Everton’s focus on FA Cup set to be affected as Premier League survival hopes suffer serious dent at Spurs

Crystal Palace’s FA Cup quarter-final tie against Everton on March 20 will be televised by ITV. The last-eight clash is a 12.30pm kick off.

The Toffees’ focus on the competition is unlikely to be helped by the fact they are in a survival scrap after a dismal display on Monday night, losing 5-0 at Tottenham.

They have 22 points from 25 matches, their lowest total at this stage of a top-flight season in their history. Everton are only a point above the relegation zone but do have a fixture in hand on 18th-placed Burnley.

The drubbing in north London was also Frank Lampard’s heaviest loss as a manager.

The Chelsea legend was interviewed about the Palace vacancy in the summer.

They sounded him out again after seeing deals fall through for Lucien Favre and Nuno Espirito Santo but Lampard is thought to have rejected their fresh approach after not being their top target.

“I have no problems with the challenge,” said the former England international after Everton’s season took another turn for the worse at Spurs. “I didn’t walk into the building with a magic wand.

“The feeling at this club when I came here was we could be going down. It was clear around the city, it was up to me to change that and I thought we had changed that.

“Before I came in, there were issues and they are becoming clearer. But it is important the positivity remains, not stupid positivity.”

Palace are back in action on Monday night as they host Premier League leaders Manchester City.

There had been fears the Eagles could get sucked deeper into danger after a winless start to 2022 aside from FA Cup wins over Millwall and Hartlepool.

But a 4-1 triumph at Watford on February 23 was followed up by another away success on Saturday, Jean-Philippe Mateta scoring for the first time in back-to-back league starts since November 2020 while at Mainz. Wilfried Zaha’s penalty took him on to nine goals for the season.

Seven points from a possible nine has lifted the South London club to 10th in the standings.

Palace have lost their last three home fixtures against City.

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD