Charlie Nicholas tips former Liverpool striker Christian Benteke to score against Everton

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Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas has criticised Everton’s performance in their 3-2 victory against Watford last weekend.

Further, he has suggested that former Liverpool striker Christian Benteke may net for Crystal Palace during the weekend clash between the two sides.

He said: “I watched Everton again last week against Watford. I do not know how they won. When they were 2-0 down, they were absolutely abysmal. Carlo Ancelotti did not do anything magical, but before half-time they get a real ‘get out of jail’ card before Theo Walcott nicked it.

“It is the defence that is the worry. They look so vulnerable. Roy Hodgson is clever enough to structure his team to sit in and bide their time, hitting them with the pace on the counter-attack. Crystal Palace tend to enjoy these games. Somewhere along the line, Christian Benteke has to get a goal. Could it be written for Benteke, being ex-Liverpool?”

TBR’s View – Benteke has even gone past the point of being ‘due a goal’

Obviously it is tempting fate to discuss or dismiss any potential goalscorer ahead of a game and typical football fan pessimism may see some Toffees feel it would be typical if ex-Red Benteke did score against them.

Palace can’t play Cenk Tosun because he’s on loan at Everton but perhaps Wilfried Zaha will be fired up to net against Everton, having been linked so heavily with a move to Goodison Park last summer.

As for Benteke, he’s gone beyond being ‘due a goal’ to get his scoring form back. He just looks a poor striker for Premier League level, with just four Premier League goals from his last three seasons for Palace. Even a goal against Everton wouldn’t change that.