August 22 2026

Riad down in pain in the second half before being stretchered off

Crystal Palace began the new Premier League season with a 2-0 defeat at Everton as Pierre Sage's first game in charge ended in disappointment.

Goals from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Thierno Barry either side of half-time gave the hosts all three points at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The Eagles almost made the perfect start inside four minutes when Eddie Nketiah capitalised on a defensive error, but Jean-Philippe Mateta blazed over from close range.

Nketiah and Mateta both struck the woodwork before the break as Palace failed to make the most of a bright opening spell.

Everton punished those missed opportunities three minutes before half-time when Dewsbury-Hall collected the ball on the edge of the area and curled a fine effort into the far corner beyond Dean Henderson.

The home side doubled their advantage eight minutes after the restart as Iliman Ndiaye delivered an inviting cross for Thierno Barry to head home from close range.

Palace's task had been made harder before kick-off by the absence of last season's top scorer Ismaila Sarr, with the Senegal international left out of the squad amid continued speculation linking him with a move to Galatasaray.

The afternoon ended on a worrying note for the Eagles when defender Chadi Riad was stretchered off with what appeared to be a serious knee injury midway through the second half.

Despite creating several good opportunities, Palace were left to rue their wastefulness in front of goal as Sage became the 15th Eagles manager to lose his first Premier League match in charge.

Everton: Pickford, Mykolenko, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Röhl, Hackney (Garner, 79), Armstrong, George (Johnson, 84), Dewsbury-Hall (Alcaraz, 94), Ndiaye, Barry (Beto, 79)

Palace: Henderson, Riad (Tomiyasu, 72), Richards, Canvot, Mitchell, Kamada, Wharton, Muñoz (Khalaili, 55), Nketiah (Yéremy Pino, 55), McNeil (Guessand, 63), Mateta (Strand Larsen, 63)

2026/27 match reports

2026/27 squad stats

Premier League table

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