Everton 3 vs Crystal Palace 1: Gyfil Sigurdsson, Oumar Niasse and Tom Davies put Palace to the sword
Toffees recover from Arsenal drubbing to take full control - Luka Milivojevic replies from the penalty spot
Toffees recover from Arsenal drubbing to take full control - Luka Milivojevic replies from the penalty spot
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OH HOW the mighty Lions have fallen.
Sam Allardyce and Roy Hodgson had their shot managing at the highest level with England.
Hodgson’s tenure ended after four years following embarrassing World Cup and Euros exits.
Big Sam’s problems came off the pitch after just 67 days in charge after ill-judged remarks made to an undercover reporter.
That included unsavoury stuff about England predecessor Roy.
Now here they are — back in the top-flight and trying to remind everyone why they got the Three Lions gig in the first place.
With 11 games of the Premier League season to go, 11 clubs could feasibly be dragged into a bottom-three scrap come May.
And just as it was for Hodgson at Euro 2016, another Icelandic star left Crystal Palace boss Roy stunned on the touchline.
Because Gylfi Sigurdsson’s strike, just seconds into the second half, inspired Everton to claim only their second win in nine Prem games.
Oumar Niasse twisted the knife in deeper with a second not long after before Tom Davies killed off the Eagles with a third.
Sigurdsson milks the applause from the Everton faithful
There is no way Roy is going to forgive Sam for mocking him now, not even if it came with a post-match glass of vino.
This defeat could seriously hurt Roy — leaving Palace just two points above the drop zone.
Who would want to be a boss? Well, Wayne Rooney, according to Hodgson before the game.
Veteran Roo, 32, was urged by his ex-Three Lions boss to forget about punditry when he retires and head for the dugout.
But after shining on the right of a midfield three — in the same position he played for England on that fateful night against Iceland at the Euros — he looks in no rush to do either.
Early on, a clever long ball from deep epitomised the class he still has — it was just a shame Theo Walcott strayed offside. And Sigurdsson followed suit, latching onto Walcott’s knock down, dodging Luka Milivojevic and firing one at Wayne Hennessey.
Tom Davies put the game beyond Palace with the home side's third goal
The Welsh shot-stopper got there — just — but Palace were struggling to get into the game.
Luckily, they were up against Toffees new-boy Eliaquim Mangala.
You would have thought after his horror debut at the Emirates, where he watched Arsenal knock in four goals around him before half-time with ease, he could not get worse.
But he did. With Roy’s boys on the ropes, a stray back-pass forced Jordan Pickford to rush off his line and scuff a clearance — straight to Yohan Cabaye.
He attempted to recreate Rooney’s wonder goal from his own half against West Ham… but dragged the punt wide.
On-loan Manchester City man Mangala then found himself mangled once more.
He was outmuscled by Palace new-boy Alexander Sorloth, who fed Milivojevic and the Serb midfielder grazed Pickford’s post with an effort.
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The former West Ham defender then inadvertently deflected the Icelandic man’s shot into the corner.
And Mangala’s miserable afternoon came to an early end when he was carried off having injured his knee in a collision with Palace keeper Hennessey.
Palace were gaining some momentum before the break, with Christian Benteke seeing a header brush the post.
But super Sigurdsson paid back another chunk of his £45million transfer fee soon after the restart.
James Tomkins’ weak header fell to Sigurdsson and the defender then deflected the Iceman’s 30-yard strike past Hennessey.
More lazy marking from Tomkins gifted Cuco Martina space and he picked out Niasse to head home.
Davies added a third for the Toffees with Milivojevic’s late penalty, after a handball by Ashley Williams, proving scant consolation for Palace.
And Big Sam showed rival Roy just how to fall on your feet in the dog-eat-dog Premier League.