Jean-Philippe Mateta came off the bench to strike a left-footed equaliser, denying Everton a crucial win in their push for European qualification. David Moyes saw his side twice take the lead through James Tarkowski and Beto, only for Mateta to level the score for a Crystal Palace side distracted by their Conference League run.
Everton could have suffered an even worse fate when Adam Wharton’s shot hit the outside of the post in the 90th minute. In a frantic finish, Dean Henderson saved from Iliman Ndiaye in stoppage time, before Mateta missed a golden chance to snatch victory for Oliver Glasner’s team.
The result extended Everton’s unbeaten run against Palace to 11 matches. However, after failing to win for the fourth time in a row when going ahead, they now rely on other teams dropping points to keep their European hopes alive.
“Good sides have to do the business at this time of the season. If you really want to be in it, then you’ve got to get wins,” said a disappointed Moyes. “That’s why we see the big teams learn to deal with the pressure and winning games. The facts are there to show it. But the facts would also say that we’ve probably not been able to handle bits of it. We have to try and do that better, but we’ve not been in this position for a long time.”
The point, combined with West Ham’s defeat to Arsenal, ensured Palace will remain in the top flight for a 14th consecutive season. Four Palace players have already logged over 4,000 minutes this season, with Maxence Lacroix starting for the 52nd time despite being at fault for Beto’s goal.
Glasner chose a near full-strength side before their trip to Manchester City on Wednesday, and was rewarded with a strong performance that could have ended in victory. “In the end it felt like Everton had played three days ago because we looked fresher,” said the Palace manager. “Everyone has the belief that we can get it done, and we will need this until we play the Conference League final on 27 May.”
Beto kept his composure to beat Lacroix and then nutmeg Henderson to make it 2-1, after Everton had earlier taken the lead from a set piece. Tarkowski was left unmarked at the back post when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s deflected ball found him, marking the 18th set-piece goal Palace have conceded in the Premier League – more than any other team.
Jordan Pickford, watched by England boss Thomas Tuchel in the stands, made an excellent save to deny Lacroix, while Ndiaye broke forward but failed to double Everton’s lead – a miss he would come to regret.