Match Information
Our pre-match preview Written before kick-off — see what we expected from this match
Match Overview
Everton host Crystal Palace at Hill Dickinson Stadium in the opening round of the Premier League season, a fixture that carries early-campaign significance as both sides look to set the tone for their respective ambitions. With Everton starting the season fourth in the league table against a Crystal Palace side positioned 13th, there is a notable gap between the two clubs, though league positions at this stage should be viewed with caution given the season has only just begun.
Form heading into this match offers contrasting pictures. Everton's pre-season warm-up produced a mixed bag of results, including wins over Newcastle and Hamburger SV, but also defeats to VfB Stuttgart and Stoke City. Crystal Palace's build-up was similarly uneven, with a win over Fulham offset by a heavy 3-0 loss to Lens and a 3-0 defeat to Bromley in their most recent friendly. Neither side arrives with clear momentum, making this fixture as much about early identity-building as anything else.
The head-to-head record shows a fairly even series historically, with both teams having enjoyed victories across recent meetings, including a 2-2 draw on 2026-05-10 and an Everton win on 2025-10-05. This suggests no strong psychological edge heading into the new campaign, and both sets of players will be more focused on establishing rhythm under the Premier League's demands than any historical narrative.
With no injuries reported for either squad, both managers - whoever takes the touchline duties - will have full squads to select from, meaning team selection will likely hinge on tactical preference rather than enforced changes. As a season-opener, this match represents a clean slate for both clubs, and the performance levels shown here could offer an early indication of how each side's campaign will shape up.
Predicted Lineups
Everton
Pickford; Branthwaite, Mykolenko, O'Brien, Patterson; Garner, Dewsbury-Hall, Alcaraz, McNeil; Barry, Beto
Crystal Palace
Henderson; Muñoz, Canvot, Mingueza, Mitchell; Lerma, Doucouré, Hughes, Matheus França; Mateta, Nketiah
Team Form Analysis
Everton
League Position: 4Everton Form Analysis
Everton's pre-season form showed flashes of promise alongside inconsistency. Their most recent outing produced a 3-1 win away at Newcastle on 2026-08-12, a strong attacking display to close out their preparation. However, this followed a 3-1 defeat to VfB Stuttgart on 2026-08-08, highlighting some defensive vulnerabilities against stronger opposition. Earlier results included a 2-1 win at Hamburger SV on 2026-08-01, a narrow 1-0 loss to Stoke City on 2026-07-28, and a goalless draw with Bolton on 2026-07-25.
Across these five outings, Everton scored in four of five matches, suggesting reasonable attacking sharpness heading into the season, though they also conceded in three of five, including three goals against Stuttgart. The mixed results against a varied range of opposition, from Championship-level sides to European clubs, make it difficult to draw firm conclusions, but the pattern suggests a team still finding its rhythm defensively while showing encouraging signs going forward.
Crystal Palace
League Position: 13Crystal Palace Form Analysis
Crystal Palace's build-up to the season was notably choppy. Their sole Club Friendlies win came against Fulham, 2-1 away, on 2026-08-07. Prior to that, their Como Cup campaign yielded a 3-1 win over Al Ula on 2026-07-31, a 0-0 draw with Famalicao on 2026-07-28, and a heavy 3-0 defeat to Lens the same day. Their final warm-up match ended in a 3-0 loss to Bromley on 2026-07-25.
The overall picture shows a team that struggled for defensive stability during preparation, conceding six goals across their two heaviest defeats to Lens and Bromley. Attacking output was modest outside of the Al Ula and Fulham matches, raising questions about consistency in front of goal. With results against a mix of lower-league and continental opposition, Crystal Palace will be eager to find sharper form once genuine Premier League points are on the line.
Head-to-Head
Everton
Crystal Palace
Recent Meetings
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-10 | Crystal Palace | 2 - 2 | Everton |
| 2025-10-05 | Everton | 2 - 1 | Crystal Palace |
| 2025-02-15 | Crystal Palace | 1 - 2 | Everton |
| 2024-09-28 | Everton | 2 - 1 | Crystal Palace |
| 2024-02-19 | Everton | 1 - 1 | Crystal Palace |
| 2024-01-17 | Everton | 1 - 0 | Crystal Palace |
| 2024-01-04 | Crystal Palace | 0 - 0 | Everton |
| 2023-11-11 | Crystal Palace | 2 - 3 | Everton |
| 2023-04-22 | Crystal Palace | 0 - 0 | Everton |
| 2022-10-22 | Everton | 3 - 0 | Crystal Palace |
Memorable Matches
The history between these two sides has produced some entertaining and closely fought contests. The most recent meeting on 2026-05-10 ended 2-2 at Selhurst Park, a fitting result given how tightly matched these fixtures have often been. On 2023-11-11, Everton claimed a dramatic 3-2 away win, edging a high-scoring affair. Another standout came on 2022-10-22, when Everton produced their most emphatic result in the series, a 3-0 home victory. Several other meetings, including goalless draws in January and April 2024 and 2023, show that this fixture can also produce tightly contested, low-scoring battles, reflecting the competitive nature of this Premier League rivalry over the years.
For full statistical context, check out the read the complete preview.
Venue Factor
Hill Dickinson Stadium serves as the venue for this fixture, with the atmosphere likely to play a role given it marks an early-season home fixture for Everton. Playing in front of their own supporters for a season-opener often provides an emotional lift, particularly with expectations set by their current league standing. Crystal Palace, as the traveling side, will need to quickly adjust to away-day conditions after a mixed pre-season schedule that included matches at various away venues. The occasion of a Matchday 1 fixture typically brings heightened anticipation from home fans eager to see their team make a statement, and that atmosphere could be a factor as both sides look to open their campaigns positively.
