What we learned from Crystal Palace 2 - 2 Everton

(Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

If the result against Manchester City was the hammer blow to Everton’s morale, then Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace was probably the start of the nail going into the coffin when it comes to the Toffees’ European ambitions for next season.

There’s still a chance, ever so slight, heading into the last two games, but it does look like it’ll be a disappointing end to a season of progression, but one that could result in some bitter taste in the mouth.

Here’s what we learned...

Wharton shows Everton what they are missing

I don’t think either team played particularly well at Selhurst Park. Then again, I don’t think either team were awful. There’s a paradox for you.

What it was, was a match featuring two teams who are not fantastic in possession. Oliver Glasner’s team do not thrive on the ball, so if Evertonians think the Austrian could make the ideal candidate to come in and replace Moyes this summer, just a word of warning — don’t suddenly expect the team to be hugely better in possession.

But what Palace do have, that Everton lacked, is a player capable of making everything tick in the middle of the park.

James Garner played well enough, but he is not the metronomic presence that Adam Wharton can be, and he was at his best, completing 52/63 passes, creating two chances and hitting the woodwork late on.

In a game of panic, Wharton felt like the only cool head, and that is where Everton must look to improve in the summer.

Moyes needs to act (But will he?)

I can’t keep repeating myself on Michael Keane and James Tarkowski, but I’m going to do it anyway: They do not work!

Tarkowski’s drop-off since he regularly has had to partner with Keane again has been stark.

Keane was arguably at fault for the first Palace goal, and both he and Tarkowski thought it was best to run back towards the goal-line, rather than go and engage Jean-Philippe Mateta, for Palace’s second equaliser.

It has to be time to move on from this partnership, and Moyes must act. Jake O’Brien is a centre-back and must now be moved into the centre of defence for the final two games. Give Nathan Patterson a chance there, or if Idrissa Gana Gueye is back fit, slot him into midfield and put Garner out wide.

Heck, even Merlin Röhl could play there, or just put Seamus Coleman in for a game. Anything (!) but another shot at this dismal Keane - Tarkowski pairing.

It's not time to give in!

It’s all very doom and gloom but, taking a step back, Everton are 2 points off 8th, which will be enough to secure European football if Manchester City win the FA Cup (or, albeit this is more unlikely, Chelsea win the Cup and finish in the Top 7), with two games to go.

Everyone would have taken that at the start of the season, and you’re fibbing if you say otherwise.

That’s not to say we cannot look at the last few week especially, and criticise Moyes and the squad. They have all fallen short, in their own ways, when it mattered most. Iliman Ndiaye has been woeful, Tarkowski and Keane have been shocking, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall missed three golden chances on Sunday.

But it’s not over until it’s over. It looks incredibly unlikely, and Everton will need other results to go their way, but if they can take 4 to 6 points from their last two matches, then they may just sneak into the Top 8.

It’s the hope that kills you, yet I still can’t help but have some… even if it is now fading fast.

Reader Comments (26)

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We can't hold leads and struggle to kill teams off.

Some promise going forward but while we are scoring 2 we probably should be scoring 4 or 5 such is the clear-cut nature of the chances we are missing.

Last home game already on Sunday, we must sign off with a win surely, nothing else should be accepted.

Mal van Schaick 3 Posted 11/05/2026 at 14:44:51

Wharton can pick a pass, but he didn’t look that much better than our midfield starting players. What I would take from that game is pressing home our early advantage. We were dominant in the first 20 minutes and could have been two or three up.

Dewsbury Hall should be going to the World Cup with Garner, he was industrious and constructive. We can once again say that we need a right full back or two in the summer transfer window and utilise O’ Brien as a centre half (don’t bring Stones back, Esteve from Burnley is a better option for me or Harwood Bellis).

Eric Myles 4 Posted 11/05/2026 at 15:18:46

We need a whole new defence in the transfer window.

Tom Bowers 5 Posted 11/05/2026 at 15:38:34

There are many and's if's but's and maybe's regarding this season were Everton are concerned but nothing is down to one person certainly not one player.

Palace are an average team with one or two outstanding players and Wharton has been good without being any better than James Garner.

We need improvements that's for sure and maybe even a ''fresh manager'' but the owners need to decide if they want to further invest in a few classier players and also decide if Moyes is still the man to bring success despite his lack of success throughout his career even with moneybags Manure.

