Everton 1 Crystal Palace 1: Romelu Lukaku and Christian Benteke share the spoils at Goodison Park

THEY were the talk of the town before the game.

And Romelu Lukaku and Christian Benteke didn't disappoint as each Belgian grabbed a goal in Everton's 1-1 Premier League draw against Crystal Palace.

Both sides came to the game in good form, and all eyes were on the two strikers as Ronald Koeman and Alan Pardew sent out strong and compact teams.

But it was Lukaku who opened the scoring at Goodison Park, curling a terrific free-kick over a Palace wall which remained rooted to the spot.

Steve Mandanda was far from happy with his defenders but was celebrating early in the second half when Benteke rose to head home a powerful effort.

Both teams pushed for a winner but neither could find the breakthrough, with Palace having a goal wrongly disallowed for offside as Gareth Barry saw a header cleared off the line by Jason Puncheon.

FACTS, STATS, GOALS AND LOLS

• Everton were looking for the win that would give them 16 points from their opening seven matches and equal their highest Prem tally set in 2004-05 – when they finished fourth.
• Yannick Bolasie left Palace in the summer having provided only three Prem assists last season – and managing just 9 goals in 90 top flight appearances but already he has set up two goals under Ronald Koeman.
• Interim England boss Gareth Southgate looked grim at Goodison - maybe because he was sitting next to the fearsome Roy Keane and not that he is now in charge of the Three Lions.
• Romelu Lukaku's brilliant 35^th minute strike was his fourth in five Prem games against Palace, fifth in six games and of the 65 top flight goals he has scored for Everton his first from a direct free kick.
• Scott Dann was again missing with a hamstring injury and without the Scouse centre back the Eagles looked dodgy especially against Lukaku’s hard running.

• Ross Barkley had the chance to create a new beginning for himself with England after being dropped by Sam Allardyce with Gareth Southgate at the game.
• Christian Benteke's equaliser took  his tally to five goals in six games against Everton and his third Prem goal in the five since his £32M switch to Selhurst Park.
• Damien Delaney's 57^th minute strike should have stood instead of being disallowed for offside because so – called guilty man James McArthur was not interfering with play.
• Everton have now gone 79 successive league games without winning 2 – 0  - a new club record ensured once Christian Benteke’s 50^th minute header flew in.
• Wilfried Zaha showed that he really has re- discovered the zest and style that he lost during a tough 18 months at Old Trafford before returning to Palace as a £15M flop.

THE BIG PICTURE

SOCIAL SAYS

DREAM TEAM RATINGS

Everton: Stekelenburg 6, Coleman 6, Jagielka 7, Williams 6, Oviedo 6 (Funes Mori 6), Gueye 6, Barry 7, Cleverley 6, Barkley 7 (Mirallas), Lukaku 7, Bolasie 7

Subs not used: Robles, Lennon, Valencia, Davies, Holgate

Goal: Lukaku 35’

Booked: Oviedo, Barry, Gueye, Cleverley, Bolasie

Crystal Palace: Mandanda 5, Ward 8, Tomkins 6, Delaney 6, Kelly 6, McArthur 6 (Cabaye 6), Ledley 5, Townsend 6 (Lee 6), Puncheon 7, Zaha 7, Benteke 7

Subs not used: Flamini, Campbell, Hennessey, Fyers, Wickham

Goal: Benteke 50’

Booked: Tomkins, Townsend, Puncheon, Benteke

Star man: Joel Ward

WHAT THEY SAID

Crystal Palace goalscorer Christian Benteke: "I think it is a fair result. It was a great performance from the lads. We fought hard and came back in the game.

"They [his Palace team-mates] try to look where I am on the pitch. We try to do our job and hopefully we will keep it up.

"It is never easy to play Everton, especially at home but we showed great team spirit."

Everton defender Phil Jagielka: "I have chased the ball and put my head in [for the free-kick that led to Everton's goal]. I got a bit scared and tried to protect myself and ended up handballing it. It is a natural reaction to a high boot. The ref knew that. It was his decision. I'm sure they are not happy but we are glad Rom [Lukaku] put it in.

"They out a few more bodies forward and more crosses in. We dealt with a lot but unfortunately not them all. We are still a work in process. We need to put a bit more in over 90 minutes and see out some more games."

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