No player epitomises the Toffees’ improvement quite like Beto, who continued his fine form with another goal at Selhurst Park.
The Guinea-Bissau striker’s opener in south London was his fourth goal in three league games – as many as he managed in 42 matches under Dyche.
The 27-year-old joined Everton from Udinese in August 2023 for a fee reportedly worth up to £30m, but scored only three goals in 30 top-flight appearances as he struggled to adjust to life in England.
After opening his account for the 2024-25 campaign in a 1-1 draw with Fulham in October, Beto then went nine league games without a goal before netting a double at home to Leicester City earlier this month.
He sent Goodison Park wild with a calmly taken opener in the derby before opening the scoring at Palace with a similarly composed finish.
With a hamstring injury ruling out Calvert-Lewin for the rest of the season, Beto could hardly have picked a better time to hit a purple patch.
“What a week it has been,” Beto said in an interview with Match of the Day. “I’m happy to score, [as] last season I wasn’t so confident.
“Now I feel all my training, all my mental work and all the work I do with my team-mates is paying off. I believe that I belong in the Premier League and I’m a Premier League player.”
His goalscoring exploits have delighted his manager, who believes the forward is still “getting better” as Everton climb the table.
“His chances have come through injuries [to other players],” Moyes said. “He probably saw a chance to play half a dozen games or so.
“It was down to him to show if he was capable. I’m really pleased for him.”
