TEAM NEWS

Everton midfielder James McCarthy faces a fitness test on the hip injury that ruled him out of the midweek Capital Cup win at Middlesbrough.

Leighton Baines made his comeback from ankle surgery in midweek but is unlikely to start as the Toffees ease back him gently.

Crystal Palace will be without winger Wilfried Zaha, who is suspended after picking up five bookings this season.

Midfielder Bakary Sako also misses out because of a hamstring injury.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

Steve Bower: "With the two teams separated by just a point and both recently showing the kind of form they are capable of, this fixture is full of intrigue.

"Everton have begun to find consistency and goalscoring form and currently look an exciting proposition.

"Romelu Lukaku is in great goalscoring form with eight league goals in as many matches, ably assisted by the exciting talent of Gerard Deulofeu who is justifying the faith shown in him by Roberto Martinez.

"Palace are a real threat away from home though, and have already picked up more points on their travels than at Selhurst Park this season, and Everton will certainly show them healthy respect."

Twitter: @SteveBowercomm 

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Everton manager Roberto Martinez: "We have a large attacking threat and a very balanced squad, and I am pleased with the way we have coped with injuries - at one time we had five defenders out of the squad and as a team we always cope with everything which is thrown at us.

"You have players waiting for their opportunities and that is why you see players performing so well - no-one can drop their standards or take it easy in games."

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew on the absence of Wilfried Zaha, who is banned after picking up a fifth yellow card last week: "At Leicester he should have had a penalty, it was a foul, but on Saturday it was a dive and he's paid the price.

"He can't play this week and now his place is in jeopardy because if someone comes in and does a great job then he might not get back in the side. He'll learn that lesson."

LAWRO'S PREDICTION

Everton need this form to last because they need to show it over the course of a season, not just for four or five weeks.

But Palace are no pushovers either. They have good days and bad days like a lot of teams but, when they are on it, they are a real handful.

Lawro's full predictions v Charlatans singer Tim Burgess

• Think you can do better than Lawro? Predict the score for this match and the rest of this round's Premier League fixtures in our Predictor game.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• The away team has won the last three meetings between these sides.
• Palace have won on three of their last four visits to Goodison Park, winning on their last two by 3-2 scorelines.

Everton

• Everton are looking for a third successive home league win.
• They are unbeaten in their last 15 Premier League games played on a Monday (W7, D8).
• The Toffees have scored 14 goals in their last four league matches, one more than they managed in their previous 10.
• Romelu Lukaku has scored eight goals in his last eight Premier League games.
• Five of Gerard Deulofeu's six assists this season have been for Lukaku.

Crystal Palace

• Crystal Palace have won four of their six away matches in this season's Premier League - they've earned more points away from home than at Selhurst Park.
• Palace have conceded an average of a goal a game in this season's Premier League. Only Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal have tighter defences.
• Since Alan Pardew took over in January, Crystal Palace have accrued 30 points away from home - among Premier League clubs, only Arsenal, with 35 points, have amassed more.