Everton began the Premier League season with a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Hill Dickinson Stadium, ending a seven-match run without a win and securing their first opening-day victory in five years.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall put David Moyes’ side ahead three minutes before half-time, before Thierno Barry headed in an eight-minute second-half goal to complete the scoring.
The result gave Everton their earliest victory in a new campaign since Rafa Benitez’s team defeated Southampton 3-1 in August 2021. It was also their first win in eight Premier League matches after a difficult end to last season.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, saw their new manager Pierre Sage begin his reign with defeat. Sage, who led RC Lens through an impressive Ligue 1 campaign last season, became the 15th manager to lose his first Premier League match in charge of the Eagles.
Palace were without last season’s leading scorer Ismaila Sarr, who was not included in the travelling squad. The 28-year-old forward scored 21 goals in all competitions last term and helped the club win the Conference League.
Sarr’s absence was particularly significant as Palace created an early opportunity inside four minutes. Eddie Nketiah took advantage of a poor defensive header from James Tarkowski and set up Jean-Philippe Mateta, but the striker sent his effort over the crossbar from inside the penalty area.
Everton responded eight minutes later. Dewsbury-Hall found makeshift full-back Merlin Rohl with a pass into space, and Rohl’s delivery presented Iliman Ndiaye with a chance that was struck directly at Dean Henderson.
Palace continued to threaten and came close to opening the scoring when both Nketiah and Mateta hit the woodwork. However, Everton punished them shortly before the interval.
Dewsbury-Hall collected the ball and directed a precise effort into the far corner to give the home side the lead, leaving Sage to reflect on a frustrating first half in his first Premier League match as Palace manager.
Everton extended their advantage eight minutes after the restart. Ndiaye produced a dangerous cross into the area, and Thierno Barry met it with a close-range header that flew beyond Henderson.
The victory appeared increasingly secure for Moyes’ side, but Palace suffered another setback midway through the second half when defender Chadi Riad was taken from the pitch on a stretcher after appearing to sustain a serious knee injury.
The result leaves Everton with an ideal start to the new Premier League campaign, while Palace will rue the missed chances that prevented them from taking control during the opening stages. Their task was made more difficult by the absence of Sarr, whose future remains the subject of speculation amid reported interest from Turkish club Galatasaray.
