Everton secured Premier League survival in a five-goal thriller with Crystal Palace.

Jean-Philippe Mateta put the visitors ahead midway through the second half as Wilfried Zaha’s free kick found him for a free header in the penalty area.

Zaha was again the architect as the Eagles went further in the lead when Jordan Pickford parried his shot but only as far as Jordan Ayew to convert.

But the Blues struck back after the interval through a well-taken effort from Michael Keane, who instinctively prodded the ball home from close range.

Richarlison drew Everton level with a shot on the turn before Dominic Calvert-Lewin snatched a winner with a diving header from Demarai Gray’s free kick.

Frank Lampard’s side are now assured of their top-flight status for a 69th consecutive season after their victory in Thursday’s final home game.

Here were the key talking points from Goodison Park:

Blues complete another Great Escape

Goodison Park has witnessed some truly remarkable days in its time.

There were moments which helped define an era, such as Bayern Munich in 1985, and others which go down, somewhat ignominiously, as Great Escapes.

The latter occurred on Thursday as Frank Lampard’s side preserved their top flight standing, a feat stretching back 68 years, at the penultimate hurdle.

Chaotic scenes greeted the final whistle with fans streaming onto the turf in their tens of thousands, waving flags and launching off blue smoke grenades.

They remained there for a good half-hour after the game had ended, too.

Yet it was relief, rather than reverie, which took hold for many pitch invaders after a season that will be remembered in time for all the wrong reasons.

Last summer’s managerial appointment was an act of self-harm that left the Blues standing on the precipice of losing their ever-present league status.

Lampard, to his credit, has galvanised fans and players alike since but only had one last throw of the dice to avoid Everton risking any final-day jeopardy.

Two goals down at half-time, his chance appeared to have already been lost.

Sometimes, however, the stars seem to align for Everton in crucial moments, and an 1,878th victory in English football’s top tier felt almost pre-ordained.

Alli revived as a midfield maestro

Lampard’s short time as Everton manager has rarely seen reactive changes.

The former midfielder was often criticised for being too ponderous when it came to make substitutions but made a rare exception against the Eagles.

He retained Andre Gomes in midfield but was almost instantly left regretting that decision after arguably his worst opening 45 minutes in a royal blue shirt.

Not only did the Portugal international chase shadows for large parts of that first half, he also conceded the free kick which led to the visitors’ opener.

Dele Alli’s introduction in his place after the break proved an instant game-changer as Everton subsequently shifted to a more fluid 4-3-3 system.

The January arrival made only a 10th appearance of the season but became a catalyst through which everything seemed to be filtered in the final third.

Alli’s time on Merseyside thus far may not have gone according to plan, with injuries and patchy form undermining his plans for a strong first impression.

When it counted, though, he stepped up to the plate and showcased some of the talents which convinced Lampard that his signing was worth the risk.

Lampard needs time to rebuild

Once the all-encompassing pandemonium of this win subsides, Everton must address the series of events that left the staring into the potential abyss.

The short answer is a turnover of six managers, three directors of football and £560 million spent on a squad resembling Frankenstein’s monster since 2016.

Halting that culture of impatience requires Farhad Moshiri to not simply stay in the shadows, as he is already doing, but also ensure Lampard is backed.

Much as he hailed the players who successfully avoided relegation for their efforts in the final weeks of this campaign, they are not long-term solutions.

Therein lies the challenge for Lampard and Kevin Thelwell over the summer months to rebuild a team that is well-balanced as much as it is competitive.

Simply staying in the Premier League was the immediate priority but Everton cannot afford, financially as well as competitively, to be in this position again.

Now that they are finally safe from the threat of relegation, Moshiri must arm the 43-year-old with adequate time and resources or risk history repeating.