Everton vs Crystal Palace - Koeman expects Everton to improve - 7M sport

Everton vs Crystal Palace - Koeman expects Everton to improve



Posted Friday, September 30, 2016 by PA

Ronald Koeman wants and expects Everton to be better against Crystal Palace than they were at Bournemouth last weekend - but is also keen for the 1-0 defeat at the Vitality Stadium to be kept in context.

The loss was the Toffees' first in the Premier League this season, with them having accrued 13 points from their opening five games of the campaign following Koeman's appointment as manager over the summer.

Victory over Palace at Goodison Park on Friday would move them up from fifth to second in the table.

And, while in no doubt an improvement is needed on the showing last Saturday, Koeman has emphasised Everton have made what should still be recognised as a creditable start this term.

The Dutchman - whose side also lost in the EFL Cup last week - said on Thursday: "We need to be at our best tomorrow night, and I expect that. You like to see a reaction.

"But we are talking about one defeat from six in the Premier League - that is not bad.

"And if we get a very good result tomorrow night, everybody will be very happy about the first seven.

"If we win we are second in the table - it is more than everybody expected. We are in a good way, no problem."

Everton will be without Leighton Baines for the clash with seventh-placed Palace, who have won their last three league games.

Baines has been nursing a hamstring injury that Koeman says makes it "too risky" for the full-back to be involved.

But the manager has confirmed striker Romelu Lukaku - recently troubled by a toe problem - will start.

Koeman also on Thursday stressed his hope the Republic of Ireland will "protect" Everton midfielder James McCarthy after he was called up for their World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Moldova on October 6 and 9 respectively.

McCarthy has been recovering from groin surgery and last played for the Toffees on August 23.

Koeman said: "James is close. Normally, he would start next week to train with the group, with the team.

"But the national teams are coming up and they called James up after six weeks of no playing - and the FIFA rule is you have to accept it.

"The player likes to go, and I hope they will protect the player. They must realise he hasn't been training for five or six weeks."

Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew has revealed striker Jonathan Benteke could be out for up to four months with a knee injury which requires surgery.

The 21-year-old, younger brother of fellow Eagles' front man Christian Benteke, joined Palace on a free transfer in the summer but now faces a spell on the sidelines after suffering the injury in training.

"We have had a serious knee injury this week to Jonathan Benteke which is going to keep him out of action for around three or four months," said Pardew.

"In training his knee locked when he was doing a finishing drill and he unfortunately needs an operation. It's a shame for him and us but the group that travelled last week will go up to Everton plus the addition of (Wilfried) Zaha."

Winger Zaha is fit having missed last weekend's last-gasp win at Sunderland with a slight hamstring strain and he could be back in the Palace side for the game at Goodison Park.

Palace will come up against former fan favourite Yannick Bolasie, who moved to Everton in the summer for a reported B£25million, and Pardew says the Democratic Republic of Congo international has nothing to prove as he prepares to line up against his old club.

"I love Yala," he said.

"I just hope he is not going to have one of his super games that he is capable of, but of course he will be looking to impress.

"He has nothing to prove to us or our fans, they still love him although I don't think they are particularly happy that they (Everton fans) have the song, but that type of thing goes with a club signing big players."



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