Everton finally has the competition for the places – but the courage of Marco Silva was the key against Crystal Palace – Michael Ball

I think it was really important to get three more points on the board against Crystal Palace.

After the international break, you are always a little suspicious, wondering how the players will react. The manager did not spend much time with them and there is some history that these meetings are pretty flat.

But I was very happy with the composition and obviously happy to meet Andre Gomes – that's what gave me a lot of confidence in this game.

As the game progressed, we were the dominant team in possession of the ball, but I felt that we were a bit too slow, as we were moving the ball too often when we could play and try to pass. behind the lines.

Thanks to Palace, because everyone was behind the ball and made the task difficult, but in possession of the ball, I felt we were the best side even if the visitors had the best chance to counterattack.

Those fixed pieces and fixed pieces still hurt, but I thought Michael Keane had done really well and that his position just seemed to be at the end of everything.

As the game progressed, we seemed to be the only side that would win the match, but with the passing of time, you were just wondering about the game. where would this objective come from.

Then, Marco Silva made these changes and they all managed to get involved in the goals – and it's nice to see that this type of positive substitutions is used to change a match.

It all depends on the team, from what we have tried to build. We were desperate for this competition for places.

Yes, you are in the starting lineup, but you can not have a good game every time and sometimes it's just not your day. Theo went head-to-head and missed the boat, he comes and the guys on the bench then have the opportunity to give the manager a colossal headache.

It's all the merit of Marcel Brands that has brought these quality players throughout the summer.

You have to take the lead and if that is not the case, there is someone to replace you and do your job.

It was really a "super-sub" scenario for all three. Lookman posed problems directly and put the center in, Calvert-Lewin was clever to find space between the two central defenders and Clément had of course scored his goal in the end.

We took our chances a bit, first and foremost with Pickford's penalty stop.

Even now, I've seen the rebroadcast and it may be because I'm part of the defenders union, but I do not think it's a penalty. Coleman cuts the ball and yes he touches Zaha but I thought it was very soft. Seeing the recovery, I can understand why the referee gave it.

Immediately after this penalty, the crowd climbed to a higher level, which is fantastic to review.

To give up a penalty may have occurred in the past and suddenly the fans' heads drop, but the opposite happened on Sunday. They got up and behind the guys and after that penalty there was only one side winning this game.

Then you have to thank Marco Silva for his courageous changes. Congratulations go to these three guys for making us win this game.

As a player, you do not want to think all the time "and if".

The mental attitude of Silva at every game is that he wants to win, it's not just about scoring or taking the storm, he wants to get the most points.

He could have made some slightly less risky changes, but his replacements were absolutely perfect, at the right time, and made Palace no chance to return to this game.

Congratulations to everybody.

Good start for Gomes

It was really positive to finally see the name of Andre Gomes appear on the scoresheet and he achieved a great first performance.

Of course, the concern was that his physical condition was not up to par, that he had trouble adjusting to the demand and intensity of the Premier League.

But, having been away for so long with a hard-to-overcome injury, I thought he'd made a good match.

He looked assured and very calm. Maybe we could feel that his legs were getting closer to the end, but that's understandable because the game was so tight that the midfielder probably played a little longer than Silva could have wished .

I do not think he could do much more honestly, he clearly gave everything for his performance – he did not hide and was constantly showing the ball.

What I liked about him was that he was ordering the players to leave their positions, we could see him dictating to their teammates trying to find a way to penetrate the defense.

he was not happy to take steps back, he was trying to manipulate the midfield of the palace as much as possible to find spaces and pass the ball to our attackers.

He is obviously a high level and very talented player, and he will only get better.

It will probably hurt the muscles today, but it was an excellent performance.

Comfort of the house

By the way the game failed, you could say it was a goal in which we simply needed that goal – these are the games we need to win, especially at Goodison Park.

We were the best team and we deserved to win, and the positive replacements mentioned above certainly contribute to increasing the number of spectators.

The place was absolutely boiling, it was great to see and even better to be part of it.

We should at least try to win all of our next home games, but we must all be there from the start.

We were brave enough against Palace to attack them and continue to create opportunities – and it was great to see the guys coming to the field hungry to make a difference.

Yes, we have a series of tough games to come, but this is the type of games that every player will desperately want to be part of.

They will knock on the door of the leader and pray to be able to prove themselves.

In fact, I would not be surprised if there were some changes for the next match because the players who faced Palace did the work for the team and the team.

The morale of the team is at the rendezvous, which reinforces the self-confidence during these matches.

It is a team game in the modern era.

Bernard did not experience his best match against Palace, but the manager was there to make the decision and replace him in the second half. You can not expect all players, especially boys who have been injured for long periods of time, to play 10/10 every week.