We have seen glimpses of some talented players on the bench who have not really been given any extended time on the field and maybe this is down to the owners who want to see the big money earners preferred each week.

Hopefuly we will hear soon about the future's of a few players like Grealish, Alcaraz Barry and McNeil to name but a few.

Jay Harris 7 Posted 11/05/2026 at 15:44:17

Thought Jimmy Garner was head and shoulders above Wharton who misplaced most of his passes.

Defense including Defensive MF players were error prone defensively. I always maintained that playing Michael Keane regularly exposed his faults (lack of concentration and too slow to react). I believe if Jarred had been playing this season we would already be in the European mix.

Although the defense must take most of the blame for recent lapses we cannot excuse the glaring weakness in front of goal exhibited by Ndiaye and KDH and also the nonsensical substitution of Beto who looked as mobile as anyone when substituted for the statue that is Barry (Its like playing with 10 men).

Also has Harrison Armstrong regressed that much that we couldn't have given him more time on the pitch?

Rant over mediocrity rules.

Paul Hewitt 8 Posted 11/05/2026 at 16:08:16

What have we learned?

The players are knackered, but Moyes won't use the fringe players.

Dave Abrahams 9 Posted 11/05/2026 at 16:09:43

I watched Wharton in particular because we were interested in him when he was at Blackburn and he seems to be very highly rated, maybe I picked the wrong game to watch him because he made as many poor passes and didn’t impose himself in the middle of the field, he nearly won the game for Palace with that terrific shot near the end of the game, that was the only time he stood out for me.

John Collins 10 Posted 11/05/2026 at 16:17:23

Nothing.

Most of us already know.

Ian Bennett 11 Posted 11/05/2026 at 17:00:17

For me both goals were on Keane. The fashion will be to blame Tarkowski, but I think Michael takes the blame here on both the goals.

First one Keane losses the header vs Larsen, and a poor clearance laid it on a plate for Sarr.

Second one, at all times Keane can see Mateta in the move. His body shape is decent but he lets him peel off him too easily. Tarkowski is facing the ball with Mateta behind him, so in my opinion it is on Keane. I think Tarkowski is marking up Brennan Johnson, so he cant mark Mateta as well.

Does a Keane & Obrien partnership make it better. I doubt it.

Tony Abrahams 12 Posted 11/05/2026 at 17:16:32

We have got some good players, but we need a few more. I blamed Keane, for the first, for the second I just think it’s how we defend and anyone who watches us play will know that we don’t really have any front foot defenders moving towards and trying to read the cross, because they all position themselves close to our goal, trying to get a vital block.

John Collins 13 Posted 11/05/2026 at 17:25:53

Awareness, Tony.

Or lack of, mate

Tony Abrahams 14 Posted 11/05/2026 at 18:28:02

Perfect example was at Manchester City, before Christmas John. Harland, is a class act, but he just let our defenders (both of them) run back towards their goal and just checked his run and waited for the cutback, twice.

Yes Ian, James Garner, is much more than just a defensive midfielder, but he does spend a lot more time putting fires out, grafting and covering for his teammates, than he does trying to get himself ahead of the ball, and into attacking positions, (this should have been on the other thread, but I’m sure you will read it on this one Ian B!)

John Collins 15 Posted 11/05/2026 at 18:33:10

The Palace lad did it twice Tony. Keane snoring and he got in behind him. Kid should have scored the header.

Tony Abrahams 16 Posted 11/05/2026 at 18:46:16

Keane has had a good season John, but only by the standards he has set since he joined Everton, imo, many, many years ago.

Darren Hind 17 Posted 11/05/2026 at 19:01:06

I think we could still salvage six points from the last two games by simply dropping Tarkowski. - We got nine from the last three without him last season.

Everyone else gets dropped or played out of position to accommodate him (Even Branthwaite) and he continues to kill us I've lost count of the number of goals we have conceded with him standing almost on Pickfords toes. Out of the 46 we have conceded I`d be amazed if less than 30 of them have been with him in our six yard box. I`ve never see a player retreat to his own goal line as often has him. I`m sick to death of him being rag dolled after playing the hard man.

He's finished, He has little more to offer but stand a yard in front to Pickford hoping the ball hits him.

Moyes can bleat all he wants, but these goals are on him because he simply doesnt have the courage to drop him.

