Crystal Palace 2-2 Everton: Premier League 2025-26 match report

The opening

Selhurst Park played host to a high-intensity encounter on Sunday, as Crystal Palace and Everton fought to a 2-2 draw in a match defined by defensive lapses and moments of individual quality. Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace, set up in their trademark 3-4-2-1 formation, looked to control the width of the pitch, while Leighton Baines’ Everton opted for a 4-2-3-1 structure, prioritizing a compact central block and quick transitions.

The visitors signaled their intent early. Just six minutes into the contest, James Tarkowski found space inside the Palace penalty area to open the scoring. The early goal forced Palace to reorganize, but Everton’s disciplined shape made it difficult for the hosts to find rhythm in the final third. As the half progressed, the physical nature of the contest became apparent; James Garner was cautioned in the 30th minute for a mistimed challenge as Everton sought to disrupt the Palace buildup play.

The pressure eventually told for the home side. In the 34th minute, Ismaïla Sarr leveled the score, capitalizing on a breakdown in the Everton defensive line. The goal shifted the momentum toward Palace, who began to exploit the spaces behind Everton’s fullbacks. However, the visitors remained dangerous on the break, and Vitaliy Mykolenko’s yellow card in the 45th minute highlighted the strain placed on the Everton backline as they looked to reach the interval on level terms.

The decisive moment

The second half began with immediate impact. Just two minutes after the restart, Everton reclaimed the lead. James Tarkowski, having already registered a goal, turned provider by setting up Beto, who finished with composure to put the visitors 2-1 ahead. The goal forced a tactical shift from Glasner, who looked to his bench to inject fresh energy into the attack.

The match entered a period of tactical maneuvering as both managers sought to influence the outcome through substitutions. In the 65th minute, Jørgen Strand Larsen replaced Jean-Philippe Mateta, though the latter would ultimately prove to be the most influential figure of the afternoon. As the clock ticked into the final quarter of the game, Palace intensified their pursuit of an equalizer, pinning Everton deep into their own half.

The decisive moment arrived in the 77th minute. Despite having been substituted earlier, the fluidity of the Palace attacking movement allowed Mateta to find the back of the net, restoring parity at 2-2. The final stages saw a flurry of changes, with both sides looking to snatch a winner. Leighton Baines introduced fresh legs in the form of M. Röhl and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the closing stages, but neither side could force a breakthrough. The match concluded with both teams sharing the points after a hard-fought 90 minutes.

Looking ahead

The result leaves both Crystal Palace and Everton to reflect on defensive vulnerabilities that prevented them from securing all three points. For Palace, the ability to recover from two separate deficits demonstrates a resilient character as they move into the final stretch of the 2025-26 campaign. Everton, meanwhile, will look to tighten their defensive structure to ensure they can protect leads in future fixtures.