Video summary
The match at Hill Dickinson Stadium marked the return of Premier League football with an impressive opening day victory for Everton against Crystal Palace, ending in a 2-0 scoreline. The game began with high intensity as both teams fought for control, featuring several key moments including a notable save by Jordan Pickford and a post hit by Eddie Nketiah. Early pressure from the home side culminated in a breakthrough when Harrison Armstrong dispossessed Muñoz to set up Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who launched a brilliant strike across the goalkeeper to make it 1-0. This goal was celebrated as a wonderful way to open the new campaign, showcasing the team's improved energy and cohesion from the start of the season.
Following the first half break, Everton continued their dominant performance in the second period, extending their lead with a spectacular team move that highlighted the creativity of Idrissa Gueye. The midfielder whipped in an unbelievable delivery from the right flank, which found Tiemoué Bakayoko inside the penalty area. Despite a slight deflection off a defender, Bakayoko managed to finish clinically, doubling Everton's advantage to 2-0. The commentary praised the quality of the cross and Bakayoko's finishing ability, noting that he was in excellent goal-scoring form. This sequence demonstrated how effectively the team could transition from defense to attack, leaving Crystal Palace struggling to find a way back into the match.
As the final whistle approached, Everton maintained their comfortable lead with no further goals scored, securing a convincing victory that exceeded expectations for an opening day fixture. Although Crystal Palace had created some great chances in the first half and even saw a shot from Tyreik George go wide, they were unable to capitalize on their opportunities against a well-organized Everton defense. The home side's energy levels remained high throughout the second half, allowing them to control the tempo of the game and frustrate their opponents. The result was described as exactly the kind of win the team could have wished for, setting a positive tone for the rest of the season.
In the post-match reflections, the manager expressed delight with the team's performance, particularly emphasizing their total dominance in the second half compared to the first. He acknowledged that while Crystal Palace had moments of threat, Everton was fortunate not to concede more and praised the pleasing displays from various players. The victory was seen as a strong statement for the new campaign, with the team showing improved energy and a convincing style of play that left the visitors disappointed. Overall, the match served as an excellent start for Everton, proving they are ready to compete at the highest level of English football.
Read the full video transcript
Good afternoon, everybody. Welcome to
Hill Dickinson Stadium.
>> Starts alongside me. Premier League
football is back.
>> It's well and truly back, Daws, and
hopefully we're going to get off to an
absolute flyer.
>> And the ball gets goal side.
>> It's a
>> It comes in along. The cross comes into
the penalty area, and it reaches Núñez
of all people. Good save, Jordan
Pickford.
>> Palms it into the air and keeps it in as
well. Good goalkeeping.
>> George spins infield. He's away from
Wat.
>> Free kick, referee.
>> Oh, he's played advantage. Well done.
>> advantage. George
infield to Choosebehold. Mellinger on
the overlap on the right hand side.
Choosebehold carries it forward. Plays a
great ball to Mellinger.
Mellinger and Diaby chance. Oh!
>> Good save,
Jordan Pickford Henderson.
>> Great move.
>> Intercepted by Alfons
Love Favors Wat.
>> Plays the ball forward. Here's Eddie
Nketiah. Hits the post. Good save,
Jordan Pickford.
>> What a save.
>> And he picks it up.
>> What a save.
>> Oh my word. He's kept it level.
Could have been offside. Pickford wasn't
to know. It was a terrific save.
>> Longstaff
>> Oh, that looked like a handball.
>> I'm sure
that was handball by Longstaff.
>> I think everybody knows it, didn't they?
>> Alfons lays it off to
Mamadou Diallo. Mamadou Diallo gets a
little lucky with the save. Still inside
the penalty area. Still going. Penalty
keeper in place.
>> Oh, brings a corner. Good play, Elliot.
>> It's Tyrique George. He hasn't been
sloppy. He's been excellent.
>> Mamadou Diallo on the right hand side.
Tyrique Mitchell and Tyrique Wright go
over to cover.
Ndidi brings it in field.
Spots the tiniest of gaps. Runs into
super play. Kairo George, Mitrovic on
the way. George is going to go himself.
Takes a deflection. Throw-in on the
left-hand side.
