Head-to-Head Summary
Historically, encounters between Everton and Crystal Palace have produced tightly contested battles, but recent Premier League trends heavily favor the Merseyside club. Across their last 10 top-flight meetings, Everton have asserted clear superiority, claiming six victories and three draws, while surrendering just a single defeat.
Palace have found Everton's defensive shape remarkably difficult to break down, particularly in Liverpool, where the Toffees have won eight of their last 10 competitive home encounters against the London side. The historical record demonstrates a fixture where physical discipline and set-piece efficiency often decide the outcome, giving Everton a strong psychological upper hand heading into Saturday's opener.
Last 10 Meetings
10 May 2026 | Premier League | Crystal Palace 2-2 Everton
05 Oct 2025 | Premier League | Everton 2-1 Crystal Palace
15 Feb 2025 | Premier League | Crystal Palace 1-2 Everton
28 Sep 2024 | Premier League | Everton 2-1 Crystal Palace
19 Feb 2024 | Premier League | Everton 1-1 Crystal Palace
11 Nov 2023 | Premier League | Crystal Palace 2-3 Everton
22 Apr 2023 | Premier League | Crystal Palace 0-0 Everton
22 Oct 2022 | Premier League | Everton 3-0 Crystal Palace
19 May 2022 | Premier League | Everton 3-2 Crystal Palace
12 Dec 2021 | Premier League | Crystal Palace 3-1 Everton
A close analysis of these recent meetings highlights Everton's current nine-match unbeaten streak against Crystal Palace in Premier League play. The Eagles have not defeated Everton in league competition since December 2021. In their most recent clash in May 2026, the teams played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park, where James Tarkowski and Beto scored for Everton before Ismaïla Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta spearheaded a Palace comeback.
Everton Current Form
Everton enter the campaign following an encouraging pre-season campaign designed to build cohesion and match fitness. The Toffees registered impressive warm-up results in August, including a 2-1 victory over Hamburger SV and a convincing 3-1 win against Newcastle United. They concluded their pre-season schedule on August 15 with a competitive 1-1 draw against Ligue 1 side LOSC Lille, where forward Iliman Ndiaye converted from the penalty spot.
David Moyes' men finished the 2025/26 season showing notable resilience away from home. Supported by a £100m summer squad reconstruction, including the addition of Hayden Hackney and former Palace attacker Brennan Johnson, Everton enter opening day with strong domestic momentum and clear tactical clarity.
Crystal Palace Current Form
Crystal Palace embark on their 2026/27 campaign following a period of significant managerial transition. Despite finishing 15th in the Premier League last season, Palace capped off their year by lifting the UEFA Conference League trophy. Following Oliver Glasner's departure, Pierre Sage took charge in June, bringing a fluid, possession-oriented tactical philosophy from RC Lens.
Pre-season preparations under Sage showed promising signs of tactical adaptation, though squad fitness remains a minor variable. While Palace showed immense fighting spirit toward the end of last season—demonstrated by their fightback draw against Everton in May—Sage faces the challenge of becoming only the third manager in Palace history to win his opening Premier League match in charge.
Everton Team News and Injuries
David Moyes must manage a few key midfield concerns ahead of the opening fixture:
Tim Iroegbunam: Ruled out with an abductor muscle injury.
James Garner: Major doubt after sitting out Everton's entire pre-season program due to a persistent groin issue.
Christian Nørgaard: Doubtful for the opener after picking up a minor knock in training.
The potential absence of Garner and Nørgaard could force Moyes to hand a full Premier League debut to new signing Hayden Hackney alongside teenager Harrison Armstrong in central midfield. Forward Brennan Johnson is available to make his competitive debut against his former club following a summer swap deal that saw Dwight McNeil move to Palace.
Crystal Palace Team News and Injuries
Pierre Sage travels to Merseyside with a relatively healthy squad, though key fitness checks remain:
Dean Henderson: Considered doubtful after hobbling off during Palace's final pre-season friendly against Freiburg; summer arrival Walter Benítez is on standby to start in goal.
Adam Wharton: Being closely monitored due to workload management, though he remains in contention to start in central midfield.
Daniel Muñoz: Likely to begin on the bench after managed minutes following his international duties at the 2026 World Cup.
Former Everton winger Dwight McNeil could feature against his former side following his summer transfer to Selhurst Park.
Tactical Match Analysis
This opening-day encounter presents a compelling clash between David Moyes' structured pragmatism and Pierre Sage's flexible build-up play. Everton are expected to operate in a 4-2-3-1 formation, maintaining a compact mid-block and pressing aggressively in central areas. Moyes will place heavy emphasis on set-piece execution and rapid wing play, utilizing the pace of Iliman Ndiaye and Brennan Johnson to isolate full-backs and deliver crosses to Beto.
Crystal Palace are expected to line up in Sage's preferred 3-4-2-1 shape, focusing on controlled possession and quick positional rotations. Daichi Kamada and Ismaïla Sarr will look to operate in the half-spaces behind central striker Jørgen Strand Larsen or Jean-Philippe Mateta. If Henderson misses out, Benítez's distribution from the back will be tested by Everton's high-pressing triggers, making the transitional battle in central midfield the decisive area of the pitch.
Key Players to Watch
James Tarkowski (Everton): The defensive leader and captain. Tarkowski remains a major goal threat from dead-ball situations, having opened the scoring in this fixture in May 2026.
Brennan Johnson (Everton): Facing his former club on debut, Johnson's explosive pace and direct dribbling on the right flank will be a primary focal point for Everton's attack.
Ismaïla Sarr (Crystal Palace): Sarr scored against Everton in their previous meeting and brings lethal counter-attacking threat and sharp finishing in transition.
Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace): The powerful striker came off the bench to score the equalizer against Everton in May; his physical presence inside the box will challenge Everton's center-backs.
What the Numbers Tell Us
9-Match Unbeaten Streak: Everton have not lost to Crystal Palace in their last nine Premier League encounters (W6, D3).
Home Ground Dominance: Everton have won eight of their last 10 competitive home matches against Crystal Palace.
5-Year Win Drought: Crystal Palace's last Premier League victory against Everton came in December 2021 (3-1).
Consistent Scoring: Everton have scored at least one goal in nine of their last 10 league matches against the Eagles.
Opening Day Trend: Crystal Palace have won just two of their last 10 opening-day league fixtures.
Who Has the Advantage?
The statistical and environmental evidence gives Everton a clear advantage entering Saturday's opener. The Toffees possess a formidable nine-match unbeaten streak against Crystal Palace in top-flight football and have traditionally dominated this fixture on home soil. Furthermore, the emotion and momentum surrounding the first competitive match at the Hill Dickinson Stadium should provide an intense home-field atmosphere.
While Crystal Palace feature dynamic attacking individual talent in Sarr and Mateta, the managerial transition under Pierre Sage and potential fitness doubts surrounding goalkeeper Dean Henderson create uncertainty. Everton's established defensive shape under David Moyes makes them strong candidates to secure all three points, though Palace's recent comeback history in this fixture means a draw remains a credible secondary outcome.
Conclusion
The 2026/27 Premier League season kicks off with an historic celebration on Merseyside as Everton open the doors to the Hill Dickinson Stadium. David Moyes' Toffees enter as deserving statistical favorites, supported by an imposing nine-game unbeaten league run against the London outfit and strong pre-season displays. Pierre Sage's Crystal Palace possess the technical quality and counter-attacking firepower to test the home side, but overriding historical trends and venue momentum point strongly toward an Everton victory to launch their new era.