Crystal PalacevsEverton
CRY 0/EVE 2
Things to say
Everton beat Crystal Palace 2-0 at home to open the season.
01
opener
Everton looked the part at the new place. Two-nil, clean sheet, job done. Palace never really turned up.
02
key player
Pickford was quietly brilliant again, four saves and not a thing gets past him. Man's a wall for England and for Everton.
03
hot take
Palace with two shots all match? That's shambolic for a side that's meant to be pushing on. Mateta got starved up top.
04
deep cut
Young Harrison Armstrong put in twelve defensive interventions, kid's everywhere. Ndiaye ran the show in the middle too.
05
exit
Early days, but Everton'll take that start. Let's see if they can back it up on the road next week.
The recap
Everton opened their season with a proper 2-0 job over Crystal Palace at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium, and honestly it was fairly comfortable in the end. Tyrique George was the livewire up top, peppering the goal with five shots and running the show, while Pickford tidied up whatever Palace threw at him for a clean sheet on the day.
Palace never really got going going forward, with Mateta starved of service and only mustering a couple of half-chances. Brilliant start for the Toffees, shambolic afternoon for the visitors who go home with nothing.