Crystal Palace

Phil Cartwright
BBC Sport journalist

In some metrics, Eberechi Eze's statistics during his fifth season with Crystal Palace are better than any of his four previous campaigns at Selhurst Park.

Per 90 minutes played in the Premier League, Eze has registered more assists, created more chances and made more big chances for his side than in any other season since he joined Palace in 2020.

However, Eze's goals output has dropped considerably this season compared with the previous two, when he reached double figures for Premier League goals.

His average of 0.11 goals per 90 minutes played in the league this season is the lowest of any of his five seasons with Palace, including an injury-disrupted 2021-22 campaign.

Meanwhile, Eze's dribble success rate in 2024-25 (44.94%) is also his lowest in a season with Palace.

Statistics correct on 18 February, 2025

Image source, Getty Images

We asked you if Crystal Palace should keep or sell Eberechi Eze in the summer.

Here are some of your comments:

Bill: I don't think Eze has been the same since his last injury. He seems casual, lacking urgency and can be incredibly frustrating to watch on occasion. That said, he is capable of the sublime sometimes. It's whether it's frequent enough or not for me. I say sell while the going is good.

Ethel: Utter nonsense! Eze is clearly a Palace great and the notion of selling him is counter productive and awful. We should be building a team around our best players not pandering to the entitled clubs.

Peter: It depends how Esse shapes up. If he is as good as his potential I think he will be more suited to Glasner's style of play and then selling him for a sizeable profit makes sense.

Stephen: Eze has not regained full fitness this season, so it's not surprising that his contribution is being questioned. But he is 27, and he deserves a chance to fulfil his potential elsewhere before it's too late. It will be sad to see such a fine player leave, but that's football.

Andy: Eze is always going to be a valuable player to Palace, although this is not recognised by all supporters saying he is lazy and doesn't pull his weight. Just by him being on the pitch he creates space for other players, but as a team we don't take our chances.

Theo: I think we should get the money (around £60m-£70m) and then use it on another few good players or talented youngsters. Eze is very good but I'm just starting to get the feel that he's not quite understanding Glasner's system.

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Oliver Glasner has a big call to make at left wing-back ahead of Crystal Palace's trip to Fulham on Saturday.

Marco Silva's side are flying high and are just five points off the Champions League places in the Premier League table.

The Eagles suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Everton last time out but there was one positive which may lead Glasner to make a change.

Tyrick Mitchell has been a solid and dependable defender for Crystal Palace since his debut in 2020.

He has been a mainstay of the Palace side since then and this is his fifth season as the Eagles first choice left back.

Glasner has spoken about how he would like Mitchell to attack more but acknowledged that his strength is in defending and that the 25-year-old is different to all out attacking wing-back Daniel Munoz on the other side.

Mitchell did not have his best game in the defeat to Everton and was replaced by Chelsea loanee Ben Chilwell.

The England international constantly looked to get forward after his introduction and had an effort saved by Jordan Pickford in the second half.

Chilwell is more inclined to run forward and attack but like Mitchell, Glasner pointed out the part of his game that he would like him to work on.

The Palace manager said he spoke to Chilwell about his defensive positioning after his debut in the FA Cup fourth round win over Doncaster.

Chilwell may be more suited to the attacking role he wants from his wing-backs but with Fulham full of confidence, it may well be that Mitchell's solidity will be more suited against a team that is in good form.

Either way, Glasner has a difficult call to make but he will be happy to have such options.

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Matheus Franca continued his journey to full fitness as he played about an hour of Crystal Palace Under-21s' 3-0 win over Aston Villa.

Things in south London have not been ideal for Franca, who has made just 13 appearances since signing from Flamengo in the summer of 2023 - a deal that was worth in the region of £20m.

He made his first senior appearance of this season as a stoppage-time substitute in the 2-0 win over Doncaster in the fourth round of the FA Cup earlier this month.

Manager Oliver Glasner said Franca needed minutes and he was named in the starting line-up on Monday as the young Eagles side ran out comfortable winners.

It is always hard for first-team players coming down to what is effectively an academy side, and Franca has the added difficulty of having not played much football in the past year.

He was quiet at times in the first half but showed some nice touches. In one particular piece of play he closed down the Villa defence well before releasing a good pass into the area, which ended with a Palace shot and Franca almost getting on to the rebound.

The 20-year-old was brighter after the break. Perhaps knowing he was scheduled to play 60 minutes and not having to worry about tiring, he showed flashes of quality.

He had a shot blocked early in the second period, before he later cut in from the left and curled a good effort just wide with the keeper scrambling.

Franca showed a couple of times on the ball why there was so much excitement about his signing, but he needs more minutes before he can be expected to be a key part of Glasner's first team.

