Opposition Report: McNeil returns as Everton face new-look Crystal Palace

And… we’re back! 

Everton’s 2026-27 campaign gets up and running on Saturday as Crystal Palace visit Hill  Dickinson Stadium. 

While it’s been a summer of stability (perhaps a bit too much stability) at Everton, it’s been  one of change and upheaval for Palace. 

Oliver Glasner has gone, with Pierre Sage, who worked wonders at Lens, coming in.  Maxence Lacroix has been the Eagles’ big sale, while they have brought in Oscar Mingueza, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Anan Khalaili, Zavier Gozo and, of course, Dwight McNeil. 

Here, we preview what to expect from Palace. 

LAST TIME OUT  

Palace lost 3-0 to Freiburg in their final pre-season match, but going back to last term,  they actually did not win a Premier League game after beating Newcastle United 2-1 on  April 12. 

However, it’s fair to say Palace had bigger fish to fry as they put their eggs in the  Conference League basket, and ultimately that paid off. 

Everton, of course, didn’t win a league game after March 22, so these are two teams that need to get back on track in the top flight. 

PALACE’S FORM  

Here are Palace’s last six competitive results: 

May 7th: Crystal Palace 2-1 Shakhtar Donetsk (5-2 agg) 

May 10th: Crystal Palace 2-2 Everton 

May 13th: Man City 3-0 Crystal Palace 

May 17th: Brentford 2-2 Crystal Palace 

May 24th: Crystal Palace 1-2 Arsenal 

May 27th: Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano 

ONE TO WATCH  

Well, the negative Evertonian in me can’t help but think we didn’t want such a swift reunion with McNeil. 

He is hardly Palace’s real danger man — Adam Wharton is capable of running their  midfield, while Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta have caused Everton all sorts of problems in the past. And you wouldn’t back against reported Toffees target Daniel Munoz to do some damage either. 

But there’s sure to be a bit of nervousness around Hill Dickinson Stadium when McNeil gets on the ball.

WHAT CAN EVERTON TARGET?  

Everton need to make the most of their first game of the season being at home, with a 3pm kick-off and, hopefully, some summer sunshine. 

No excuses about late kick-off times or travel issues. And no reason for David Moyes’ team to play with fear. 

That comes from the manager, of course, but we need to treat this new season as a clean  slate. The run-in last term was a disaster, but it’s now behind us. 

A front-foot approach and a fast start is vital. Sage is new to the Premier League and Everton need to be intense right from the off. 

Brennan Johnson, whether he starts or comes on from the bench, will also surely be eager to get one over on his old club, while Thierno Barry should be licking his lips at  going up against a defence that has lost its two best centre-backs in the space of two  transfer windows.

 

 

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