Everton defeat Crystal Palace 2-0 with goals from Dewsbury-Hall and Barry
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Thierno Barry scored at Hill Dickinson Stadium as Everton opened their Premier League season with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace in front of Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Early chances at Hill Dickinson Stadium
Crystal Palace created several clear scoring opportunities during the opening 38 minutes at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Jean-Philippe Mateta sent a shot over the crossbar inside the opening four minutes after Eddie Nketiah seized on a weak defensive header from James Tarkowski. Everton answered eight minutes later when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall released makeshift right-back Merlin Rohl, who set up Iliman Ndiaye for a direct strike saved by Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson. Palace continued to push and struck Jordan Pickford's left-hand post twice before the interval. Mateta struck the woodwork from close range, and Pickford tipped an acrobatic effort from Nketiah onto the same post.
There were bits of the first half we were good, but missed the chances on transition to score. We could have easily been a couple of goals down. The goalkeeper made a worldie save. It could have gone the other way.
Clinical finishing secures three points
The momentum shifted three minutes before the interval when Dewsbury-Hall struck a left-footed shot across Henderson into the far corner of the net. Everton extended their lead eight minutes into the second half through greater attacking urgency. Midfielder Hayden Hackney, making his Premier League debut, took a quick free-kick to find Ndiaye on the flank. Ndiaye whipped a cross into the box for Thierno Barry, who directed a downward header into the net from five yards. The victory marked Everton's first opening-day Premier League win since a 3-1 victory over Southampton in August 2021, halting an eight-match winless streak in the competition.
- Jean-Philippe Mateta shoots over the bar for Crystal Palace
- Dean Henderson saves Iliman Ndiaye's strike for Everton
- Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scores opening goal for Everton
- Thierno Barry heads in Everton's second goal
- Crystal Palace defender Chadi Riad stretchered off with knee injury
Squad adjustments and injury concerns
Moyes adjusted his starting lineup to account for fitness issues across the squad, placing midfielder Rohl at right-back while James Garner remained on the bench. Moyes handed a midfield start to 19-year-old Harrison Armstrong and placed 20-year-old Tyrique George on the left wing. Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage, who joined from RC Lens, became the 15th manager to lose his opening Premier League match in charge of the club. Sage navigated the fixture without last season's 21-goal forward Ismaila Sarr, who was left out of the travelling squad amid transfer interest from Galatasaray. Palace faced further difficulty midway through the second half when defender Chadi Riad was stretchered off with a knee injury.
Once we got the first goal it settled us, and the second one made things feel a lot easier. We managed the game well after that, contained Palace.
Contract stakes and ownership expectations
The match took place in the presence of British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, a longtime Everton season ticket-holder watching from the stands. Moyes began the season in the final year of his managerial contract, with no negotiations planned regarding an extension. Everton CEO Angus Kinnear confirmed that the club's American owners viewed the poor conclusion of the previous season, which cost Everton European qualification, as a failure. Moyes continues to pursue squad additions before the close of the transfer window, seeking defensive cover and support for a strikeforce where Barry and Beto combined for 18 goals in the 2025–2026 campaign.
