The victory lifts Everton to 13th place in the Premier League, leapfrogging Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United
A dramatic late goal from Carlos Alcaraz sealed a 2-1 victory for Everton against Crystal Palace, extending their unbeaten Premier League run to five games.
Everton struck first in the capital after Alcaraz’s clever play set up Beto, who calmly slotted past Dean Henderson. However, Crystal Palace responded quickly after halftime, with Jean-Philippe Mateta leveling the score just two minutes into the second half.
The decisive moment arrived ten minutes from time when Alcaraz, making his full debut, finished clinically to secure back-to-back away wins for David Moyes’ side. The victory lifts Everton to 13th place in the Premier League, leapfrogging Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United. With 13 games left, they now sit 13 points clear of the relegation zone.
Palace had the first opportunity in the sixth minute as Mateta muscled his way through Everton’s defense, only to shoot straight at Jordan Pickford. Marc Guehi came close in the 19th minute with a powerful effort, forcing a reflex save from Pickford. Moments later, Jefferson Lerma thought he had given Palace the lead with a header into the top-right corner, but the assistant referee ruled that Justin Devenny’s corner had curled out of play. A VAR review upheld the decision, keeping the score level.
Ismaila Sarr then rattled the crossbar after a strong run from Chris Richards, a miss that proved costly. Everton capitalized moments later when Tyrick Mitchell’s misplaced throw-in landed at Alcaraz’s feet. The Argentine midfielder quickly teed up Beto, who made no mistake with his finish.
Palace responded immediately after the break. Guehi reacted fastest to a loose ball, hooking it into Mateta’s path. The French forward applied a composed finish past Pickford, and though VAR checked for offside, the goal stood.
As the game opened up, Jesper Lindstrom tested Henderson with a powerful strike, but it was Everton who found the winner. Ashley Young’s shot was blocked by Will Hughes, but the ball fell kindly to Alcaraz, who slotted it home with precision.
The late strike ensured Everton’s rise in the table and continued their strong run of form. The Toffees now look ahead with confidence, having claimed six points from their last two away fixtures. Palace, meanwhile, will rue their missed chances as they remain in the lower half of the standings.
With Everton growing in confidence and distance from the relegation zone, Moyes’ men will now set their sights on continuing their unbeaten run in the weeks ahead
ALSO READ: ‘Worst Yet’
