After scoring the game-winning goal against the Eagles, the Everton midfielder received the trophy.
Even though he scored the game-winning goal for Everton against the Eagles, Jack Grealish gave his Player of the Match award to a Crystal Palace player.
In an attempt to regain his form before the World Cup the following year, Grealish is spending the season on loan at the Toffees from Manchester City.
With four assists so far, the 30-year-old attacker has had a strong debut for David Moyes’ team in Merseyside’s blue half.
Additionally, Grealish scored his first Premier League goal for the Toffees today afternoon as Everton overcame a deficit to defeat high-flying Palace 2-1 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Daneil Munoz’s goal gave Oliver Glasner’s team the lead before halftime, but with about fifteen minutes left, Iliman Ndiaye equalised from the penalty spot after Palace defender Maxence Lacroix knocked down Everton replacement Tim Iroegbunam.
After Dean Henderson had saved Beto’s close-range header in the 93rd minute, Grealish bundled home what turned out to be the winning goal, even though it appeared like the prizes would be split.
After the game, Grealish expressed his happiness at scoring his first goal while wearing Everton’s colours and thanked all of the supporters for embracing him.
“It’s brilliant,” Grealish remarked in an interview with Sky Sports. It feels great to score here. Are you aware of what’s crazy? We’ve been drawing in our last games here, and I keep telling myself, “Come on, Jack, go and score,” in the 85th minute. What if you scored right now?
“I actually said the same thing again today and I scored and raced to where my parents were, so it was good. I did it against Villa and West Ham and I didn’t score.
“That goal goes to all the Evertonians for making me feel so welcome here.”
Grealish stated in the interview that he should have won Player of the Match for his efforts throughout the match.
However, the former Aston Villa player expressed his belief that Adam Wharton, a midfielder for Crystal Palace who has been a revelation since moving from Blackburn Rovers to Selhurst Park in early 2024 and making his England debut, should have been given the award in his place.
“That’s what you want to do as a winger,” Grealish stated. “I want to do that. I have one goal and four assists.”
“Against such a strong squad today, that was challenging. Some of their players are incredible.
“I think Adam Wharton today, I can see the Man of the Match award there, I think it’s coming to me but I think it should go to Adam Wharton because, in my opinion, he was the best player on the pitch today.”
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