Premier League Live: Everton 1 - 0 Crystal Palace [L] | OneFootball

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Everton kick off the new Premier League season at Hill Dickinson Stadium this afternoon against Crystal Palace, still without a new right-back and Christian Norgaard out injured.

Optimism for the new season has to be tempered by some of the continuing realities that drag us down, the biggest being that David Moyes is in denial over last season being a failure -- no one told him we were supposed to try and get into Europe!

So can he be expected to turn over a new leaf, play forward attacking football, give decent playing time to the prodigious young talent he has on the books, try and actually win football games??? Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

Branthwaite, Rohl, Armstrong, Hackney and George will hopefully all prove to be good starting choices for this opening fixture, although Hackney is the only new signing. Brennan Johnson is on the bench where James Garner is fit enough to be named also after recovering from his hernia operation, but Christian Norgaard's 'minor' muscle injury continues to prevent him from starting his Everton playing career. No place for Adam Aznou.

For the visitors, a familiar face in Dwight McNeil takes his place in the starting line-up, wearing Number 11.

First Half

Dewsbury-Hall got us off but there was no hoof from Pickford, but Everton soon lost possession, Wharton fouled. It was scrappy, especially when Tarkowski messed up a eader and Nketiah was in, Mateta clipping his shot over the bar, Phew!

George got forward and crossed in a little unconvincingly; cleared. Armstrong made a superb challenge on Whatron to prevent him launching an attack but Palace already looked quicker to the ball. But Dewsbury-Hall forced a turnover and again George seemed too hesitant to make the most of it.

Some good defending was needed from Rohl to stop Nketiah getting in around the back. But Palace surged forward when they got the ball and McNeil's shot needed blocking.

But Everton were struggling to match the intensity from Palace and ball fell to Munoz, Pickford forced to parry his shot.

A much better move finally saw Everton get forward but Ndiaye could only force a save from Henderson. They kept the ball around the Palace area but could not fashion a shot. Ndiaye looked to advance but tripped over the ball.

Ndiaye stole the ball and got Rohl running down the wing but no one had advanced to anticipate the cross. At the other end, a brilliant ball over the top to Nketiah looked a certain goal but Pickford got an excellent hand to it and onto the post... fantastic save!

It looked like Mateta might power his way past Tarkowski but the new Everton captain had other ideas. More stern defending required to keep Palace at bay as they hunted down the Blue shirts who needed to really up their game. But in possession, Everton were still far too slow in terms of decision-making, and reliant on the long ball.

One found George but his intentions were read by the Palace defender. A Mykolenko long throw posed no threat whatsoever. But a brilliant dribble from Ndiaye got everyone excited. A ball in saw Canvot kick Branthwaite in the Palace area but offside was called.  A daft VAR delay ensued before that was confirmed. Ridiculous.

Armstrong drew a foul wide right but the ball was played back to Pickford, then lost from a throw-in. Everton tried to play out but Rohl was dispossessed. Barry was then upturned by Kamada for the first yellow card.

Another worrying Palace drive was halted by good defensive work from George, almost spoilt by a terrible Pickford clearance, then Everton's counter too easily stalled.

Everton edged forward. George's shot cannoning off a defender for another long throw. This one caused more danger, Branthwaite getting the ball through to George whose shot was parried just wide of the far post -- from an offside position.

Another slow Everton attack, Dewsbury-Hall scooping a difficult cross behind for a goalkick. Another laboured passing sequence again failed to get the ball anywhere near the Palace goal while at the other end another incredible chance was created by Nketiah for Mateta who hit the post! By rights, the Blues should be 3-0 down, and Branthwaite hobbling, grasping his thigh...

Dewsbury-Hall did brilliantly to control a difficult ball and gallop away, playing in Barry for a perfect goal.... only for Barry to stumble on the ball and pass it to the defender.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (43') finally scored with a left-foot rocket after Armstrong superbly stole the ball off Munoz. An excellent piece of work from both players.

A faster attack stuutered a bit with George, but Hackney clipped over a great cross that won a corner. Dewsbury-Hall fired in a cross that was straight at Henderson.

Another incredible opportunity for Palace and it looked like Munoz would head home but George did enough to put him off and Everton went in 1-0 ahead rather than 3-1 down, their goal leading a charmed life.

Teamsheets

Everton: Pickford; Mykolenko, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Rohl; Armstrong, Dewsbury-Hall, Hackney; George, Barry, Ndiaye.

Subs: Travers, Patterson, Keane, O'Brien, Garner, Alcaraz,  Dibling, Johnson, Beto.

Subs: Benítez, Tomiyasu, Mingueza, Sosa, Hughes, Lerma, Sarr, Khalaili, Guessand.