ALEX JONES (@AlexJ0nes9) analyses the odds as Everton entertain Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Monday.
Everton vs Crystal Palace | Monday 5th April 2021, 18:00 | Sky Sports
Everton welcome Crystal Palace to Goodison Park on Easter Monday in what is a tussle between two of the top-flights most inconsistent teams.
Both sides are well rested and are welcoming returns to full fitness to some of their most influential players. Everton have seen Lucas Digne, Allan and James Rodrguez back recently, with the visitors getting star-man Wilfried Zaha back just before the international break.
One man who impressed on international duty was Everton frontman Dominic Calvert-Lewin. He scored a brace against San Marino and is now Southgate’s second choice striker behind main man and captain Harry Kane in the England set-up.
I fancy him to bag anytime come Monday. He is best price 6/4 at Bet365 and that is considerably larger than other firms at even money and is worth getting with. Earlier in the campaign, DCL was looking towards a golden boot charge but a few injuries look to have hampered his chances.
He likes playing Palace too, scoring in his last two games against them and also in the reverse fixture in the game at the beginning of the campaign. Palace will likely push Everton wide and with Lucas Digne back in the side, the crosses into the box will be back to the highest quality.
DCL scored against Burnley just before the hiatus and I think he returns to goalscoring form in this encounter.
One of my favourite players to take for a card is the Palace skipper Luka Milivojevic. The Serbian may sometimes be completely out of the game and then, out of nowhere, throws in a stone-wall yellow card challenge. He is 21/10 at BetVictor and whilst it doesn’t represent tonnes of value – he is that price for a reason.
Milivojevic has been carded in 4 of his last 6 starts against Everton and has picked up more cards against them in his Palace career than any other team except Chelsea, who he also has 4 yellow cards against.
There now only stands two current Premier League teams, Arsenal and Leicester, that the mad Serbian hasn’t been carded against.
Referee Kevin Friend took charge of the reverse fixture at Selhurst Park and whilst Milivojevic did not feature, James McArthur who started ahead of him was booked for a Milivojevic-esque foul.
Having said that, Friend clearly isn’t keen on the Serbian. He’s booked him four times since he moved to Palace.
Of the 15 top-tier referees to book Milivojevic, only Antony Taylor and Andre Marriner have booked him more times than Kevin Friend, who both stand at six cards shown.
The Palace captain should be well rested and hopefully has some fire in his belly after his recent tirade at the Serbian national team. New manager Dragan Stojkovic dropped Milivojevic in his World Cup qualifiers squad, with the midfielder subsequently retiring from the international setup, stating his only regret was not hanging his boots up sooner.
The double can be backed at 7/1 with the Bet365 Bet Builder and that is worthy of some interest.
Best Bets
Everton vs Crystal Palace – Dominic Calvert-Lewin to score anytime (6/4 Bet365)
Everton vs Crystal Palace – Luka Milivojevic to be carded (21/10 BetVictor)
Everton vs Crystal Palace – Dominic Calvert-Lewin to score anytime and Luka Milivojevic to be carded (7/1 Bet365)
