Everton Starting XI vs Crystal Palace: Confirmed Team News and Predicted Lineup

Everton Starting XI vs Crystal Palace: Confirmed Team News and Predicted Lineup Everton vs Crystal Palace Predicted XI as David Moyes Weighs Key Selection Calls Everton begin the 2026/27 Premier League season at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday, and David Moyes already has problems to solve. Some are familiar, some are self-inflicted, and one or two are simply down to injuries. The biggest issues are in midfield, at right-back, and up front. That is where the team selection gets interesting. Everton have added bodies this summer, but opening day rarely waits for a squad to feel complete. At the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Moyes is likely to trust what he has, even if what he has still looks short in a couple of areas. Midfield injuries force Everton rethink James Garner, Christian Norgaard and Tim Iroegbunam are all out, which strips Everton of depth and balance in the middle of the pitch. Add Idrissa Gana Gueye’s summer departure and the picture is obvious, Moyes is light in one of the most important parts of the side. That opens the door for Harrison Armstrong. He has reportedly done enough in pre-season to earn serious consideration and, right now, Everton need legs, discipline and composure more than reputation. There is also scrutiny on Hayden Hackney. Moyes has already tried to cool the noise around the new signing, saying, “If you’re expecting the boy to come from the Championship and suddenly be an outstanding Premier League player, then he may not be quite ready.” That is a fair assessment. Players arriving from the Championship can adapt quickly, but plenty do not. Everton need Hackney to be useful immediately, even if he is not yet dominant. So the midfield call may be made for Moyes by circumstance. Hackney and Armstrong looks the most plausible pairing, and it comes with risk. Palace will test it physically and positionally. Right-back problem remains unresolved Everton’s right-back issue has dragged on too long. Moyes has admitted the club have tried to fix it, but trying and doing are two different things. The market has not moved in Everton’s favour, or Everton have not moved decisively enough. Moyes explained the failed pursuits clearly: “Well, some have been injury, some have not accepted it, and for some, the fees have been a bit too high – we’ve bid lower than what the clubs want for them.” That leaves Everton where they finished last season, still improvising. Merlin Rohl and Jake O’Brien have both seen time there in pre-season, and neither is an ideal long-term answer. For opening day, though, long-term thinking is irrelevant. Moyes needs a functional one-game solution. Rohl may get the nod if Everton want a little more mobility in wide areas, but this remains a weak point Crystal Palace will look to expose. Photo: IMAGO Striker call points towards Barry Beto has had chances to make the role his own and has not done enough consistently. Thierno Barry, by contrast, made a strong impression during pre-season and did what strikers are there to do, score goals. Pre-season form should never be treated as definitive evidence, but it matters when there is no established pecking order. Barry earned momentum, Beto did not. That makes the decision straightforward. Everton also need energy around the front line, and Barry offers that. If he starts well, he can turn pre-season promise into something more meaningful very quickly. Predicted Everton XI vs Crystal Palace Pickford; Rohl, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Hackney, Armstrong; Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, George; Barry. This is not a perfect Everton side. It is a side shaped by injury, by an unfinished transfer window, and by a problem at right-back that still has not gone away. But for now, it looks like Moyes’ most logical team for Crystal Palace.