Everton vs Crystal PalaceTEAM NEWSLeighton Baines will not feature in Friday's game against Crystal Palace, with boss Ronald Koeman deeming it "too risky" following the left-back's recent absence with a hamstring injury.
Romelu Lukaku, however, will start in attack, that despite the Belgian reporting pain in his foot earlier this week.
James McCarthy is progressing well in his bid to recover from a groin operation but won’t be fit in time.
Palace are missing key players Scott Dann and Wilfried Zaha (both hamstring), while Pape Souare is absent after a recent car accident.
FORMEverton are looking to bounce back from the defeat at Bournemouth which saw their unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign come to an end.
A win would put the Toffees, who have beaten West Brom, Stoke, Sunderland and Middlesbrough already this term, back up to second ahead of Saturday's fixtures.
The Eagles, meanwhile, sit two places behind Everton in seventh after a recent upturn in form. Having lost their opening two league games against West Brom and Tottenham, Palace took a point against Bournemouth and have three straight victories to their name since.
Middlesbrough, Stoke and Sunderland have all suffered defeat to Alan Pardew’s men, with the latter a come-from-behind 3-2 success at the Stadium of Light last weekend.
PREVIOUS MEETINGCrystal Palace 0-0 Everton, 13 April 2016
The Blues survived a James McCarthy red card to earn a point at Selhurst Park back in April.
Either side could have snatched victory – Ross Barkley struck the woodwork prior to McCarthy collecting his second yellow card for a foul on Yannick Bolasie, while Joel Robles denied Jason Puncheon.
The previous clash between the two sides at Goodison Park last December also ended level. Eagles skipper Scott Dann opened the scoring on 75 minutes but Romelu Lukaku was on hand to earn a 1-1 draw six minutes later.
KEY OPPONENT – JAMES McARTHUR
Scotland international McArthur has been a regular in the Crystal Palace line-up ever since his 2014 move from Wigan Athletic.
Having come through the ranks at Hamilton Academical north of the border - alongside a young James McCarthy - McArthur moved to the Latics in 2010 and lifted the FA Cup in 2013.
An all-round midfielder, McArthur’s range of passing is impressive, while he is never shy in the tackle. He’ll also chip in with a goal on occasion – it was his effort that brought the Eagles level at Sunderland last time out, before Christian Benteke completed the comeback.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE – MARK CLATTENBURG
The experienced Premier League and international referee takes charge of his first Everton game this season on Friday night.
He is coming off the back of officiating Borussia Dortmund’s 2-2 Champions League draw with Real Madrid on Tuesday.
So far, Clattenburg has refereed five league and cup games in 2016/17, showing a total of 21 yellow cards.
His previous Everton game was the 2-0 loss to Arsenal back in March.
LISTEN LIVEAs always, there will be free live audio commentary of Saturday’s match here on evertonfc.com.
Click here on matchday to listen to coverage with Ian Snodin and Darren Griffiths.
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