Alex Pewter
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

There is an Eberechi Eze subplot developing at Crystal Palace.

In isolation, he is a supremely talented attacking midfielder who has directly contributed to the club's goalscoring record this season and past. He has taken the most shots and created the most chances for others.

The counterpoint to that is that he is not fully suited to Oliver Glasner's half-winger roles or can lack the urgency in possession that the Austrian may desire.

If Eze does not yet qualify as a club great, he is certainly falling into the 'very good' category within club history. Without the words or space to delve into that in any depth, he has often been most successful as the 'second' guy - to Wilfried Zaha and Michael Olise - only to find himself elevated to the prime position this season.

That does not take away from what he can do and has produced, but it is easier to understand why he struggled more before the emergence of Ismaila Sarr opposite him.

There are two reasons Palace need him to excel and perform at his height to close the season: the results that would follow and, of course, inflating any potential sale price.

The Eze sale valuation in the eyes of chairman Steve Parish compared with the fans may well differ by £15-20m. Yet, even if another team offered the lower end of that figure, it would be a sizable contribution to the squad's development.

Eze also deserves the chance to experience and test himself at the highest standard and level, much as he did to represent England this past summer.

As he turns 27 this summer, the window to do so may close quickly. It is almost a stick or twist situation.

With him seeking full fitness and a return to the starting XI in due course, he can be the difference in tight games such as Saturday, but in terms of his future, he feels like another moving part in a complex Palace machine.

What do you think? Should Palace stick or twist with Eze? Let us know here

Find more from Alex Pewter at FYP podcast, external

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Crystal Palace and Everton.

Here are some of your comments:

Crystal Palace fans:

Miles: Every game against Everton over the past four seasons could be summed up in one sentence: how did we lose that? Always seem to dominate against them but completely implode. A true curse. Don't think there's a more frustrating fixture as a Palace fan.

Pedro: Typical Palace - one step forward, two steps backwards. A naive and rather clueless performance. Mitchell's a liability, Mateta's excellent, Eze's lazy. Too many gaps. Very frustrating.

Mark: A game we should not have lost, as Glasner said. Had the better chances and should have scored one or two more goals. The first goal was a freak mistake and the second one we struggled to get the ball clear. Very avoidable. Not sure why we can't play as well at home.

Bill: That Selhurst Park is a tough place to come to is an embarrassing myth. We give points away like Christmas presents. I despair of ever seeing a decent game there. It's like groundhog day with Palace playing pretty football up to the final third when they then play like a park team. Away fans are lucky because it's like a different (better) team play then.

Everton fans:

Martin: Some things just work well together. Cheese and pickle. Pork and apple. Moyes and Everton. Get in there. Great team effort. Great three points. Onwards and upwards.

Mark: David Moyes has given the players and fans the belief that we are unstoppable, and it's making a huge difference on the pitch. Even when Palace pulled level and at times were on top, there was always the belief we would get full points. Closer to Europe than relegation, so now it's time to enjoy the rest of the season - our last season at Goodison.

Sean: I just love watching Everton play again. The passion, the drive, the heart - it's all there. Those players look like they would run through walls for this club, and that's what we're all about. It feels like proper Everton again.

Jeff: Beto was absolutely fantastic. Working his boots off from the first till the last minute. It makes you wonder: where would we have been in the league table if he had started every match instead of Dominic Calvert-Lewin? Our first priority should be to renew Beto's contract. He is happy now and the fans love him!

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Brighton and Chelsea.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Man City 4-0 Newcastle

• Crystal Palace 1-2 Everton

Joe Nelson
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

This season, Crystal Palace have struggled at home. That trend continued with Saturday's 2-1 loss to Everton.

The Eagles conceded a Beto goal in the first half and, despite Jean-Philippe Mateta bringing the home side back level in the second half, they couldn't capitalise on their pressure and were hit by a Carlos Alcaraz winner late on.

Eberechi Eze's return certainly brought more excitement into the team from the moment he came off the bench but for all his creativity, Oliver Glasner's side failed to make the most of the momentum they had in the match.

Alcaraz's finish was a sucker-punch for a Palace team who have struggled for consistency this term, after finishing 2023-24 strongly.

They won seven of their home league games last season and can't seem to emulate that form at Selhurst Park this term.

The Eagles' last home victory came on 29 December against Southampton and their only other home win was against Tottenham in October.

Only Ipswich and Southampton - both in the relegation zone - have won fewer Premier League home games this term than Glasner's side so far.

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has also been speaking to Sky Sports following their defeat: "It is frustrating today and similar to the defeat against Brentford. The game was exactly how we expected it and then of course when we concede such goals, it is hard. We had two or three chances and the first half was quite equal.

