Report & Highlights: Palace kick off 26/27 with loss at Everton

Despite impressing in possession for long stretches of Pierre Sage’s first competitive game in charge, and striking the woodwork twice in the first-half, the Eagles were punished for a lack of ruthlessness by a clinical Everton side.

Summary:

• Henderson returns from injury to make Sage’s first starting XI, with McNeil debuting.
• 3: Nketiah squares for Mateta but he stabs over under pressure from Branthwaite.
• 11: Pickford claws away Muñoz’s volley before Henderson turns away from Ndiaye.
• 17: Nketiah is denied by a world-class Pickford save after being found by Wharton.
• 34: George flashes an effort wide in Everton’s first real clear opportunity.
• 38: More flowing football sees Mateta hits the post on the stretch.
• 43 – Goal: Dewsbury-Hall’s driven effort across goal finds the top corner for Everton.
• 45+1: Kamada’s lofted pass picks out Muñoz but he heads wide on the gallop.
• HT: Everton 1-0 Palace
• 52 – Goal: Barry doubles Everton’s lead with a downwards header.
• 55: Khalaili comes on to make his Palace debut, alongside World Cup winner Pino.
• 63: Guessand also comes on, making his second Palace debut.
• 72: Riad is forced off with an injury whilst denying Barry a shot at goal.
• 73: George skies an effort from close-range for Everton.
• 83: Canvot’s first-time strike is blocked as Palace seek a route back into the match.
• 90+2: Strand Larsen threatens with a late header from Khalaili's delivery.
• FT: Everton 2-0 Palace

A new Manager, six new players, and newly-acquired status as European Champions. Almost three months on from Leipzig – 87 days, to be precise – and the winds of change finally settled for Crystal Palace’s first fixture of the 2026/27 Premier League season, away at Everton.

There was a familiar look about Pierre Sage’s first competitive starting XI, however, with Dwight McNeil – little over two weeks since moving from Merseyside – the only Palace debutant from the start. Dean Henderson passed a late fitness test to take the armband – and his place between the posts.

Amidst a blaze of noise and blazing August sunshine at the still shiny Hill Dickinson Stadium, the action – and with it 26/27 as a whole – finally got underway.

It began quickly, too, with Eddie Nketiah – impressive in pre-season – looking just as sharp three minutes into the match, pouncing on a loose backpass from James Tarkowksi and driving into the box.

His low square pass into the six-yard box was attacked by strike partner Jean-Philippe Mateta – but, under pressure from Jarrad Branthwaite, the France international stabbed over the bar.

It was an end-to-end start to the season, with Jordan Pickford not long after clawing away Daniel Muñoz’s poked effort with a single hand, and then seconds later Henderson doing the same to deny Iliman Ndiaye.

But it was Pickford who produced the save of the half – and possibly a contender for Save of the Season on the opening day – near the quarter-of-an-hour mark.

A lovely pass from Adam Wharton found Nketiah in plenty of space at the far post, and there wasn’t much wrong with his finish either – except for a simply world-class stop from Pickford to tip the side-footed half-volley onto the far post.

Palace continued to look fluid in possession and sharp in their movements, with Daichi Kamada and Wharton particularly influential on the half-turn in midfield.

No Premier League game is one-sided these days, however, and Everton showed a glimpse of their attacking quality when Tyrique George flashed a snap-shot across goal when Palace struggled to clear their lines from a long throw.

The Eagles were playing the better football however – and it was at the end of another delightful move, involving Wharton, McNeil – and two inch-perfect passes into Nketiah, and then square across to Mateta – that they hit the post again. The France forward was on the stretch but, with Pickford beaten, it ricocheted off the woodwork.

The Premier League is a cruel playground, however, and for all of Palace’s good work, it was Everton who went into the interval with the lead.

A pick-out from Harrison Armstrong saw Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall turn inside the box – and arrow an unstoppable finish across goal on his left foot, high into the corner.

Even then, Palace had the chance to draw level in stoppage time, as Kamada’s lovely cross found Daniel Muñoz charging in at the far post – but he could not adjust his body to direct the delivery on target.

A harsh half-time deficit for the Eagles – but Everton, admittedly, came out the stronger following the break.

A spell of home dominance saw David Moyes’ side – who had won a succession of corners – double their advantage, a delivery from deep from Ndiaye finding Thierno Barry in the six-yard box. He headed downwards and in from close range.

Sage responded for Palace with a series of substitutions before the hour mark which saw Anan Khalaili on from the bench for his debut, along with Evann Guessand for his second debut. Yéremy Pino and Jørgen Strand Larsen also both entered the fray.

Sadly, Palace’s next change was an enforced one, as Chadi Riad – so solid since returning from long-term injury in January – was forced to stretch to deny Barry a shot at goal and, in doing so, was forced to go down again. Takehiro Tomiyasu came on to replace him.

The momentum of the contest seemed to die down after that stoppage, although George should have done better for Everton when a loose ball ricocheted his way inside the box. Instead, he skied his finish.

Jaydee Canvot, too, had a late effort at goal from the edge of the box after Khalaili headed back into his path – this one blocked – before the full-back provided an excellent delivery for Strand Larsen to attack, only for Pickford to win out again.

But the hosts’ earlier, superior efficiency in front of goal had earned them the opening-day victory at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Everton: Pickford (GK), Rohl, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Hackney (Garner, 79), Armstrong, Dewsbury-Hall (Alcaraz, 90+4), Ndiaye, George (Johnson, 84), Barry (Beto, 79).

Subs: Travers (GK), Patterson, Keane, O'Brien, Dibling.

Palace: Henderson (GK), Canvot, Richards, Riad, Muñoz (Khalaili, 55), Kamada, Wharton, Mitchell, McNeil (Guessand, 63), Mateta (Strand Larsen, 63), Nketiah (Pino, 55).

Subs: Benítez (GK), Tomiyasu, Sosa, Mingueza, Hughes.