The 2026/27 Premier League season kicks off on August 22 with Everton welcoming Crystal Palace to the Hill Dickinson Stadium at 3 PM BST.
For Everton, it is a homecoming of sorts. The Hill Dickinson Stadium is their new home, replacing the long-serving Goodison Park.
Two clubs, two very different summers
Everton finished 13th last season. Manager David Moyes heads into this campaign under pressure to deliver something that looks more like a mid-table push and less like a relegation scare waiting to happen.
Crystal Palace, by contrast, had one of the more remarkable seasons in recent English football history. Under Oliver Glasner, they won both the UEFA Conference League and the FA Cup. Glasner has since departed, and the club appointed Pierre Sage to continue what became an unexpectedly golden era at Selhurst Park.
Transfer intrigue and injury headaches
The Brennan Johnson transfer adds a layer of personal subplot to Saturday’s match. Johnson moved to Everton, while Dwight McNeil headed in the opposite direction to Palace, meaning both players will face their former employers in the very first game of the season.
Everton are without Christian Nørgaard, James Garner, and Tim Iroegbunam in midfield, which is a significant chunk of their central options gone before a ball has been kicked competitively.
Palace have their own concerns. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson is dealing with an ankle issue, which means Sage could be navigating a season-opening fixture without his first-choice keeper.
Everton have gone unbeaten in their last 11 meetings against Palace across all competitions. The most recent league encounter, played in May 2026, ended 2-2.
What to watch and what it means for both clubs
Betting markets have Everton as narrow favorites, which aligns with the home advantage, the historical record, and the fact that Palace are still in the process of integrating a new coaching staff.