Everton host Crystal Palace at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday, August 22 (10:00 AM ET / 9:00 AM CT / 7:00 AM PT).
Everton will be without the injured James Garner, ruled out with a groin problem, while a fitness doubt hangs over Timothy Iroegbunam. Beto and Thierno Barry, who scored 9 and 8 goals respectively last season, lead the line, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Iliman Ndiaye providing support from deeper. Crystal Palace travel without the injured Adam Wharton, sidelined with an ankle problem, and with doubts hanging over both Dwight McNeil and Cheick Doucoure, leaning instead on Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaïla Sarr, who managed 12 and 9 goals last season, to carry their attack.
Neither side ended last season in good form, and both will want a fresh start after shaky closing weeks. Everton’s firepower at home and a settled top end of the pitch make them the stronger side on paper, but Crystal Palace have enough in Mateta and Sarr to make this an even, goal-laden opener rather than a one-sided affair.
Everton vs Crystal Palace: Best Bets & Predictions
Everton host Crystal Palace at Hill Dickinson Stadium as both sides try to shake off shaky finishes to last season.
Our approach: we weigh each side's return to action against their proven goal threat and recent results, then build best bets that agree with one another around a single, consistent scoreline rather than picking markets in isolation.
Odds correct at time of writing and shown in American format for illustration; your local odds may vary. 19+ (18+ in AB/MB/QC). Please play responsibly. ConnexOntario: 1-866-531-2600 (ON).
Season Form & Standings
Everton and Crystal Palace both begin the new season with a clean slate in the table, each looking to move on from a wobbly finish to last season.
Premier League
| Team | Pos | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Palace | 8 | 0 | |||||||
| Everton | 9 | 0 |
Everton vs Crystal Palace Predicted Lineups
Predicted XI — updated for the latest team news.
Everton
4-2-3-1Crystal Palace
3-4-2-1Potential Match-Winners
- Beto (Everton): Beto found the net 9 times last season from 43 shots, 17 of them on target, and remains Everton’s most direct route to goal.
- Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Everton): Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall contributed 8 goals and created 37 chances last season, underlining his creative importance in midfield.
- Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace): Jean-Philippe Mateta led Crystal Palace’s attack with 12 goals last season, testing keepers with 32 shots on target from 63 attempts.
Recent Form
Everton: L L D D L
- 2026-05-17: Everton 1-3 Sunderland (L, home)
- 2026-05-10: Crystal Palace 2-2 Everton (D, away)
- 2026-05-04: Everton 3-3 Manchester City (D, home)
- 2026-04-25: West Ham 2-1 Everton (L, away)
- 2026-04-19: Everton 1-2 Liverpool (L, home)
Everton closed last season with L L D D L, including a 1-3 home defeat to Sunderland, a 2-2 draw away at Crystal Palace, a 3-3 home draw with Manchester City, a 2-1 loss away at West Ham and a 1-2 home defeat to Liverpool.
Crystal Palace: D L L D D
- 2026-05-17: Brentford 2-2 Crystal Palace (D, away)
- 2026-05-10: Crystal Palace 2-2 Everton (D, home)
- 2026-05-03: Bournemouth 3-0 Crystal Palace (L, away)
- 2026-04-25: Liverpool 3-1 Crystal Palace (L, away)
- 2026-04-20: Crystal Palace 0-0 West Ham (D, home)
Crystal Palace ended last season with D L L D D, drawing 2-2 away at Brentford, drawing 2-2 at home with Everton, losing 3-0 away at Bournemouth, losing 3-1 away at Liverpool and drawing 0-0 at home with West Ham.
Everton vs Crystal Palace Prediction
Everton’s attacking depth, led by Beto and Thierno Barry, should edge a Crystal Palace side missing the injured Adam Wharton, with goals expected at both ends and a narrow home win, 2-1.