Everton began their Premier League season with a 2-0 home win over Crystal Palace, ending their poor record on opening day. The result gave David Moyes’s side an encouraging start despite concerns over a lack of new signings, while Pierre Sage’s first league match as Palace manager ended in frustration.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall opened the scoring with a fine first-half finish, before Thierno Barry sealed victory with a second-half header. Palace created three clear early chances but failed to convert them, twice hitting Jordan Pickford’s left-hand post, and defender Chadi Riad suffered a potentially serious late injury.