Tony

Agreed. Keane has only had a good season by his own standards, but he`s had a fantastic one by Tarkowski`s

Dave Lynch 18 Posted 11/05/2026 at 19:13:03

I don't care what he thinks of Patterson, he's a better RB than Obrian who is out of position and struggling.

John Collins 19 Posted 11/05/2026 at 19:46:21

I agree Tony,his best season for us I reckon

Tony Abrahams 20 Posted 11/05/2026 at 20:12:06

I wouldn’t go that far Darren, especially because I think Tarkowski’s standards have been better than Michael’s, since he joined the club.

It is obvious that they don’t really complement each other though, which makes it all the more baffling/galling to see us playing with another central defender out of position, every week.

I’m sure we could defend a little bit higher up the pitch if O’Brien, was played in his natural position and I’m sure we would have been easier on the eye and had more penetration, if we had played with a natural right back instead of a cumbersome central defender, who is playing out of position.

John Williams 21 Posted 11/05/2026 at 20:48:44

We need more new players and they must be a step up from what we have now. We currently have a side that can be very good one week and the complete opposite, the next. Ndiaye flatters to deceive, one of these players who plays a blinder in one game then does nothing in the next 4 or 5 games. If someone came in with a good offer, take it.

Halan Tolen 22 Posted 11/05/2026 at 23:13:00

Keane playing instead of injured Branthwaite. That's why we're not picking up wins. The stats don't lie. Keane has always been a liability and games are won with small margins.

Ndiaye needs to be more effective or be sold. Right now, there is no difference between him and when we had Demarai Gray. 5 goals in his last 23 Premier League games since October is just too bad. You put me in there, I would do more.

Graham Hammond 23 Posted 11/05/2026 at 23:46:24

James Tarkowski built his reputation at Everton largely by playing with Jarrad Branthwaite.

Michael Keane had his reputation destroyed by playing with Mason Holgate and then more recently, with James Tarkowski. Keane did relatively well alongside both Kurt Zouma and Yerry Mina in days gone by.

Tarkowski has been a decent, solid, free-transfer signing, but in my opinion, he is now the worst of our four centre-back options. David Moyes sees things differently. It is like Phil Neville at the back end of his Everton career all over again.

Mark Ryan 24 Posted 12/05/2026 at 09:10:10

Graham @ 23 spot on

Dave Abrahams 25 Posted 12/05/2026 at 10:25:05

Darren (17),

Keane gave the first goal away on Saturday, first not challenging for the header at the start of the attack, then weakly flicking his foot at the ball to set the Palace player up for a free shot on goal.

The second goal passed the three defenders, O'Brien, then Tarkowski and Keane turning his back on the shot. If he had stood up and faced the ball, it might have smacked him in the face and prevented the goal, which Tarkowski has repeatedly done in the past.

You think Keane and O'Brien are better than Tarkowski? Well, you've seen Keane often enough so you know what you're getting there, and I think you'll get to know O'Brien the same way in the future.

He's very poor at full-back; I doubt he'll be much better if he plays at centre-back and plays there permanently in the future. I'd sell him now if there is any club interested in him and if we could make a small profit on him or even get what we paid for him.

I just read Oliver Glasner's report on the game and he praised his team and gave no credit to Everton.

Yet Moyes knew we should've been out of sight but played the deflection game, saying it could've been 4-4 or 5-5.

Moyes knows he is comfortable now so I think we are stuck with him. Pretty sad but that's life. 11 wasted years under Moyes... I think we are about to see another 5 years... Enjoy!

29 Posted 12/05/2026 at 14:53:41

Dave A

Its a good job I don't pick the team because I would really upset you. Tarkowski would never start another game. We had this conversation on and off all season and the first thing you do when Tarkowskl is criticised is point the finger at Keane. A) Two wrongs do not make a right. It doesnt matter how far Keane retreats. Tarkowski will always be behind him B) I don't think there is a center half in the game who could play with this current Tarkowski. He is worse than finished. Goals conceded in the last couple of weeks demonstrate that he isn't even good enough to make a mistake. He simply cant get there to make them. That palace second should have been meat and drink to him and the way he was sat down Mateta was excruciating. No player should be dismissed with such contempt.

He's been poor all season, but its now becoming embarrassing Sundays goals come on the back of him not even facing play when City were about to kick off and being murdered in the air by VVD.

I always Knew you had a soft spot for Tarks, Dave, But I must admit I had a little chuckle when I saw you call his tackle/Hoof a "long pass",