Crystal Palace’s New Era Under Pierre Sage: A Tough Test at Everton

Crystal Palace’s new era under Pierre Sage begins with a test that has broken better managers than him.

An away day at Everton. A ground where Palace joy has been rare, and points even rarer.

Sage steps into the spotlight

This is Sage’s first competitive game since swapping Lens for south London and the Premier League wastes no time in checking his credentials. He arrives on Merseyside with a reputation sharpened by silverware and surprise: a Coupe de France in his pocket and a second-place finish in Ligue 1 on his CV.

He also arrives with history against him.

Palace have not won their opening Premier League fixture since the 2023/24 season. Only two of the club’s previous 16 permanent managers have started their league reign with a victory. Now Sage walks into the Hill Dickinson Stadium carrying both expectation and an awkward record.

He has been clear enough about his approach: Palace will travel to win. Ambition, not caution, will define his tenure. The numbers, though, underline the size of the assignment.

A brutal head‑to‑head

The fixture list could hardly have been crueller to a new coach looking for a clean start.

Palace have beaten Everton just once in their last 23 Premier League meetings. One win, 10 draws, 12 defeats. Across all competitions, Everton are 11 unbeaten against the Eagles. Palace have not won away to the Toffees since the 2014/15 campaign.

Those are not quirks. They are scars.

Sage also inherits a glaring flaw. Palace conceded 20 set-piece goals in the league last season, the joint-highest tally in the division. Almost four in every 10 goals they let in came from dead balls – the highest proportion in the Premier League. For a side heading to a ground that has historically thrived on aerial duels and set-piece pressure, that is a flashing warning light.

And yet, there is a counterweight. Palace were one of the strongest away sides in the league last term, taking 24 of their 45 points on the road. They travelled well. They will need that resilience again.

Everton’s own uneasy backdrop

Everton are hardly strolling into this opener.

Their first season at the Hill Dickinson Stadium never truly felt like home. They flirted with European qualification for long stretches, only to unravel with a seven-game winless run to close the campaign. The slide did more than cost them Europe; it left a question mark over their ability to handle pressure when it matters.

David Moyes faces his own unwanted milestone. Everton have lost their opening league game in each of the last four seasons, failing to score in any of them. Under Moyes, they have never gone eight Premier League matches without a victory. They finished last season seven without a win.

One bad afternoon here, and that record goes.

So while Palace carry the weight of the head-to-head, Everton carry the burden of recent form and a restless home crowd waiting to see which version of this team turns up.

Palace team news: decisions and dilemmas

Sage’s first teamsheet will already be shaped by fitness doubts.

Dean Henderson is a major concern after twisting his ankle in the final pre-season friendly against Freiburg. If he does not recover in time, “serial winner” Walter Benitez is poised for his competitive debut in goal, an early chance to justify his billing.

On the right, Daniel Munoz may have to settle for a place on the bench. He has played just 18 minutes of pre-season after his involvement at the 2026 World Cup. That opens the door for new signing Oscar Mingueza to start at right wing-back, a significant responsibility in Sage’s 3-4-2-1 structure.

Up front, Jean-Philippe Mateta has not featured since the World Cup, leaving Jorgen Strand Larsen as the likely spearhead of the attack. Around him, the goals will again be expected from Ismaila Sarr, last season’s top scorer with 21 in all competitions and still in the XI despite ongoing speculation over his future.

Matheus Franca has forced his way into the conversation with four goals in pre-season. For now, though, the Brazilian may have to wait for his chance from the bench, a weapon in reserve rather than the headline act.

Crystal Palace predicted XI (3-4-2-1)

For Sage, this is not just a curtain-raiser. It is a collision with a club that has repeatedly blocked Palace’s path. Break that pattern on day one, and the story of their season changes instantly.