Crystal Palace vs Everton - 5 Key Battles

1. Danny Gabbidon vs Romelu Lukaku

Welshman Danny Gabbidon has struggled on his return to the Premier League - in a team that has conceded 21 goals already this season (only Sunderland (22) conceding more in the Premier League), where defensive mistakes have been a characteristic of their season. And at 34-years-old he no longer posses the pace required to deal with some of the Premier League's top attackers and pace is something Lukaku posses in bucket-loads. If Palace are to keep an unlikely first clean sheet of the season then Gabbidon will have to be very aware of balls played in behind, whilst making sure that any defensive errors are eradicated. Gabbidon will require support though, his midfielders and full-backs will have to try and cut-off Lukaku's supply-line, making sure that he has nothing to work with, forcing him to drop deep to receive anything where the Belgain won't be as effective on the ball. On the other hand, Belgain Romelu Lukaku is regarded as one of the finest young attacking talents in today's game - a very physical striker with the ability to cause problems for any the the world's best defenses. Saturday, the 6ft 3in attacker will come up against the second worst defense in the Premier League in good form - scoring 5 goals in his 6 Everton appearances. At 21-years-old he is now widely considered as Chelsea's best striking option, ironically whilst on loan for the second consecutive season. What makes Lukaku such a threat is that he is remarkably capable in all attributes required for a striker: he win balls in the air and holds-up play bringing others into the game, can pick a pass, is a skillful dribbler and of course his finishing his what made his name last season with his loan spell at West Brom Albion. I would highly suspect that Lukaku will come out on top in this match-up.