Moyes’ Toffees kick off at Hill Dickinson as Sage’s Eagles land in Merseyside
Right, here we go again. Everton fling open the doors for Year Two at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, the Moyes reboot in full swing and the blue half of Merseyside daring to dream of a genuine crack at Europe. Crystal Palace arrive with a fresh face in the dugout as Pierre Sage begins his reign, tasked with steadying the ship after the Eagles soared to European glory last term. Buckle up.
The state of play
Everton’s late stumble in 2025/26 still stings, but there’s a whiff of momentum about the place. A proper home crowd, a seasoned gaffer, and a squad that—fitness permitting—should be mixing it in the top half. Palace, meanwhile, swap one visionary for another. Sage inherits a confident, largely intact group fresh from lifting the Conference League, but the brief feels pragmatic: consolidate, keep standards high, and nick results on the road.
Team news – Everton
Moyes has plenty available, yet the midfield jigsaw is missing a couple of key pieces. James Garner won’t feature after undergoing groin surgery in pre-season, and Tim Iroegbunam is out until October as he works back from an undisclosed issue. New arrival Christian Nørgaard faces a race against time; the Dane admitted this week—speaking to Men in Blazers via the Liverpool Echo—that he’s dealing with a minor setback, is frustrated to be watching on, and can’t pin down a firm return date, though he feels he’s close.
Headline bulletin: Garner out, Iroegbunam out until October, and Nørgaard touch-and-go for the opener.
Team news – Crystal Palace
Sage’s first squad sheet looks straightforward. The only doubt is in goal: Dean Henderson is being assessed after a hamstring concern and, per the Standard, was seen limping prior to the trip north. Beyond that, Palace look in rude health as they begin the new chapter.
Confirmed lineups
As ever, the official XIs will drop one hour before kick-off. We’ll update this space the moment they land.
Everton XI: TBC
Crystal Palace XI: TBC
Pundit’s view
Everton’s engine room will dictate the day. If Moyes finds the right balance without Garner—and with Nørgaard likely short—then the Toffees can pin Palace back and feed off that new-stadium surge. Palace won’t be shy about sitting in, springing transitions, and asking questions down the channels. It’s Sage’s first look at Premier League tempo; expect compact lines, low risk, and a set-piece sting.
If you fancy a flutter ahead of team news dropping, check the market leaders on our best betting sites—but keep an eye on that Henderson update, because a late change between the sticks can nudge the odds.
Bottom line
Everton crave a statement start in front of their own, Palace aim for a smart away day under a new boss. With one or two fitness question marks in key areas, the margins feel thin. First whistle can’t come soon enough.
