Everton 2, Crystal Palace 0: Dewsbury Hall and Barry Give Toffees the Perfect Start

Image: from Greatest Bartholomew X @sonof_omafu

Premier League 2026/27 | Matchweek 1 | Hill Dickinson Stadium | 22 August 2026

By Open Chronicle Sports

Everton opened their 2026/27 Premier League campaign with an encouraging 2,0 victory over Crystal Palace, as goals from Kiernan Dewsbury Hall and Thierno Barry rewarded a clinical performance at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

David Moyes’ side did not dominate possession and Crystal Palace created enough opportunities to make the afternoon considerably more uncomfortable. But Everton were more decisive in both penalty areas, with Jordan Pickford producing an important display behind a defence that preserved the clean sheet.

Dewsbury Hall broke the deadlock shortly before half time before Barry doubled the advantage eight minutes after the restart, giving Everton their first opening weekend Premier League victory in five years.

Everton had been second best for much of the first half against Crystal Palace, but a moment of brilliance from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – who arrowed a left-footed strike into the far corner – sees them go in at half-time with a 1-0 lead. pic.twitter.com/Zgblaqb5QL

— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) August 22, 2026

Match Summary

Everton 2, Crystal Palace 0

Goals: Kiernan Dewsbury Hall 42′, Thierno Barry 53′

Assists: Harrison Armstrong, Iliman Ndiaye

Half time: Everton 1,0 Crystal Palace

Full time: Everton 2,0 Crystal Palace

Venue: Hill Dickinson Stadium

Competition: Premier League, Matchweek 1

Date: Saturday, 22 August 2026

Referee: Paul Tierney

Palace Threaten Before Everton Strike

The final score does not entirely reflect the difficulties Everton faced during parts of the opening half.

Crystal Palace had opportunities to take control of the match and twice struck the woodwork before the interval. Pickford also produced an important save as Pierre Sage’s team demonstrated that they could penetrate Everton’s defensive structure.

Everton nevertheless remained compact and dangerous when they moved forward.

Their breakthrough arrived in the 42nd minute.

Young midfielder Harrison Armstrong was involved in the construction of the move before finding Dewsbury Hall, who produced a composed left footed finish to beat Dean Henderson and send Everton into the interval with the advantage.

It was precisely the kind of decisive contribution Everton needed from one of their most influential midfielders.

Barry Makes It Two

Everton needed only eight minutes of the second half to strengthen their position.

This time the danger came through Iliman Ndiaye.

Ndiaye delivered from the right and Barry attacked the ball decisively, heading beyond Henderson in the 53rd minute to make it 2,0.

For Barry, it was an ideal beginning to the new Premier League campaign.

More importantly for Everton, the second goal transformed the nature of the contest. Palace now needed to take greater risks, while Moyes’ team could defend with greater discipline and attack the spaces that appeared as the visitors pushed forward.

Pickford and the Everton Defence Hold Firm

Palace’s attacking statistics demonstrate why Everton’s clean sheet deserves particular attention.

The visitors finished with 58 per cent possession, registered 11 attempts, placed four on target and generated approximately 2.04 expected goals.

Everton’s defensive organisation and Pickford’s interventions therefore mattered enormously.

Jarrad Branthwaite and captain James Tarkowski provided the experienced central platform, while Vitalii Mykolenko and Merlin Röhl completed the back four.

Palace ultimately failed to convert any of their opportunities.

Everton had only around 42 per cent possession, but produced 16 shots, five on target and 35 touches inside the opposition penalty area.

That contrast tells much of the story.

Palace created enough chances to score. Everton were simply much more effective.

Tactical Analysis: Everton Win the Important Moments

This was not a victory built upon overwhelming possession.

Instead, Everton succeeded through organisation, transition play and superior execution in the decisive moments.

Moyes used a 4,2,3,1, with Hayden Hackney and Harrison Armstrong providing the midfield platform behind an attacking line containing Ndiaye, Dewsbury Hall and Tyrique George.

Barry operated as the central striker.

The structure allowed Everton to remain relatively compact when Palace had possession while still committing players forward rapidly when the ball changed hands.

Armstrong’s contribution was particularly significant. His assist for Dewsbury Hall illustrated the willingness of Everton’s younger players to participate aggressively in attacking transitions.

Ndiaye offered another source of invention. His delivery for Barry’s goal was excellent and demonstrated why his creativity remains so important to Everton’s attacking structure.

Palace actually finished with the higher expected goals figure, 2.04 compared with Everton’s 1.16, but the hosts were significantly more efficient.

