Everton kicked off the new Premier League season with a convincing 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace, thanks to two polished finishes from Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall and Thierno Barry. Under the fresh guidance of French manager Pierre Sage, the Toffees seized the opportunity to punish Palace’s numerous squandered chances, scoring just before the break and again shortly after the interval, thereby securing their first opening‑weekend win in five years. The display highlighted a side that is beginning to mature under the shrewd direction of David Moyne.
The Everton manager placed considerable trust in 19‑year‑old Harrison Armstrong, pairing him in midfield with recent acquisition Hayden Hackney. Armstrong played a pivotal role in the build‑up to the opening goal, while Hackney supplied the decisive pass for the second strike. Early in the first half, Armstrong’s relentless pressing forced a turnover that allowed Dewsbury‑Hall to thread a pass through the legs of defender Chris Richards. The young midfielder then curled a precise shot into the far corner of the net just before halftime, giving Everton a deserved lead.
After the break, Hackney’s quick thinking from a set‑piece saw Iliman Ndiaye released into space, and the winger delivered a sharp cross that Barry met with a powerful header, doubling Everton’s advantage. Tim Sherwood, analysing the match on Soccer Saturday, praised the professionalism of the Everton side, noting that "Armstrong and Hackney were very good" and that their performances underscored the growing confidence within the squad.
Palace, on the other hand, faded dramatically after a promising start. Their inability to convert chances echoed the frustrations of last season. Jean‑Philippe Mateta missed a golden opportunity when the scores were still level, while Eddie Nketiah’s earlier effort was denied by a world‑class save from Jordan Pickford. Nketiah’s curling strike was tipped onto the woodwork, adding to Palace’s growing sense of missed chances.
Statistically, Palace’s expected‑goals figure of 2.04 was the highest they have recorded in a Premier League match without finding the net since December 2018, underscoring the inefficiency that plagued them throughout the game. In post‑match commentary, Sherwood observed, "I don’t think there’s any danger of Palace getting relegated or dragged into that sort of argument. They play an attractive style, but sometimes you have to know when to open up. They played straight into Everton’s hands.
Everton’s counter‑attack is swift and they have the quality and pace to punish opponents. Palace produced some wonderful football, but they ended up on the wrong side of the result." Key moments included: - 17' – Pickford produced a spectacular save, denying Nketiah and forcing the ball onto the post, a contender for save of the season.
- 38' – Nketiah’s low cross found Mateta, who could only glance the ball against the foot of the post. - 43' – Dewsbury‑Hall beat Dean Henderson with a sublime strike from a difficult angle, giving Everton the lead. - 53' – Barry rose highest to meet Ndiaye’s clever cross and headed the ball past Henderson for the second goal. - 68' – Palace’s Chadi Riad was stretchered off after sustaining a worrying knee injury.
Everton manager David Moyne reflected on the performance, saying, "Both teams had periods in the game. We could easily have been a couple of goals down. It was a world‑class 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 his midfield duo: "They did great, I’m really pleased.
Harrison is earning his place in the team; he’s got an opportunity here that he might not have at other clubs, and he’s shown a lot of good qualities. 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 boss Pierre Sage admitted his side struggled in the second half: "In the first half we played as we decided, but in the second half we let the opponent score the second goal.
When we had the ball we didn’t play with speed. When you don’t play quick, the opponent is comfortable. We didn’t create much in the second half.
We have to be quicker in our play to be more assertive and make decisions faster. We don’t deserve to win this game, but we deserved to win the first half. We missed something today.
It’s about us; we have to learn the lesson and be better for the next game." Overall, Everton’s opening victory signals a positive start to Moyne’s project, showcasing a blend of youthful energy and tactical discipline, while Palace will need to address their lack of finishing if they hope to turn their attractive style into tangible results as the season progresses.