inside the box, which Iliman Ndiaye coolly converted from the spot. He also moved to the right flank in the second half after an anonymous first-half performance at number 10, replacing the suspended Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Still chasing the winner late into the game, Jack Grealish secured the headlines with an opportunistic goal in the third minute of added time to send the fans into a frenzy. It was his first goal in a royal blue shirt, and despite the scrappy nature of the goal, nobody can undermine its significance.
The Toffees secured their first win in 36 days, bringing an end to a run of poor results, including a derby defeat at Anfield and a cup exit. While there are still several problems to be addressed with the team, the players and fans can rightly celebrate a fantastic win tonight.
Here are the player ratings from Everton’s 2-1 comeback victory over Crystal Palace:
Jordan Pickford: 8
On his 300th Premier League game, Jordan Pickford pulled off yet another imperious display in between the sticks. He kept Everton in the game with three decisive saves in the first half, and there’s little he could’ve done about Munoz’s opener.
Pickford also made himself big when Palace threatened the Everton box with long throws and set pieces in the dying minutes.
Jake O’Brien: 6
O’Brien had a torrid first half where he offered little offensively and was also lost positionally on a couple of occasions. However, he grew into the game in the second half and returned to his natural position at centre-back after Keane went off.
James Tarkowski: 6
Tarkowski could’ve probably done much better for the Palace goal. He committed himself high up the pitch, allowing Glasner’s side to break on a 3v2 counter-attack with Everton on the back foot. However, he made a couple of important blocks, held his own against Jean-Phillipe Mateta and dominated aerially.
Michael Keane (replaced by Tim Iroegbunam at 65’): 7
Keane was outstanding in the first half and didn’t put a foot wrong. He was one of the most composed players on the pitch and made several vital interceptions. He was forced off injured in the second half.
Vitalii Mykolenko: 5
Mykolenko seems like he’s still searching for match rhythm after suffering an injury in the initial stages of the season. He looked out of ideas and lost possession in the first half. He could’ve done much better for Munoz’s goal and left the Palace full-back completely open. The Ukrainian also wasted a few crossing opportunities and showcased his offensive limitations in the second half.
James Garner: 7
Much like Keane, Garner has hardly put a foot wrong this season and shone in this game once again. He delivered a delicious ball to Thierno Barry that should’ve been finished in the first half. Got moved to right-back after Keane’s injury and looked at home despite being played out of position once again.
Idrissa Gueye: 5
Gueye was wasteful in the first half and failed to prevent Adam Wharton from dominating the game. He had a better second half but it wasn’t one of his best performances.
Iliman Ndiaye (replaced by Seamus Coleman at 99’): 7
Ndiaye struggled in the number 10 role in the first half before being moved to the right, where he had more joy. He scored the penalty that brought the Blues back into the game and made his way to the byline late in the game and set up the ball to Beto that led to Grealish’s winner.
Tyler Dibling (replaced by Charly Alcaraz at halftime): 4
The summer signing from Southampton was barely involved in the first half. The game largely passed him by and Dibling might need time to grow into his role here at Everton.
Jack Grealish: 7
Jack Grealish has finally scored his first goal for the Blues and the loan signing could’ve hardly picked a better moment. His manager David Moyes had challenged him to increase his offensive output in the buildup to the game and Grealish has responded in kind.
Only Erling Haaland and Antoine Semenyo have more (9) goal contributions than Jack Grealish (5) this season in the Premier League.
Much like his teammates, Grealish also had a better second-half performance and was also smart to close the game out after scoring the winner.
Thierno Barry (replaced by Beto at halftime): 4
Barry wasted a dangerous counter-attack and also failed to get his foot on the end of a magnificent Garner cross. He failed to get the better of Marc Guehi and was rightly subbed off at half-time.
Substitutions
Charly Alcaraz: 8.5
Charly Alcaraz single-handedly came on and turned the game around for Everton. He brought an intensity and spark in the middle of the pitch that the Blues sorely lacked in the first half.
He won balls, led counters, made quick passes and runs and was unlucky not to find the back of the net in this game. It was an encouraging performance from the Argentine who has largely remained a peripheral figure so far this season and should see him rewarded with more minutes.
Beto: 7
Unlike many of his anonymous performances this season, Beto was clever dropping deep and getting involved in the buildup and kept things ticking for his side. It was his header from Ndiaye’s cross that led to Grealish scoring the winner after Henderson made a spectacular save.
Tim Iroegbunam: 7
Iroegbunam was a bright spark in the middle after coming on to replace Keane and won the penalty that led to Everton’s comeback. An encouraging display after a run of poor games for the 22-year-old midfielder.