Everton Starting XI

Formation: 4,2,3,1

Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford

Defenders: Merlin Röhl, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite, Vitalii Mykolenko

Midfielders: Harrison Armstrong, Hayden Hackney

Attacking midfield: Iliman Ndiaye, Kiernan Dewsbury Hall, Tyrique George

Forward: Thierno Barry

Substitutes: Mark Travers, Nathan Patterson, Michael Keane, Beto, Jake O’Brien, Tyler Dibling, Brennan Johnson, Charly Alcaraz, James Garner.

Crystal Palace Starting XI

Formation: 3,4,2,1

Goalkeeper: Dean Henderson

Defenders: Jaydee Canvot, Chris Richards, Chadi Riad

Wing backs: Daniel Muñoz, Tyrick Mitchell

Midfielders: Daichi Kamada, Adam Wharton

Attacking midfield: Eddie Nketiah, Dwight McNeil

Forward: Jean Philippe Mateta

Substitutes: Walter Benítez, Yeremy Pino, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Will Hughes, Jørgen Strand Larsen, Borna Sosa, Anan Khalaili, Evann Guessand, Óscar Mingueza.

Substitutions

Pierre Sage attempted to change the direction of the match relatively early in the second half.

Crystal Palace

Anan Khalaili replaced Daniel Muñoz, 55′

Yeremy Pino replaced Eddie Nketiah, 56′

Jørgen Strand Larsen replaced Jean Philippe Mateta, 63′

Evann Guessand replaced Dwight McNeil, 63′

Takehiro Tomiyasu replaced the injured Chadi Riad, 73′

Everton

Beto replaced Thierno Barry, 79′

James Garner replaced Hayden Hackney, 79′

Brennan Johnson replaced Tyrique George, 84′

Charly Alcaraz replaced Kiernan Dewsbury Hall, 90+1′

The injury to Riad was a particularly concerning development for Palace, with the defender requiring treatment for a knee problem.

Match Statistics

The statistical profile makes Everton’s victory particularly interesting. Palace had more possession and substantially higher xG, yet Everton registered more attempts, more shots on target and more than twice as many touches inside the opposition penalty area.

Key Performers

Kiernan Dewsbury Hall

Everton’s standout performer.

Beyond scoring the opening goal, Dewsbury Hall gave Moyes’ midfield personality and attacking ambition. His ability to move between midfield and the final third provided an important connection between Everton’s deeper players and Barry.

His performance earned considerable praise after the match and established an early benchmark for his 2026/27 campaign.

Thierno Barry

A centre forward wants to begin a new season by scoring, and Barry did exactly that.

His header eight minutes after half-time gave Everton control of the contest and demonstrated the penalty area instincts Moyes will hope to exploit throughout the campaign.

Jordan Pickford

The scoreline says 2,0. Palace’s 2.04 xG tells a different story.

Pickford was essential to preserving the clean sheet, particularly during the period when Palace threatened to take the lead. His performance ensured Everton’s attacking efficiency was rewarded with three points.

Harrison Armstrong

One of the most encouraging Everton performances came from Armstrong.

The youngster provided the assist for Dewsbury Hall’s opener and played with confidence in central midfield, giving Moyes another potentially important option for the season ahead.

Iliman Ndiaye

Ndiaye again demonstrated his creative importance.

His excellent delivery created Barry’s second goal and his movement provided Everton with a dangerous connection between midfield and attack.

What the Result Means

For Everton, this was about more than three points.

The club entered the campaign with expectations significantly higher than simply avoiding trouble at the bottom of the Premier League. Moyes is in the final year of his contract and the ownership expects progress after Everton failed to qualify for Europe last season.

A convincing home victory is therefore an excellent beginning.

Everton finished the opening Saturday with three points, two goals scored and none conceded, immediately placing themselves among the early leaders.

For Crystal Palace, the assessment is more complicated.

There were positive elements in Sage’s first Premier League match. Palace generated opportunities and finished with an xG of 2.04. On another afternoon, several of those chances might have produced goals.

But Premier League matches are decided by execution rather than expected goals.

Everton converted their moments.

Palace did not.

And that difference gave the Toffees the perfect beginning to 2026/27.

Final Score: Everton 2, Crystal Palace 0

Goals: Kiernan Dewsbury Hall 42′, Thierno Barry 53′

Assists: Harrison Armstrong, Iliman Ndiaye

Open Chronicle Player of the Match: Kiernan Dewsbury Hall