Agency Report
Beleaguered Everton manager Benitez’s misery piled up at Selhurst Park as his side lost for the seventh time in their last nine league games.
On-loan Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher put Palace ahead in the 41st minute with his fifth goal this season.
Everton winger Demarai Gray gave away possession on the edge of his area and Jordan Ayew was first to the loose ball, squaring for Gallagher to fire home.
Benitez, already disliked by Everton fans after his spell in charge of Merseyside rivals Liverpool, saw his plunging popularity dip even further in the second half when he was booed for sending on Salomon Rondon to replace Richarlison.
The mood grew even more toxic among Everton’s travelling fans after James Tomkins doubled Palace’s lead in the 61st minute.
Tomkins poked in from close range after Everton made a hash of clearing Will Hughes’ corner.
Rondon got one back with his first Everton goal in the 70th minute, the striker slotting home after Joel Ward deflected Abdoulaye Doucoure’s shot into his path.
But Gallagher’s 20-yard curler in stoppage-time left Everton languishing seven points above the relegation zone.
“You cannot explain that all the time when the people are disappointed,” Benitez said of the angry Everton fans.
“It was a strange game. When we had control they scored. At the start of the second half another mistake from a corner. You cannot do that in the Premier League.”
AFP
