Goodison Park hosts the season opener as Everton begin life under Leighton Baines against a Crystal Palace side also under new management in Pierre Sage. Historically, this fixture has been one-sided in Everton's favour — they have won six of the last ten meetings and are…
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Sign inEverton kick off their 2026/27 Premier League campaign at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday 22 August (3pm BST) in a Matchweek 1 meeting that pits former club against new club for winger Brennan Johnson, who swapped Selhurst Park for Goodison in a high-profile exchange with Dwight McNeil just weeks ago.
David Moyes will be without midfielders James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam, both ruled out through injury. Summer signing Christian Nørgaard has not featured since his move and remains a major doubt, leaving the door open for academy graduates Harrison Armstrong and Hayden Hackney to partner in central midfield.
Jarrad Branthwaite is available again after missing the Newcastle friendly as part of his rehabilitation programme, and Moyes has hinted that Tyler Dibling could start on the right wing after an eye-catching pre-season. Brennan Johnson has trained with the squad since his arrival from Palace and may feature from the bench, while Thierno Barry is expected to lead the line following a strong string of warm-up displays.
Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage reports a fully fit squad with no injuries or suspensions. However, the departure of centre-back Maxence Lacroix has left the Eagles’ defence without its natural leader, and right-back Daniel Muñoz continues to attract transfer interest from Saudi Arabia. Palace will lean on the eight FA Cup final starters that remain – including Daichi Kamada, Adam Wharton, Ismaïla Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta – as they begin life under Sage.
Everton (4-2-3-1): Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Hackney, Armstrong; Dibling, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Barry.
Crystal Palace (possible 3-4-3): Henderson; Muñoz, Richards, Mitchell; Wharton, Kamada; Sarr, Eze, Mateta. Sage has ample attacking options and could also deploy Academy graduates alongside the experienced core.
Recent meetings have been tight, low-margin affairs. The most recent Premier League encounter ended 2-2 at Selhurst Park in May 2026 with goals from James Tarkowski, Beto, Ismaïla Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta. Across the last 20 clashes, single-goal victories or draws have been the norm, suggesting another closely fought battle is on the cards.
Everton head into the new season seeking to banish the memory of a late slump that cost them European football last term. Their pre-season produced mixed results — a 3-1 win over Newcastle was the high point, while a 3-1 defeat to Stuttgart exposed familiar defensive vulnerabilities. Palace, despite the upheaval of a managerial change and key departures, will take heart from a historic FA Cup triumph barely three months ago and the retention of most of that Wembley-winning side.
With Garner and Iroegbunam injured and Nørgaard unlikely to start, the untested partnership of Hackney and Armstrong must handle the guile of Adam Wharton and the pressing of Daichi Kamada. If Everton’s rookie midfield can hold its own, the home side have the pace on the flanks to trouble a Palace backline missing Lacroix’s command.
A fast start for either team would set a powerful tone. Everton then travel to Preston in the Carabao Cup second round, while Palace’s Europa League campaign begins in the weeks ahead.
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