Everton kicked off the new Premier League season with a convincing 2‑0 triumph over Crystal Palace, thanks to two polished finishes from Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall and Thierno Barry. The Toffees, guided by manager David Moyes, imposed their game plan from the first whistle and made the most of Palace's wasteful attacking display, securing their first opening‑weekend win in five years. Moyes' side took advantage of the mis‑fires of the visitors, who were under the fresh stewardship of French coach Pierre Sage.
Everton struck once before the interval and again after the break, demonstrating a balanced mix of discipline, creativity and clinical finishing. The performance highlighted a squad that appears to be growing in confidence and cohesion under Moyes' seasoned leadership.
One of the most striking aspects of the match was the trust Moyes placed in two young midfielders. Nineteen‑year‑old Harrison Armstrong was handed a central role alongside recent acquisition Hayden Hackney.
Armstrong was directly involved in the buildup to the opening goal, while Hackney supplied the decisive pass for the second. Their energy and willingness to press helped Everton win the ball in dangerous areas and set the tone for the rest of the game. The first goal came just before the half‑time whistle. Armstrong's relentless pressing forced a turnover, allowing Dewsbury‑Hall to sprint into the space behind Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards.
From a tight angle, he curled a low shot into the far corner, leaving goalkeeper Jordan Pickford with little chance. The strike was a perfect example of Everton's quick transition play, catching Palace out of shape. The second goal arrived early in the second half. Hackney, having taken a free‑kick, delivered a swift, incisive ball to Iliman Ndiaye, who surged forward and crossed it into the box.
Barry rose above the defense, met the delivery with a powerful header, and directed the ball past Pickford into the net. The goal underscored Everton's ability to exploit set‑piece situations and highlighted Barry's aerial prowess. Tim Sherwood, commenting on Soccer Saturday, praised the Toffees' professionalism and singled out the contributions of Armstrong and Hackney, noting that both youngsters were "very good" and deserved recognition for their impact. Palace, on the other hand, struggled to convert the chances they created.
Their poor finishing echoed the issues that plagued them last season. Jean‑Philippe Mateta missed a golden opportunity when the score was still level, while Eddie Nketiah saw his early effort saved by Pickford in spectacular fashion before the ball ricocheted onto the woodwork. These missed chances highlighted Palace's ongoing problems in front of goal.
Statistically, Palace's expected goals (xG) of 2.04 was the highest they have recorded in a Premier League match without finding the net since December 2018, underscoring the frustration of a side that created but could not capitalise. Sherwood also offered his analysis of Palace's overall approach. He argued that while the club plays an attractive brand of football, they sometimes choose to open up the game at inopportune moments, allowing Everton to exploit the spaces on the counter‑attack. "Everton have quality and pace on the break and they punished Palace's openness," he said.
Key moments of the match included: - A world‑class save from Pickford denying Nketiah, which could have altered the result. - A near‑miss from Nketiah that rattled the post after a clever low cross from Mateta.
- Dewsbury‑Hall's goal, a difficult angle strike that beat Dean Henderson. - Barry's header, rising highest to meet Ndiaye's cross and sending the ball home. - The unsettling injury to Palace defender Chadi Riad, who was stretchered off with a knee concern. Moyes reflected on the performance, acknowledging that the game could have swung the other way early on.
"We could easily have been a couple of goals down. That save by Pickford was a worldie; it could have gone the other way," he said. He added that once the first goal arrived, Everton settled into the match, managed the tempo effectively and contained Palace's threats.
Regarding the midfield partnership, Moyes was effusive: "They've done great. Harrison is earning his place in the team; he has an opportunity here that he might not get elsewhere. With Hayden, sometimes boys from the Championship need time, but he's done well.
I have to give him credit for how quickly he's picked things up." Overall, the victory sets a positive tone for Everton's campaign, demonstrating that a blend of youthful vigor, tactical discipline and experienced guidance can produce results. For Palace, the defeat serves as a reminder that creating chances is not enough; they must find a way to finish them if they hope to climb the table.
The match also provided plenty of talking points for fans, from the promising performances of Armstrong and Hackney to the lingering question of how Palace will address their chronic finishing woes moving forward.