It was a few miles north-west of Selhurst Park in February where David Moyes admitted European football was the target after a late Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall strike earned his side all three points against Fulham.
That winter’s evening, he also joked in the old-fashioned media room at Craven Cottage that reporters may ‘laugh’ at such a suggestion come the season’s end.
Yet, here we are a couple of weeks out from that point, and the Scotsman’s dream is still alive and kicking. If perhaps only just.
James Tarkowski put the visitors one-up early on against Palace when he tapped home a Dewsbury-Hall in-swinging corner. In the period that followed, Everton should have made it two or three.
Dewsbury-Hall, who was at the centre of much of Everton’s interplay, twice squandered big chances in front of goal. Later, Ndiaye saw a close-range header tipped around the post by Jordan Pickford.
Eventually Ismaila Sarr equalised for Palace, only for the endeavouring Beto to restore the visitors’ lead after the interval with a neat finish through the legs of Dean Henderson.
The spoils were shared between Everton and Crystal Palace on Sunday in what was an end-to-end affair
James Tarkowski put the visitors in the lead early on with a tap-in after an inswinging Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall corner
Eventually Jean-Philippe Mateta earned the Eagles a draw with a left-footed strike on 77 minutes
With the away end in raptures, it felt at that point as though Everton would be leaving the capital victorious against a Palace side still recovering from the euphoria of their victory over Shakhtar Donetsk. Yet, boosted by the introduction of Mateta, the hosts found a new lease of life – and it was the Frenchman who equalised on 77 minutes.
Both sides had chances to clinch it – and good ones at that. Bearing down on goal, Mateta chipped over in injury time after Adam Wharton, still searching for his maiden Eagles goal, struck the post from distance.
However the golden chance fell to the Toffees’ Iliman Ndiaye, who was characteristically eye-catching throughout. Having been slotted in by the impressive Tim Iroegbunam on 92 minutes, Ndiaye saw a side-footed effort tipped over by Dean Henderson to ensure this entertaining clash ended level.
The draw leaves Everton tenth, two points adrift of a European spot. Moyes may come to rue the opportunities his side missed this week both here and against Man City. But for now, he can keep dreaming.
‘It’s amazing that we are actually talking about Everton possibly being in Europe with two games to go – and we’re not out of it yet,’ Moyes said post-match.
‘It’s getting tougher every game we’re not winning.’
Sarr steps into the spotlight
If there’s one trait which bygone stars Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise and Wilfried Zaha shared, it was flair.
Picture Zaha leaving his full-back for dead with a sublime piece of skill, Olise bending one in from distance with that wand of a left foot, or Eze slicing open a back-four with a pass seemingly only he could see.
Those are however now distant and happy memories in this part of the capital, where Palace fans have come to love another forward.
Ismaila Sarr’s strike against the Toffees – a low, driven equaliser past Jordan Pickford on 34 minutes – marked his 20th goal of the season
Sarr may not boast Eze, Olise or Zaha’s obvious technical brilliance, but his relentless hard-work, pace and clinical finishing has helped him effortlessly fill the void left by Eze’s departure
Ismaila Sarr’s strike against the Toffees – a low, driven equaliser past Jordan Pickford on 34 minutes – marked his 20th goal of the season. Not one of the aforementioned trio reached such goalscoring heights in a single campaign during their time at Palace.
Sarr may not boast Eze, Olise or Zaha’s obvious technical brilliance, but his relentless hard-work, pace and clinical finishing have helped him effortlessly fill the void left by Eze’s departure.
The Senegalese had chances to win it too and was an almost constant threat, particularly after the introduction of Mateta, whose rapport with supporters seems to have been restored. ‘Boom, boom boom’, was the cry from the terraces after the big man’s goal. You could’ve been forgiven for mistaking those chants for boos.
‘I was surprised that it’s already 20 but I’m pretty sure it will be more come the end of the season,’ said Oliver Glasner of Sarr post-match.
‘He’s just doing so well, he’s a constant threat in every single game. He has this confidence, he knows exactly how we want to play. He feels the spaces where the ball will arrive.
‘It’s great to watch him – there will definitely be more goals.’
This draw will ultimately pale into insignificance for Glasner and his players amid their quest for European glory.
17 sleeps remain until they face off with Rayo Vallecano for the Europa Conference League. A year ago it was Eze who stepped up at Wembley, now the onus could fall on Sarr to inspire in Leipzig.