Slides it to Dwight McNeill. Dwight
McNeill on for Eddie Nketiah. Into the
middle for Mateta. Hits the post again.
>> I'll tell you what.
>> Should have scored.
>> Yeah, should have scored.
>> Harrison Armstrong
touches it wide to
Kairo George, who runs at them again.
He's past Muñoz. Cuts it in field. Plays
it off to Dewsbury-Hall. Dewsbury-Hall
tries to skip through. Shooting chance.
Dewsbury-Hall
>> Hand ball. Was that a hand ball?
>> Strong appeals for hand ball.
Not many appeals from the players,
Snods.
>> No, there wasn't. More from the crowd.
>> Oh, good. Harrison Armstrong
>> wins it. Plays it in field
>> to Dewsbury-Hall again, inside the
PENALTY AREA.
>> GOAL!
>> [screaming]
>> KIERNAN DEWSBURY-HALL
LAUNCHES HOME THE first goal of the
season and he'll be kicking some.
SUPER, SUPER DRIVE and a wonderful way
to open your account for the new
campaign. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Everton 1,
Crystal Palace nil.
>> What a strike, Kiernan.
An unbelievable strike across the
keeper.
He's a brilliant goal.
The smile on his face says it all.
>> He's been quite quiet for the over half
hour or so, Snods.
>> Not anymore.
>> And fair play to Harrison Armstrong. He
dispossessed Muñoz.
>> Yeah, he did.
>> Carried it forward. Early ball to
Dewsbury-Hall.
>> Which is forced a right. An absolute
rasper.
>> [cheering]
>> Great way to start this season. What a
finish. Look at that.
>> The keeper is nowhere
>> not getting nowhere near that.
>> Everton 1
Crystal Palace nil
And one of the players of last season
is off to a flyer
this season.
>> They're under control but they don't
really they they play it actually quite
nicely with them all and gives it
straight to Adama Ndiaye. Idrissa Gueye
to Barry back to Idrissa Gueye again.
He's behind. Another chance.
He's underneath it. Puts his head in his
hands. It was a chance for a player of
his quality to at least work the keeper.
>> Yeah, it was definitely. We've seen him
strike that one in the first half.
Wonderful strike and he got that second
one all wrong. It's just took a little
bobble.
>> They're trailing by a goal to nil but
they could have had a couple themselves.
Hackney to Idrissa Gueye.
It's a GREAT BALL IN.
2-0
SUPER BALL IN FROM THE RIGHT HAND side
from Idrissa Gueye. [cheering]
Tiemoué Bakayoko inside the penalty area
applies the finishing touch and he's off
the mark.
And Everton lead by two goals to nil.
>> What a delivery from Idrissa Gueye.
Unbelievable ball. He's whipped it in
there. Tiemoué Bakayoko has done well to
get on the end of it but it's all about
the cross.
>> And he's delighted with it.
Tiemoué Bakayoko
Well, I tell you what Snot, he's in good
goal scoring form.
>> is. He is. But what a ball this is.
And he's got in between defenders to get
out of
Comes in. Tiemoué Bakayoko
Takes a deflection. Slight deflection
off the defender, but you're not taking
that off Tierno Balli.
>> No, no chance.
>> really well.
And it's 2-0.
Keinan Davis Behall in the first half,
Tierno Balli in the second.
Here come Everton again. Davis Behall
crosses to Balli. Balli chips it into
the penalty area. Ball in the back of
the Oh, what a save by the goalkeeper.
It would have been a peach of a goal, by
the way.
Tyreik Wright George left hand side of
the penalty area shoots for goal. Oh, a
little bit of Dyke couldn't get it under
control. It's bouncing around. Tyreik
George across the face of the goal
again. It's wide. It's still 2-0.
Should be it. That is it. That is it.
The final whistle blows. As comfortable
an opening day victory as we could have
wished for, Smith.
>> Yeah. First half, obviously I think
Crystal Palace had some great chances.
To go in 1-0 I thought we were quite
fortunate, but second half we were just
totally dominant. Very disappointed in
Palace, but I'm delighted
with our with our performance second
half. I thought
I thought there were a lot of pleasing
performances. The energy levels was good
and a convincing victory.