Crystal Palace v Everton: FA Cup – live

Roy Hodgson talks to ITV. “Unfortunately the person who was the main protagonist in the win over Brentford, Michael Olise, we can’t use him tonight because of the muscle injury he picked up … but it’s a great opportunity for Franca to show what he can do … and we’ve lost Jordan Ayew to the Africa Cup of Nations … but apart from that we’ve got the same team … what we consider our best team … and I see Everton have done the same, so we’ve certainly shown a lot of respect to the competition.”

Pre-match postbag. “For Everton fans it’s the next chance to win something. Unfortunately their best recent chance to win a trophy may have expired when Amadou Onana decided to take one of the worst penalties I’ve ever seen against Fulham two weeks ago, but four wins gets them to Wembley, and one never knows. So here’s hoping they put together a performance resembling the one that garnered them all three points at Selhurst Park in November. (And though I don’t think they’ll get relegated either, let’s not tempt fate)” – Matt Burtz

“May I be the first of many thousands of your readers to point out that the Blessed Roy taking Fulham to the 2010 Europa League final is at least the equivalent of many of the baubles won by more moneyed enterprises” – Richard Hirst

“Why on earth is this game being played on a Thursday night? Not right that. On the basis that Palace’s shirt looks like a Carlisle United kit and Everton’s looks terrible (five minutes’ work by a work experience kid in the design department surely), I’ll root for the home side tonight” – Matt Hockey

So yes, on that subject, Crystal Palace will be wearing a special limited-edition shirt tonight. Blue with a red-and-white diagonal sash. Only 1,000 have been made, and the money they raise will go to the Palace for Life foundation. Everton meanwhile are sporting their Danish-Dynamite-on-a-1950s-telly third strip; to be fair, it’s nicer than Matt and I are making it sound.

Sean Dyche talks to ITV. “It’s a cup game tonight so we want to take that on … we’ve played very well in games … we have been stretched but we’re getting bodies back, some for tonight and some moving forwards … we’ve tried to add a bit of freshness … a fresh edge after what was a tough day last time out … this is the end of a busy period and we want to finish on a high note today … it is torrential here [rain has been lashing down non-stop at Selhurst Park for the best part of five hours] but hopefully the pitch will play well.”

Some retro MBM action while we wait. Here’s what happened the last time both clubs reached the final. Whether any supporters wish to relive those matches is a moot point at best, but the option’s there if anyone fancies a spot of catharsis.

Here’s some news that promises much for tonight’s game: both managers name strong sides.

Palace make two changes to the XI that started the 3-1 win over Brentford. Both are enforced. Arsenal and Manchester United target Michael Olise has a hamstring issue, while Jordan Ayew is off to the Africa Cup of Nations with Ghana. Matheus França and Jeffrey Schlupp take their places.

Everton make three changes to the team that slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers. João Virgínia replaces Jordan Pickford in goal, while Séamus Coleman and Arnaut Danjuma come in for Nathan Patterson and Michael Keane, who like Pickford drop to the bench.

Crystal Palace: Henderson, Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell, Lerma, Richards, Eze, Matheus Franca, Mateta, Schlupp.
Subs: Tomkins, Hughes, Edouard, Ebiowei, Ahamada, Matthews, Riedewald, Adaramola, Ozoh.

Everton: Virginia, Coleman, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Garner, Onana, Harrison, Danjuma, McNeil, Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Pickford, Patterson, Keane, Beto, Andre Gomes, Godfrey, Chermiti, Hunt, Dobbin.

Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire).

Roy Hodgson and Everton Football Club. Two long-running footballing institutions that have seen better days, winning just one major trophy apiece since the start of the 1990s. (The 2000-01 Danish Superliga and the 1995 FA Cup, since you ask.) That’s a lot of effort for very little return. But something’s got to give at some point, so why not now? Given neither Crystal Palace nor Everton are going to get themselves relegated this season, a proper tilt at football’s grandest old competition is surely in order. Here’s hoping both Hodgson and Sean Dyche go for it, name strong sides, and serve up a third-round classic that could – you gotta dream – send the winner off on inexorable journey towards drought-quenching Wembley glory. Kick off is at 8pm GMT. It’s on!