Crystal Palace face Everton in a Premier League clash at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday as new manager Pierre Sage seeks to end the Eagles’ poor record against the Toffees.
Everton will be without Christian Norgaard and Tim Iroegbunam for Saturday’s Premier League opener against Crystal Palace. Norgaard, who joined Everton this summer from Premier League champions Arsenal, is not yet fit, while Iroegbunam has suffered a minor adductor strain. Jimmy Garner, recovering from a hernia operation, is also unlikely to feature. We don’t have Christian Norgaard fit yet. Jimmy Garner’s returning from a hernia operation,
Everton boss David Moyes said. Tim Iroegbunam had an adductor strain and won’t make it tomorrow so I just have to hope that we have enough to get through at the moment with what we’ve got.
Crystal Palace predicted XI vs Everton
Palace’s defensive struggles against Everton are well documented, with the Eagles winning just one of their last 23 Premier League meetings with the Toffees. The Eagles have not won their opening Premier League fixture since the 2023/24 season, and only two of the club’s previous 16 permanent managers have won their league debut. Despite this, Palace were one of the Premier League’s strongest away sides last season, collecting 24 of their 45 points on the road. Everton, meanwhile, need to improve at home after a disappointing first campaign at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, where they struggled to replicate their previous form. David Moyes will also be desperate to avoid another unwanted record: Everton have lost their opening league game in each of their last four seasons without scoring.
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Everton’s search for a right-back continues, with Angus Kinnear stating, We won’t have a right-back for Palace, but it’s important we have the number one right-back we wanted when the window closes.
Despite interest in Daniel Munoz and Matty Cash, no major signings have been finalized. Hull City’s withdrawal of a £20 million bid for Tim Iroegbunam has added uncertainty, with manager Sergei Jakirovic noting, It’s a minimum of six weeks for the English midfielder.
Pre-season has begun for Crystal Palace under new manager Pierre Sage, with a 5-1 win over Swindon Town on Saturday represented a positive start to preparations for the new campaign. This pre-season provides more of a chance for players who have previously struggled to make an impact, as well as those who spent time out on loan last term and are now looking to break into the first team.
Christian Nørgaard personally revealed at the Men in Blazers event at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday that “a small injury” has prevented the Dane from featuring for the Blues, following a £7 million move from Arsenal.
Everton vs Crystal Palace
The loss of Maxence Lacroix and the lack of a top-level replacement (so far) could see Palace and Sage get off to a slow start. Everton fans will also be in fine fettle as they embark on a second campaign at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with Moyes hoping to get off to a strong start after a poor ending to last season. It should be a tight game between two similarly matched sides, but the experience gap between the coaches could see the Eagles get stuck against the Toffees. Score Prediction: Everton 2-1 Crystal Palace (15/2 with Bet365).
Crystal Palace’s post-Oliver Glasner era begins at Everton as Pierre Sage takes charge of his first Premier League game. The Frenchman comes up against David Moyes. The two sides have already engaged this summer, pulling off a swap deal that saw Dwight McNeil make the move to South London and Brennan Johnson switch to Merseyside. Both sides will have aspirations of moving out of mid-table and towards the European places, but right now, there are more questions than answers for both.
Palace’s pre-season includes a trip to the Como Cup in Italy, where they are guaranteed three games, albeit 45-minute matches. This tournament brings an element of competition and greater intensity to mirror more closely the upcoming campaign in the Premier League and Europa League. Should young players or fringe players make their mark, they stand a chance of persuading Sage and the club’s hierarchy their future is at Palace. Cheick Doucoure, who has spent most of the past two and a half years out with injury—first a ruptured Achilles and then a torn meniscus in his knee—remains a key figure, though his status is uncertain.