Seamus Coleman: N/A
Reader Comments (22)
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Mick O’Malley
1 Posted
05/10/2025 at
19:12:43
Surely he’s done enough to start next game? He’s a Number 10, not a right winger, he’s got a goal in him and can carry the ball when we break. He really stepped up today and more than played his part.
Nick Jones
2 Posted
05/10/2025 at
19:20:37
About time, I do wonder what Moyes’s problem is with Alcaraz.
Jon Atkinson
3 Posted
05/10/2025 at
19:33:16
Jake released him once with a nice dinked ball, but Dibling’s cross was easily gathered by the goalie.
Barry? Oof… nothing stuck to the kid today, neither by chest nor by foot; he’s a long way to go.
Charly took centre stage: brave and aggressive with skill, work rate… super showing by him/
.
Beto was a handful, he doesn’t seem to be able to do it for 90 minutes though.
I couldn’t see a win today, that’s Palace and Brighton wondering how they walked away empty-handed!
Some luck going our way in the new place, our goal is mostly living a charmed life.
Jay Harris
4 Posted
05/10/2025 at
19:45:18
I know Charly and Beto had a big influence on the second half but the whole team seemed to wake up.
We have to become a 90-minute team very quickly and I believe Charly and Beto deserve a run in the side.
Charly seems to suit Beto’s game and vice versa.
Jeff Armstrong
5 Posted
05/10/2025 at
20:04:19
I think Alcaraz and Beto embarrassed the rest of them to step up their game with their enthusiasm and determination to change the game.
Good on Moyes for changing the team at half-time rather than leaving it to 76 minutes!
Derek Knox
6 Posted
05/10/2025 at
20:09:50
Drug Counselling is widely available and can get people to not be a dope! 🙂
Managed to get a ticket today through Neil C, for which I was very and truly grateful, but first half, I was almost wishing I hadn’t.
Two subs made a massive difference, as has been mentioned. Alcaraz, hopefully, has claimed his right to play next game.
Kieran Kinsella
7 Posted
05/10/2025 at
20:12:36
On the ratings, I’d knock a few points off Pickford. He was in full panic mode in injury time. Got caught out when Palace had a counter and should have scored after rounding him.
He made a mess of a few clearances and blasted goal kicks out of bounds rugby style, all the while moaning the ref should blow his whistle.
Jerome Shields
8 Posted
05/10/2025 at
20:21:10
If Moyes in the first half had been half as positive as the second half, it would have been a different story.
Bill Hawker
9 Posted
05/10/2025 at
20:44:34
What a change from the last few seasons for him!!!
Nicolas Piñon
10 Posted
05/10/2025 at
20:47:30
O’Brien 6
Tarkowksi 6
Keane 6.5
Mykolenko 4.5
Dibling 4
Gana 6.5
Garner 7.5
Ndiaye 6
Grealish 7
Barry 2
Alcaraz 8
Beto 6.5
Iroegbunam 7
Moyes 7
Grealish can’t play against Man City.
Mark Murphy
11 Posted
05/10/2025 at
23:40:00
Just got home (West Sussex)
Ill do a “Danny” tomorrow but WHAT
A
FOOKING
DAY!
Alcaraz made a massive difference when he
And
Jack Grealish is an Evertonian!
I fcuking love this club!
Scott Hamilton
12 Posted
05/10/2025 at
23:55:34
He totally loves us. Hes got freedom as a player, hes given respect by the manager and his teammates, us fans absolutely fucking worship him! He gets us and just wants to make us happy.
Sign him now. The best thing to happen to Everton since Kancelskis. Love him!
Rob Hooton
13 Posted
05/10/2025 at
23:59:10
Palace played some great stuff, have plenty of pace and some very good players at the top of their game, and should have scored at least 3 goals IMO.
Fortunately, they missed (and Pickford made plenty of good saves, 300 games and 290 of them hes been fantastic) and Moyes saw what needed switching at half time. The players and crowd were awesome second half, sounded like a packed Goodison Park. Alcaraz showed what he can bring to the party and looked determined to play himself into the managers thinking, as did Beto who was again an improvement on Barry.
Keane was having another great game and I was very concerned when he went off injured, however Tim had his best half hour or so in a blue shirt, winning a stonewall penalty.
Very happy with that, still unbeaten at our new home and beat one of the most in form teams in Europe!
Scott Hamilton
14 Posted
06/10/2025 at
00:01:12
BTW – Michael Keane is like a new signing. Hes stepped up and I think we all recognise that.
