Everton began the Premier League season with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, a first-half strike from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and a second-half header from Thierno Barry sealing a morale-boosting win after last season's seven-game winless run cost them a route back into Europe. Season ticket-holder Andy Burnham watched on in his new role as Prime Minister. It was a timely afternoon for David Moyes, who is less than happy with a close season of transfer business that has left his forward line unreinforced: Barry and Beto managed only 18 goals between them last season.
There was little change to Moyes' starting XI beyond new signing Hayden Hackney in a deeper midfield role and Merlin Röhl deputising at right-back. Palace should have led inside three minutes, when Jean-Philippe Mateta failed to hit the target from close range off an Eddie Nketiah cross, and nearly did again when Nketiah was denied by a diving save from Jordan Pickford, tipped onto a post, before Mateta struck the same upright from another Nketiah delivery. Dewsbury-Hall broke the deadlock in the 41st minute instead, sweeping a first-time finish past Dean Henderson after Daniel Muñoz was dispossessed by Harrison Armstrong, whose pass sent the midfielder clear.
Barry doubled the lead in the 52nd minute, rising between Chris Richards and Jaydee Canvot to head in an Iliman Ndiaye cross, his first goal of a campaign he began determined to improve on a difficult Everton debut season. Palace's afternoon worsened when defender Chadi Riad was substituted in the 72nd minute after what looked a potentially serious knee injury. It was a bruising first Premier League match in charge for new Palace manager Pierre Sage, who was also without Ismaïla Sarr. "I hope it will be better than we think," Sage said. "We await the medical tests." Sage denied reports that Sarr had refused to train to force a move to Galatasaray, saying instead: "We took the decision … to let him get treatment and do an individual session, and he will be back on Monday with us."
Palace had the better of possession, 58% to 42%, but could only manage four shots on target to Everton's five. Sage begins his Palace reign with defeat; Moyes, with Barry and Dewsbury-Hall both among the goals, has exactly the platform he wanted to build a season on.