Crystal Palace welcome Everton to Selhurst Park on Saturday in what is a crucial Premier League clash for the Toffees.
Sean Dyche is in desperate need of three points with Everton outside of the relegation zone only on goal difference.
Saturday’s encounter also would have been a crucial game for Crystal Palace, but three wins in a row under Roy Hodgson have taken the south Londoners nine points clear of the bottom three.
Ahead of the game, Dyche heaped praise on one Crystal Palace man.
What’s the story?
Well, it wasn’t Wilfried Zaha, Eberechi Eze or Michael Olise.
The 51-year-old instead opted to shower praise on Hodgson’s No.2 Ray Lewington, a man who operates in the shadows but is undoubtedly a major factor behind Crystal Palace’s upturn in form.
Dyche made 78 appearances under Lewington at Watford, and was actually the 66-year-old’s first signing at Vicarage Road.
As quoted by the Liverpool Echo, Dyche said: “Good guy I must say, Roy. Top fella and I always like his company. Ray Lewington, who is one of the best managers I’ve worked under, got a lot of respect for him as well.”
Clearly, the £96,153-a-week Everton man has a lot of admiration for the Crystal Palace duo, who have transformed the Eagles since they took over from Patrick Vieira.
Everton have to respond against Crystal Palace
It may sound obvious, but Everton have to win at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
The 3-1 defeat to Fulham last time out was very worrying, and with Newcastle, Brighton and Manchester City to come in the next few weeks, three points are a must against Crystal Palace.
If Dyche oversees another defeat, it really could see Everton become one of the favourites to go down with just seven games remaining of the 2022/23 Premier League campaign.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
