The Top Flight
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Everton vs. Crystal Palace: Combined XI ahead of Premier League clash

By Craig Pearson

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 05: Romelu Lukaku (C) of Everton celebrates scoring his team's first goal with his team mates Bryan Oviedo (L) and Aaron Lennon (R) during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and West Ham United at Goodison Park on March 5, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 05: Romelu Lukaku (C) of Everton celebrates scoring his team's first goal with his team mates Bryan Oviedo (L) and Aaron Lennon (R) during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and West Ham United at Goodison Park on March 5, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) /
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WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND – AUGUST 20: Everton goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg celebrates the opening Everton goal during the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Everton at The Hawthorns on August 20, 2016 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND – AUGUST 20: Everton goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg celebrates the opening Everton goal during the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Everton at The Hawthorns on August 20, 2016 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) /

Goalkeeper and Defense

The goalkeeper position is one of the harder choices between these two teams. Maarten Stekelenburg has been fantastic so far for Everton, playing every Premier League game since joining in the summer.

Steve Mandanda has been reliable and in great form for Palace, too.  Although the Frenchman has played just four games, and is yet to keep a clean sheet. Mandanda has impressed despite not keeping  a clean sheet, however. It is Stekelenburg, though, and his two clean sheets that gets the nod in this team.

Right back is fairly straight forward with the adventurous Seamus Coleman taking his place ahead of Joel Ward. Centre-back is competitive with the likes of Ashley Williams, Phil Jagielka and James Tomkins to choose from. Damien Delaney has also played at centre-back for Palace.

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Ashley Williams has to be the first pick in the center of defense. The Welshman was the leader at Swansea and has since settled quickly with the Toffees. Williams is joined at centre-back by Palace centre-back James Tomkins.

Tomkins has proved his worth during his short time with the Eagles and even left some West Ham fans wondering whether he could have helped their pathetic defense. Tomkins scored his first Premier League goal for the club in Palace’s 4-1 win over Stoke.

The left back position is pretty straight forward. Pape Souare is injured long-term for the Eagles after a terrible car crash, and Everton’s Leighton Baines is a doubt with a hamstring injury. So, Martin Kelly, who has played the position most recently for Palace, takes the left back spot.

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