Jack Grealish 'Offers' His Player of The Match Award to Crystal Palace Star
Jack Grealish offered his Player of the Match award to a Crystal Palace player - despite netting the winner for Everton against the Eagles.
Grealish is spending the season on loan at the Toffees from Manchester City in a bid to recapture his form ahead of next year's World Cup.
The 30-year-old attacker's start to life with the blue half of Merseyside has started well with four assists so far for David Moyes's men.
And Grealish netted his first Premier League goal for the Toffees this afternoon as Everton came from behind to win 2-1 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium against high flying Palace.
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Oliver Glasner's side took the lead thanks to a finish from Daneil Munoz and led at the break, only for Iliman Ndiaye to level from the penalty spot with around 15 minutes remaining after Everton substitute Tim Iroegbunam was brought down by Palace defender Maxence Lacroix.
Though the spoils looked like they were going to be shared, Grealish bundled home what proved to be the winner in the 93rd minute after Dean Henderson had saved Beto's close range header.
Speaking after the game, Grealish was a happy man to net his first goal in Everton colours as he thanked all the club's fans for welcoming him to the club with open arms.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Grealish said: "It's brilliant. It's so nice to score here. Do you know what's mad? The last games we've played here we've been drawing and I keep saying to myself in the 85th minute, 'Come on Jack, go and score. Imagine if you scored now'.
"I did it against Villa, I did it against West Ham and I didn't score, so today I actually said the same thing again and I scored and I ran to where my mum and dad were, so it was nice.
"That goal goes to all the Evertonians for making me feel so welcome here."
During the interview, Grealish clocked that he was due to receive the Player of the Match award for his contribution in the game.
But the former Aston Villa star made it clear he felt Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton - who has been a revelation since his move in early 2024 to Selhurst Park from Blackburn Rovers and also made his England debut - ought to have received the accolade instead of him.
Grealish said: "That's what you want to do as a winger, I have one goal and four assists that's what I want to do.
"It was difficult to do that today against such a good team. They have some unbelievable players.
"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."
Topics: Jack Grealish, Everton, Crystal Palace, Premier League
John McDougall