Palace hold Everton at Goodison Park

Belgium international forwards Romelu Lukaku and Christian Benteke were both on the scoresheet, as Everton drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace at Goodison Park.

The point sees Ronald Koeman's side move above Liverpool and Arsenal and up to third in the Premier League table, while Palace remain in seventh.

Everton went into the break 1-0 up, thanks to the 65th Premier League goal of Lukaku's career, from just 155 appearances.

But the goal was not without controversy. Referee Jon Moss adjudged that Palace defender Damien Delaney, making the 600th appearance of a 16-year league career, had gone in on Phil Jagielka with a high foot, but TV replays showed that the Everton captain handled the ball during the challenge.

Up stepped Lukaku, who floated a free-kick from the right-hand edge of the area over the wall and past flat-footed Palace goalkeeper Steve Mandanda.

But Benteke, a £27m signing from Liverpool in August, equalised with a brilliant header in the 50th minute, his third goal in his last four matches and his fifth in six appearances against the Toffees.

There seemed little danger when Joel Ward stood up a cross from the right, but Benteke had instinctively stolen a yard on Seamus Coleman and was able to shrug off the Ireland defender's challenge to angle a header just inside the far post.

Everton could have regained the lead just a minute later, following an incisive run and cross down the left from former Eagle Yannick Bolasie, but Martin Kelly was well placed to block Idrissa Gueye's on-target shot.

But Palace will feel hard done by that Delaney had a goal on 57 minutes ruled out for offside. The Corkman's angled header into the far corner of Stekelenburg's goal was inch-perfect, but the lineman ruled that James McArthur was in the Everton goalkeeper's eyeline and therefore in an offside position.

Everton dominated the final stages, with Gareth Barry and Coleman both going close, but Palace held on for a deserved point.

By Nick Royle

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