Jack Convery
15 Posted
06/10/2025 at
00:15:04
We will be without Jack at City but more than likely will Rodri. He went off today with what looked like a hamstring issue. No doubt, injuries permitting will go with Ndiaye (L), KDH (C) and Alcaraz (R) with Beto upfront. If Keane is out ( lets hope not ), then O’Brien slips into LCB and expect Garner at RB with Tim alongside Gueye.
Mark Taylor
16 Posted
06/10/2025 at
00:23:37
The first half was as rank as I’ve ever seen, I’d call it relegation standard but from which division? We were played off the park and it wasn’t Man City or whoever doing it.
In some ways I feel for Barry, he looks lost, confidence shot and right now, it feels like the only way back is to score a goal off his arse, and see if he can start believing again. Nothing he does right now, heading, tackling, running with the ball, shooting, suggests he has any real belief at all. It’s so bad, I wonder if he comes back from being hooked today after a half and that comes from someone who was thinking he deserves a run in the team. I just hope Dibling can re-group, or wants to re-group (he looked disinterested, no idea why, or maybe another nervous as hell).
Beto is awful, let’s be frank. We just warmed to him because he ran around, put himself about a bit. But there was a point when a ball was played up to him, not hard, and it literally bounced back ten yards off his shin. True he then chased after his work, but that isn’t the point.
We had two very good players out there, Grealish and Ndiaye. Several workmanlike players and perhaps for the first time, a glimpse of what Alcaraz could bring. But we aren’t top 10, let’s not be delusional. Anywhere 12-15 would do with this squad. The question is, how and when are we going to inject some quality, into the full back and striker positions especially, but also into midfield where we were getting overrun? No chance of top half till we do that.
Anthony Dwyer
17 Posted
06/10/2025 at
00:29:40
We stole that result today, can’t play that poorly for a full half any other week and get a result.
Fact is had Mateta taken either of his massive chances we would have been dead and buried, but us blues know more than any other set of fans that 1 goal is never enough.
Barry and Dibling are massive worries, I get they are young and inexperienced, but can’t help but feel we’ve sponked our money yet again.
Alcaraz should be treated with more respect imo, he’s unfortunate that he’s more suited to a central position as we have Hall but at home against a lot of teams we need to find a slot for him even if it’s next to Gana.
This win makes our start acceptable imo, the cup loss was a huge kick in the teeth but Moyes will have learned a lot from that squad wise, he will have a clearer idea who can and more importantly who can’t be trusted.
City up next is a big ask, no Jack is a downer but luckily Hall is back, hopefully Braithwaite is back too.
Scott Hamilton
18 Posted
06/10/2025 at
00:34:20
We were shite in the first half, I concede that. But in the second we were bold, strong and created chances. That won us the game. How many times have we been the better team and lost?
UTFT!!!!!
Mark Murphy
19 Posted
06/10/2025 at
00:37:24
Oh FFS!
Can we not at least get to midnight on the day of a good, battling win and a cracking day out before the moaning starts?
This place does my fcuking head in sometimes!
I came out of that ground today with a massive grin on my face “singing the Blues” cos its not often well win when that lot lose.
Can we not just fcuking relax and rejoice in that for at least a day?
UTFT!
Craig Scott
20 Posted
06/10/2025 at
00:40:34
I think we missed KDH’s industry and link up play today, and we will benefit from his return against City, particularly since Grealish won’t be playing.
I tend to agree with those posters calling for Ndiaye or Grealish (our two most accomplished players on the ball) to occupy the striker or 10 role for future games as Beto and Barry just aren’t up to it.
I wonder how we’d go if we had Grealish and Dibling on the flanks and both Ndiaye and Alcaraz up front?
Derek Knox
21 Posted
06/10/2025 at
01:06:09
Time flew by and The Bramley was rammed full. Good result mate, which didn’t seem possible first half ! Take care, see you soon.
Jonathan Oppenheimer
22 Posted
06/10/2025 at
03:42:54
Im not worried about Dibling, given how young he is, but the problem is the same as with any young kid who is not quite ready to start matches at this level. He needs minutes, and in a perfect world would be playing for a club like, say, Southampton for another couple seasons. Oh wait.
The calls for Charly to play are valid, just not clear how you fit him in. He really does need to be in the center of the pitch. For next week, if Garner is at right back, can KDH drop into the Garner role, or do you put Tim there, and move KDH out wide to the left? I would do the latter, which may be fine next week, but when Jack is back and/or if Keane is healthy, someone has to go to the bench for Charly to play, and Im not convinced you start him over KDH unless he has another big game against City. You cant drop Garner. You could drop Gana, and move Garner deeper, but then you lose defensive balance.
Id like to believe we have someone to play the false 9 role, but Im skeptical Ndiaye, Alcaraz or Grealish could make it happen.
Anyway, 3 points and a great day!
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