Saturday 31 January 2015 13:43, UK
Everton travel to Crystal Palace hoping to end a six-game winless run in the Premier League.
With no FA Cup action last week, Roberto Martinez took the opportunity to take his troops on a warm weather training camp to Doha in a bid to rebuild the confidence of his players ahead of the trip to Selhurst Park.
Everton have lost their last five matches on the road but they can certainly take confidence from the fact they have won four and lost just one of their last six visits to Palace in all competitions.
However, the Eagles are brimming with confidence following Alan Pardew's arrival at the club and are on a run of four straight victories.
Palace, who can jump above Everton with a victory, have also had some recent success against the Toffees, winning their last two meetings between the two clubs 3-2 - albeit at Goodison Park.
Team news
Jordon Mutch is set to make his debut after joining Palace from QPR.
Mutch is fit and ready to play against the Toffees but fellow new signing Shola Ameobi will need longer to regain match fitness after leaving Turkish side Gaziantep in December.
Palace winger Jerome Thomas has picked up a minor knock and will be unavailable while Yannick Bolasie and Mile Jedinak are still away on international duty with Congo and Australia respectively.
Everton are hoping to have midfielders James McCarthy (hamstring) and Darron Gibson (knee), and defender Sylvain Distin (groin) back in contention for trip to Crystal Palace.
Winger Kevin Mirallas is expected to be fit after being substituted with a hamstring injury soon after controversially missing a penalty in the goalless draw against West Brom last time out.
Goalkeeper Tim Howard (leg) and midfielders Leon Osman (foot) and Steven Pienaar (knee) remain on the sidelines.
Opta stats
Pardew and Martinez have met as opposing coaches eight times in the Premier League with four wins apiece.
Dwight Gayle has scored five goals from just seven shots on target in the Premier League this season.
James McArthur has cleared the ball off the line more often than any other player in the Premier League this season (four).
The Eagles have committed more fouls than any other team in the division (299).
The Toffees have committed fewer fouls than any other side in the top flight (213).
Crystal Palace have recovered more points from losing positions than any other team in the Premier League (14).
Merson's prediction
Everton have won one in 13, so I can't pick them. With the team they've got they should've won more than that as they've got some unbelievable players. I don't think they will, but if they did get relegated they would be the best team to go down from the Premier League.
Palace are riding high so I have to go with them. I understand why they've got Ameobi in because the manager knows him and he can trust him.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1
Betting
Despite failing to win any of their last six matches in all competitions, Everton are Sky Bet's 6/4 favourites to take the spoils when they visit in-form Crystal Palace (9/5). Both sides are level on points in mid-table but it is Palace who have rewarded backers in recent matches with come-from-behind victories over Tottenham, Burnley and Southampton and it's 5/1 for that trend to continue. Marouane Chamakh scored twice in last week's win at St Mary's and is 14/1 with Sky Bet to repeat the feat, while Yaya Sanogo is 3/1 to score in a fifth successive win for Pardew's new chargers.
