Having earned a dramatic 2-2 draw with Liverpool via James Tarkowski's 98th-minute stunner in midweek, Everton arrived in south London in buoyant mood.

Beto put the Toffees ahead somewhat against the run of play late in the first half, slotting home after Alcaraz pounced on a careless throw-in from Tyrick Mitchell.

That goal came after Palace had missed several good opportunities and seen a Jefferson Lerma header disallowed, with the linesman and the video assistant referee (VAR) concurring that Justin Devenny's corner had curled out of play.

However, Jean-Philippe Mateta levelled with his 11th Premier League goal of the season early in the second half, stroking into the bottom-right corner after Marc Guehi flicked a loose ball into his path.

But with the game stretched, it was Everton that landed the telling blow. Ashley Young's volley was blocked by Will Hughes, and Alcaraz was in the right place to slot the rebound home.

David Moyes's team climb one place on the table to 13th, with 30 points. It is level with 12th-placed Palace, whose goal difference is just one better.

Since Moyes's first match in charge since returning to the club, Everton has now picked up 13 points, inclding our wins, more than any other team in the division during that time.

"The players have reacted well. It has been a dream start coming in and winning so many games. Starting to look more healthy in the Premier League," he said.

"I hope it will be the case. Ultimately, I think we still have to get enough points. It has been a brilliant start, it was a good win for us today, really scrappy.

"They showed great resilience and won at a difficult place against a team who have been improving.

"To come back to Everton was something I hoped would happen, and I didn't expect it to happen. It is great to be accepted again, and the fans have been brilliant," he added.

"Even today, we had brilliant support with us because I think they are starting to believe a bit more in us and the team.

"Everton has had a difficult period and I certainly think there is light at the end of the tunnel now with the new owners coming in."

Meanwhile, Palace manager Oliver Glasner said his team must consider the defeat a learning experience, after ending the contest on top in many of the metrics, except the one that matters most.

"It is frustrating and similar to the defeat against Brentford," Glasner said.

"The game was exactly how we expected it and then, of course, when we concede such goals, it is hard.

Palace has now won just one of its past 21 Premier League games against Everton, last beating the Toffees 3-1 at Selhurst Park in December 2021.

"The players tried everything and we had a big effort. It is not so easy to score against them. We had some opportunities, but we didn't have the efficiency," Glasner said.

"It is not a game we should lose. We had opportunities to win it. It was not what we wanted, but we have to accept it, and we have to learn from these games."