Everton hosted Crystal Palace at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in the opening Matchweek 1 fixture of the 2026–27 Premier League season. Everton vs Crystal Palace today marked the competitive debut of new Palace manager Pierre Sage, while David Moyes began another campaign in charge of Everton.
Both teams had confirmed their starting lineups before kickoff, with the Everton vs Crystal Palace match also featuring a notable summer transfer swap involving Dwight McNeil and Brennan Johnson.
Everton vs Crystal Palace Team News and Lineups
Everton started with Jordan Pickford in goal behind James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitalii Mykolenko. Merlin Röhl, Harrison Armstrong, Hayden Hackney and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall formed the midfield, while Iliman Ndiaye and Thierno Barry led the attack.
Palace used a 3-4-2-1 formation with Dean Henderson in goal, supported by Jaydee Canvot, Chris Richards and Chadi Riad. Daniel Muñoz, Daichi Kamada, Adam Wharton and Tyrick Mitchell completed the midfield, with Dwight McNeil, Eddie Nketiah and Jean-Philippe Mateta providing the attacking threat.
McNeil faced Everton immediately after moving to Palace during the summer. Brennan Johnson completed the switch in the opposite direction but began the match on Everton’s bench.
Match Context
Everton entered the contest with a strong historical record, having avoided defeat in their previous 11 meetings with Palace. That sequence added extra pressure on the visitors as they began a new era under Sage.
The fixture also provided an early test of how both managers had shaped their squads during the summer. Everton looked to build on their previous campaign, while Palace began life under a new coach with several fresh faces in the lineup.
As the game progressed, attention naturally turned toward the Everton vs Crystal Palace results and whether Palace could finally end their difficult recent record against Everton. The Everton vs Crystal Palace match therefore carried plenty of intrigue for both sets of supporters.
Everton vs Crystal Palace Today: Premier League Live Score, Updates, Stats