Everton could not build on the lead given to them by Romelu Lukaku's excellent free kick, and Friday's eventual 1-1 Premier League draw felt fair as Crystal Palace carried the greater threat late on. The Blues remain a work in progress, but this was never going to be a quick fix. Manager Ronald Koeman's constant calls for improvement underline the task facing him and his players.
Positives
After a succession of slow starts left Everton playing catch-up in recent matches, the opening to this Friday night fixture marked a more focused beginning. Troublesome for much of the last two seasons, Everton now carry a threat at set pieces, both corners and free kicks.