"We gave them this kind of goal, had a great reaction and then it was up and down. It was a set play again when we can't clear it and that is why we lost. The players tried everything and we had a big effort. It is not so easy to score against them. We had some opportunities but we didn't have the efficiency today."

On changes: "We wanted a player in one-v-one situations and Eze did that and he was unlucky with his finishes. We wanted to find quicker solutions with passing but in the end, it stays frustrating but we have to learn from these games. I am sure the players will show a good reaction again. The players are great guys but we need to find the right solutions for these games.

"The distances were too big and Beto did a great job today and they could play in our half and the final third and then they had some set plays and that is how they scored the second goal.

"It is not a game we should lose. We had opportunities to win it and we lost the game at Everton in a similar way. It was not what we wanted but we have to accept it and we have to learn from these games."

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace midfielder Will Hughes has been speaking to Sky Sports after today's defeat: "It is raw now. Very frustrating. Goals avoidable, frustrating night."

"I don't think we were at our best, even in the first half. Everton are difficult to break down. Giving them a goal like that [Beto's opener], it was always difficult to get back in the game. Little details have let us down, again.

"I think we needed something different on the pitch and it worked for the start of the second half. They hit us with a sucker punch at the end which is frustrating.

"There's plenty of errors leading to goals. Our home form has been poor this season. Our away form this season has been top.

"It needs to change quickly.

"I can't put my finger on it or it would have changed a long time ago."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Crystal Palace's performance

What did you make of Everton's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Seven matches make up Saturday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Leicester City v Arsenal (12:30)

• Aston Villa v Ipswich Town

• Fulham v Nottingham Forest

• Man City v Newcastle - BBC Radio 5 Live commentary

• Southampton v Bournemouth

• West Ham v Brentford

• Crystal Palace v Everton (17:30) - BBC Radio 5 Live commentary

All kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here.

David Moyes' side gave us such great drama at the end of the Merseyside derby, although I must admit I was not watching it properly because I was covering Celtic in the Champions League for Match of the Day.

Moyes has really got Everton going again but I think he is in for a tough evening here.

You have to wonder how much Wednesday night will have taken out of the Toffees, and I suspect it was quite a lot.

Crystal Palace are going well at the moment, and Jean-Philippe Mateta will be hard to stop.

The Eagles have been steadily climbing the table for a few weeks now and I am expecting that to continue, although it will be close.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier, we asked you to name the former Crystal Palace manager from a series of clues.

The answer was Patrick Vieira, who was in charge between 2021 and 2023.

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Everton (kick-off 17:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Glasner said he has no fresh injury concerns: "Eberechi Eze, Eddie Nketiah and Ismaila Sarr trained and are available."

• Adam Wharton could also make his first Premier League start since October. "I think he's ready and now. With the other players back, it's maybe tough – but it's the best situation you can have as manager."

• As a result, Glasner is pleased with his available selection choices: "We have him, Will Hughes and Jeff Lerma in midfield. We have several options in our front three, the same as our wing-backs. We have a good situation, of course, and we want to keep this for the next three months."

• Ben Chilwell could make his first start after coming off the bench against Doncaster in the FA Cup: "Every player who is in the squad has to be able to start the game, otherwise it makes no sense. Ben is ready to start. That doesn't mean that he starts [against Everton] because also T [Tyrick Mitchell] did well – it's now to find the best mix. It's not that we now have to change everything."

• On being in charge for almost one year at Palace: "It feels like it was four to five months ago. Time rushes - it's been quite busy! I've enjoyed it since the first day. I've always had great support from players - the club and everyone made it easy. There has always been great togetherness. We always stay together."

Follow all of Glasner's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news.

Name this former Crystal Palace manager from the following clues:

• I was a Premier League-winning captain as a player;

• Palace finished 12th in my only full season as the club's manager;

• I am currently the manager of a club in Italy.

Answer will be revealed at 17:00 GMT

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace have won just one of their past 20 Premier League games against Everton, beating them 3-1 at Selhurst Park in December 2021.

David Moyes has lost all three of his managerial meetings with Oliver Glasner - twice against Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2021-22 Europa League and once against Crystal Palace in the Premier League last season while in charge at West Ham.

Only three managers have won each of their first four games against David Moyes: Claudio Ranieri won his first six, while Alex Ferguson and Manuel Pellegrini won their first four.

Crystal Palace have placed a £40-50m value on their 27-year-old forward Jean-Philippe Mateta, who is the subject of interest from Barcelona. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Manchester City are monitoring Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, following the 21-year-old England international's return from injury. (Football Insider), external

Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta is a target for Lyon and Atletico Madrid. (Caughtoffside), external

Want more transfer news? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport