Crystal Palace 3-1 Everton: Four defeats in five games for Toffees
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James Tomkins scored his first Premier League goal since 28 December 2019
Everton's wretched season continued as fans booed Rafael Benitez's decision to substitute Richarlison during another defeat at Crystal Palace.
Demarai Gray's poor pass let in Jordan Ayew who found Conor Gallagher to sweep home his fifth Premier League goal since joining from Chelsea on loan at the start of the season.
At 1-0, manager Benitez replaced Brazil forward Richarlison - who was clearly unhappy to go off - with Salomon Rondon, which provoked an angry reaction from the travelling fans at Selhurst Park.
Four minutes later, James Tomkins made it 2-0 from close range following a corner by Will Hughes, who was making his first start since joining Palace in August.
Rondon's first goal for Everton gave Benitez's side hope but Gallagher's wonderful finish from outside the box in the closing moments secured a thoroughly deserved win that lifts Palace above the Toffees into 12th spot in the Premier League table.
Palace were the more threatening team, with Jordan Pickford forced to save from Ayew and Wilfried Zaha before England midfielder Gallagher struck in the closing stages of the first half.
Everton have won 10 points from losing positions this season but were unable to avoid a fourth defeat in five games and face a daunting return to London on Thursday to take on third-placed Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (19:45 GMT).
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Fans turn on Benitez
Monday's late win over Arsenal helped alleviate some pressure on Benitez but there was no mistaking the whistles and jeers when he opted to replace Richarlison with Rondon shortly before the hour mark.
Richarlison, who had just 10 touches, shook his head as he slowly walked off the pitch before slumping into a seat in the dugout.
Everton, who have lost four in a row away from home, actually played their most threatening football with the number seven off the pitch.
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After Rondon pulled a goal back from close range, Andros Townsend had an attempt deflected narrowly wide against his former club.
Then Anthony Gordon went for goal instead of passing, with Palace keeper Vicente Guaita denying the substitute before Gallagher produced a sumptuous finish in the 93rd minute to seal Everton's eighth league defeat of the season.
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At the age of 21, Gallagher has played more minutes for England than for parent club Chelsea after coming on as a substitute in the 10-0 walkover against San Marino last month.
He has forced his way into England boss Gareth Southgate's thinking because of the type of sharp, inventive performance he produced against lacklustre Everton.
Gallagher was at the heart of everything that was good about Palace's first win since 6 November and, while he has yet to make a senior appearance for Chelsea, he now has six top-flight goals to his name from midfield this season.
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In addition he has three assists in the Premier League and has been directly involved in 41% of Palace's goals this season.
Palace went into this game on the back of three successive defeats but Patrick Vieira's side were bright and breezy throughout.
They had 17 attempts - with six on target - and controlled the match with a passing accuracy of 396 compared to Everton's 211.
With Southampton arriving at Selhurst Park on Wednesday on the back of a 3-0 defeat at Arsenal, Palace could end the week in the top half of the table.
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