What we learned: Everton 2-0 Crystal Palace | OneFootball

(Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

Three points in the sunshine at Hill Dickinson Stadium to kick off the 2026-27 Premier League campaign for Everton.

Here’s a few things we learned from Everton 2-0 Crystal Palace.

EVERTON’S KEY MEN PROVIDE THE STARDUST

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall cut a frustrated figure at times during the first half, but he has the ability to turn any match, and that’s just what he did here.

His goal, which came about due to an error from Daniel Muñoz and some excellent pressing from Harrison Armstrong, was a beauty.

Dewsbury-Hall still had so much to do, but he managed to wrap his left foot around the ball and rifle a swerving strike beyond Dean Henderson, to settle the nerves and get Everton ahead at a crucial juncture.

Early in the second half, it was Everton’s other talisman, Iliman Ndiaye, who delivered an inch-perfect cross from the right to tee up Thierno Barry.

Everton’s big players stepped up in attack, and earlier, Jordan Pickford had made a stunning save to keep it at 0-0.

ARMSTRONG AND HACKNEY IMPRESS

There were times in the first half when Everton’s midfielders were just giving Palace a bit too much space, and the Eagles had two fantastic chances to go and put themselves ahead.

But once Armstrong and Hayden Hackney — making his Premier League debut — settled into it, they were generally excellent.

Armstrong was a standout performer, and he just looks every bit the Premier League-ready midfielder.

Hackney was busy and always looking to get on the front foot; it was his quick thinking from a free-kick that resulted in Ndiaye being freed up to put his cross onto Barry’s head.

James Garner’s return as a late substitute is a welcome boost, but he will need to work his way back to match fitness after missing all of pre-season, so a strong start from Hackney and Armstrong was vital.

DEFENCE IS STILL AN ISSUE

Jarrad Branthwaite coming through the game unscathed is a huge bonus, and he made some vital interventions, but still, Everton’s defensive unit does not look solid.

Merlin Röhl showed what he can offer from right-back in attack, making some fantastic runs forward, including when he teed up Ndiaye midway through the first half following a sublime pass from Dewsbury-Hall.

But defensively, it’s clear he’s still learning the right-back role, while James Tarkowski fell asleep late on for a chance that Jorgen Strand Larsen headed straight at Pickford.

Palace carved Everton open a couple of times in the first half, and were denied by a combination of Pickford, the woodwork and some poor finishing.

No team can be perfect defensively, and you always need a bit of luck, but David Moyes should be looking to tighten things up a bit more — Garner and Christian Nørgaard coming into the team will hopefully help that, too.