Everton opened their new Premier League campaign on a high note, securing a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace thanks to two polished finishes from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Thierno Barry. The Toffees, under the stewardship of David Moyé, imposed their will on a Palace side that struggled to convert chances, delivering their first opening‑weekend win in five years. From the first whistle, Everton displayed a ruthless efficiency that left the visitors scrambling.
Pierre Sage, the Frenchman newly appointed to guide Palace, watched his side miss several clear opportunities while the home team struck twice, one goal before the break and another shortly after the interval. The win marked a significant milestone for a Moyé‑led squad that appears to be maturing into a more disciplined and confident unit. A key storyline was the trust Moyé placed in two youthful midfielders. Nineteen‑year‑old Harrison Armstrong was handed a central role alongside recent acquisition Hayden Hackney.
Armstrong was directly involved in the opening goal, while Hackney supplied the assist for the second. Their energy and tenacity helped Everton dominate the middle of the park, turning over possession and feeding the forwards with incisive passes.
The first goal came just before the half‑hour mark. Armstrong’s hustle forced a turnover, allowing Dewsbury‑Hall to thread a ball through the legs of Chris Richards and unleash a low, curling shot that found the far corner of the net. The strike, taken from a tight angle, demonstrated Dewsbury‑Hall’s composure and technical ability, giving Everton a deserved lead heading into the break. After the interval, Everton continued to press.
A free‑kick delivered by Hackney found Iliman Ndiaye, who quickly released a well‑timed cross into the box. Barry, rising above his marker, met the delivery with a powerful header that beat Dean Henderson and doubled the Toffees' advantage. The goal highlighted Barry’s aerial prowess and the seamless link‑up play that had been cultivated throughout the match.
Tim Sherwood, commenting on Soccer Saturday, praised the professionalism of the Everton side, noting, "Everton did a professional job. Armstrong and Hackney were very good." His remarks underscored the impact of the young midfield partnership and the overall tactical discipline displayed by Moyé’s men. Palace, on the other hand, could not replicate the promise they showed early on. Their conversion rate remained a concern, echoing the struggles of last season.
Jean‑Philippe Mateta missed a golden‑chance when the score was still level, and Eddie Nketiah’s earlier effort was denied by a world‑class save from Jordan Pickford. Nketiah’s curling strike was tipped onto the woodwork after Pickford’s reflexes kept the ball out of the net, a moment that could have altered the complexion of the game. 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, highlighting the inefficiency that plagued them despite creating reasonable chances. Their inability to finish left them frustrated and ultimately on the wrong side of the result.
Sherwood summed up the match for Palace, stating, "I don't think there's any danger of Palace getting relegated or dragged into that sort of argument. They play a really attractive style of football but just sometimes you have to pick when to play open. They played right into the hands of Everton.
Everton counter‑attacked; they've got quality and pace on the counter and they've punished them. There's been some fantastic football played by Palace but they're on the wrong end of the result." Key moments included Pickford’s spectacular save that forced Nketiah’s strike onto the post, a near‑miss for Nketiah that saw his low cross hit the foot of the post, Dewsbury‑Hall’s goal from a difficult angle, and Barry’s decisive header. The match also saw Chadi Riad stretchered off with a concerning knee injury in the 68th minute, adding a note of caution for Palace’s future selections. Moyé reflected on his team’s performance, acknowledging the fine margins: "Both teams had periods in the game.
We could easily have been a couple of goals down. It was a worldie save [from Pickford to deny Nketiah]. It could have gone the other way. Once we got the first goal, it settled us.
That mattered. We had big moments, Kiernan's goal was important. We managed the game well after that and contained Palace really well." He also lauded the midfield duo, saying, "They done great, I'm really pleased. Harrison is earning his place in the team, he's got an opportunity here, where at other clubs he might not have.
He's showed lots of good things. With Hayden, sometimes boys from the Championship need time, but he's done well. I have to give him praise for how quickly he's picked things up." Palace manager Pierre Sage admitted that the second half lacked the intensity of the first, blaming a slower tempo for the loss: "The first half we play as we decided but the second half we let the opponent score the second goal.
When we had the ball, we don't play with speed. When you don't play quick, the opponent is comfortable. We didn't create so much in the second half.
We have to be quicker in our play to be more assertive to take decisions quickly. We don't deserve to win this game but we deserve to win the first half. We miss something today. It's about us, we have to take the lesson and be better for the next game." Overall, the match served as a statement of intent for Everton, showcasing a blend of youthful exuberance, tactical awareness, and clinical finishing.
For Palace, the defeat highlighted the need to sharpen their attacking edge and improve decision‑making under pressure if they hope to turn promising moments into points in the weeks ahead.