Crystal Palace play host to Everton in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon as both clubs come to terms with the failed transfer negotiations regarding Wilfried Zaha.
The Toffees were prepared to pay in excess of £60m for the winger, although Palace refused to lower their higher valuation in order to finalise a deal.
Match preview
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The beginning of the new season is supposed to be an occasion when all of a club's star men are on show, but Roy Hodgson has a decision to make regarding his selection of Zaha.
Despite his affinity with Crystal Palace, the wideman has spent the majority of the week envisaging a scenario where he would be representing Everton at Selhurst Park.
Given the club's failure to significantly improve their forward line, Hodgson must now make the call over whether it is worth risking Zaha in such a game, potentially contemplating whether this is an opportunity to nip some of the negative talk in the bud.
Palace find themselves in desperate need of a positive result having lost for of their six pre-season fixtures, and a win with Zaha in the side would go a long way to getting matters both on and off the pitch back on track.
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As for Everton, Toffees supporters are on a high after what can only be described as a productive transfer window, one which has seen seven players come through the door at a net spend of £28m.
While Marco Silva has spoken openly about his disappointment of failing to sign a new centre-back, the Portuguese has been quick to praise the club's efficiency in the market when they are attempting to break into the top seven of the standings.
Everton - like Palace - recorded just one win during their pre-season campaign, but Silva will be eager to take advantage of the opening half-a-dozen fixtures having avoided each of "the big six".
The quality of their additions - the latest of which saw Alex Iwobi join from Arsenal on Thursday - should mean that they make a sustained challenge in and around their target area, but failing to win enough games like the one on Saturday is what has cost the Merseyside outfit in the past.
Crystal Palace form: LLLWDL
Everton form: DDWDD
Team News
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Silva may decide to hand debuts to Jean-Philippe Gbamin and Moise Kean for the fixture in London.
Gbamin could replace Fabian Delph, who has been ruled out through injury, while Kean is in contention to replace Dominic Calvert-Lewin as the lone frontman.
Leighton Baines is also a doubt for the meeting at Selhurst Park, but Morgan Schneiderlin could find himself on the bench, despite being linked with an exit.
Depending on whether Zaha is selected or not, Jordan Ayew could be included to partner Christian Benteke in attack.
Having only linked up with Palace at the start of the week, Gary Cahill may have to wait to make his debut, while fellow centre-back Mamadou Sakho is sidelined through injury.
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup: Guaita; Ward, Dann, Kelly, Van Aanholt; Milivojevic, McArthur, Meyer; Townsend, Zaha, Benteke
Everton possible starting lineup: Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Mina, Digne; Gbamin, Gomes; Bernard, Sigurdsson, Richarlison; Kean
We say: Crystal Palace 1-3 Everton
While Everton have struggled for goals during pre-season, you have to expect that things will soon click for the Toffees in the final third. Palace will be confident of making a positive start at Selhurst Park, but we are backing Everton to impress on their travels.
Darren Plant
