This image of the average positions shows you Everton's shape nicely.

Wayne Rooney (10) and Idrissa Gueye (17) sit deep in midfield. Then Theo Walcott (11), Tom Davies (26) and Gylfi Sigurdsson (18) support Oumar Niasse (19).

Palace meanwhile are deep, with the exception of Andros Townsend (10).

Eliaquim Mangala attacks a cross and is right in the mixer but a fine James Tomkins header prevents a goal. That was a brave intervention.

Image source, .

Christian Benteke has one ruled out. Not only was he offside but in heading past Jordan Pickford he also took the keeper out.

No need for VAR with that one.

A good hit by Yohan Cabaye and he bounces the effort just a few yards in front of Jordan Pickford. Tricky and the keeper only turns it around the post. He played that safe.

Image source, .

As you can see, Everton are bettering this. They again win the ball back, this time from Andros Townsend. Gylfi Sigurdsson attacks the left flank... good ball... touched by Oumar Niasse 10 yards out but no one can apply a finish.

Theo Walcott gets in down the right, possibly the best crossing position of the game. It's intercepted by James Tomkins but he slips in his box and Tom Davies smashes an effort into the body of Timothy Fosu-Mensah.

Seamus Coleman helps break up a Palace attack and passes the ball into the path of Theo Walcott. That combination looks like it could be eye-catching for Everton in the weeks to come.

Tom Davies tries to force a pass into the feet of Wayne Rooney on the edge of the box but it's intercepted.

Theo Walcott has been handy so far but Everton will wish they had crafted a little more for all their good work.

Tom Davies plays a simple pass in midfield as they come forward. Cuco Martina - at left-back but with no left foot - crosses left footed into the hands of the Palace keeper.

I can't help but feel Martina limits them massively down that flank.

Image source, Getty Images

Pat Nevin is enjoying Theo Walcott's display on 5 live. The winger beats a couple of men and gets hauled down 30 yards out.

Wayne Rooney will have a go... deflection... corner once again.

Theo Walcott plays a super ball into the corridor of uncertainty and Joel Ward has to desperately head for a corner with Wayne Rooney lurking.

From the corner, Idrissa Gueye gets on the ball from 30 yards and forces a smart save. Better from the home side.

Pat Nevin
Ex-Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 live

I think it's fair to say we are at that point where the game needs a goal.

David: Eliaquim Mangala is so bad I don't think he would get a game at Newcastle. Let that sink in for moment.

Michael Keane goes long but an Oumar Niasse flick finds nobody. Crystal Palace will be happy with this start. Their debutant Alexander Sorloth looks quiet so far but he's notably doing a bit defensively. He's playing up front with Christian Benteke but when Palace lose the ball he drops back in to a left wing role, almost making it a 4-5-1 when Palace don't have possession.

Pat Nevin
Ex-Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 live

Everton are slightly the better team. That said, there are some stinking efforts of defending. Mangala has had a couple, now Martina concedes a corner. For their good looks going forward, boy do they look shaky at the back.

Image source, Reuters

Idrissa Gueye is the busiest man out there so far with 24 touches. The home side edging things with 67% of the ball.

Palace are well drilled though. As a long ball goes into Oumar Niasse, Palace's midfield and defence are close together to squeeze him out. Good distances kept by the two lines.

Gylfi Sigurdsson turns a ball over the top and Oumar Niasse is galloping after it like he's approaching the finish line at Aintree.

Niasse is in the clear but he will have to beat Wayne Hennessey to the ball. He does but it's a stretching effort and he turns the ball over.

Image source, AFP

Pat Nevin
Ex-Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 live

Two corners, both poor from Everton so far, both hitting the first man.

Listen to Pat by clicking on the live offering at the top of this page.

The home side have a free-kick 25 yards out. Wayne Rooney and Gylfi Sigurdsson study it. It's Sigurdsson... deflection... corner.

Sigurdsson will take the corner, out-swinger, headed away by Christian Benteke.

Luka Milivojevic sent that ball back with interest like I said and speaking of interest, the Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney is in the crowd. I'm told he's an Evertonian.

Handily, his hands in this image are showing us roughly how far wide the Milivojevic effort was.

Image source, Getty Images

Eliaquim Mangala is all over the place again, run off it by Alexander Sorloth who cuts the ball back. It's deflected clear but Luka Milivojevic send it back with interest... wide by three yards. Good hit.

Joel Ward defends well at his back post to clear a cross for a throw in. Everton are bettering the territory here but aside from that good Gylfi Sigurdsson hit there's not much happening.