Crystal Palace 2026/27
Follow the Eagles throughout the 2026/27 Premier League season with results, fixtures, squad developments, European ambitions, tactical analysis and Open Chronicle coverage from Selhurst Park.
Palace Leave Everton Empty Handed Despite Creating Chances
Crystal Palace opened their Premier League campaign with a 2–0 defeat at Hill Dickinson Stadium, a scoreline that did not fully reflect the opportunities the Eagles created.
Everton 2–0 Crystal Palace
Palace threatened repeatedly in the first half, hitting the woodwork twice and forcing Jordan Pickford into an important save. Everton were more clinical, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scoring before the interval and Thierno Barry adding the second early in the second half.
A New Era with European Football
Palace enter a season of transition under Pierre Sage while preparing for a Europa League campaign earned through last season's UEFA Conference League triumph.
The Eagles created enough to compete but paid for missed chances and Everton's superior efficiency.
Palace enter the league phase after winning the Conference League and will discover their opponents in the 28 August draw.
A new tactical era begins at Selhurst Park following another period of managerial change.
Palace host Manchester City on Friday 28 August in their first home league match of the campaign.
Crystal Palace's Opening Premier League Fixtures
After the opening defeat at Everton, the Eagles face Manchester City at Selhurst Park before travelling to Fulham.
Pierre Sage Begins a New Palace Chapter
Pierre Sage
The French coach leads Palace into a campaign combining Premier League demands with Europa League football.
Transition, Possession and Squad Management
Sage inherits a squad capable of creating chances and attacking with speed, but the opening defeat at Everton highlighted the need for greater efficiency in both penalty areas.
The early weeks will also test Palace's depth. European competition adds another layer to squad management, while several important players remain at the centre of transfer or fitness discussions.
Key Figures for the Eagles
Established attacking leaders, creative midfielders and new defensive additions will shape Palace's domestic and European campaign.
Jean-Philippe Mateta
Remains a central attacking reference, although his contract situation has become one of the major off-field stories around the club.
Adam Wharton
A key controller in possession and one of Palace's most important players in progressing the ball through midfield.
Daniel Muñoz
Provides aggressive running, width and final-third threat from the right side.
Ismaïla Sarr
Missed the Everton opener with a groin problem. Pierre Sage has said the winger remains a Palace player despite transfer interest.
Axel Disasi
The Chelsea defender has joined Palace on loan, adding experience and depth to a back line facing domestic and European commitments.
Chadi Riad
Left the Everton match with a suspected knee problem, creating another early concern for Palace's defensive depth.
What the Opening Defeat Told Us
The scoreline was negative, but Palace's performance contained indicators that the new season may be more competitive than the result suggests.
Palace generated strong opportunities, hit the woodwork twice and finished with a higher expected-goals figure than Everton.
The Eagles failed to convert their best moments while Everton punished theirs, a pattern Sage will want to correct quickly.
Europa League football means injuries and transfer uncertainty will matter even more than in a standard domestic campaign.
Latest Crystal Palace Stories
The three latest Open Chronicle articles published in the Crystal Palace FC 2026/27 category are loaded automatically below.
Follow Crystal Palace Throughout 2026/27
Return after every matchweek for results, tactical analysis, European developments, squad news and the latest stories from Selhurst Park.