Everton vs Crystal Palace Prediction: Betting Tips & Odds

Everton and Crystal Palace kick off their 2026/27 Premier League campaigns at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday morning New Zealand time, with both sides coming off vastly different summers.

Palace arrive as Conference League champions. Everton are still trying to figure out what they are.

In this Everton vs Crystal Palace preview, I look at how pre-season has gone for both clubs and where I see the goals-market value sitting at over $1.80 for anyone hunting football tips this weekend.

Everton

I’m cautiously optimistic about Everton this season. 

Their pre-season was encouraging - four wins from seven, including a 4-0 thumping of Dundee to start and a 3-1 win over Newcastle at Murrayfield that was probably their best performance. Thierno Barry scored three across the summer and looked sharp in all of them.

Losing James Garner to injury before the opener is a blow. He was one of their best midfielders last season. Christian Norgaard, signed from Arsenal this summer, is also out. With Gueye gone too - his contract expired in July - Moyes is seriously light in midfield. I’d expect Hayden Hackney and Merlin Rohl to form the double pivot, and honestly, I’m curious to see how that pairing copes under competitive pressure.

Brennan Johnson coming from Palace adds pace out wide. He’ll be motivated against his old club, which is always worth noting on opening day.

Team News: Garner and Norgaard are both injured. Iroegbunam is also out. Moyes has no suspension concerns.

Predicted Lineup: Pickford; O’Brien, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Hackney, Rohl; Johnson, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Barry.

Crystal Palace

I can’t get a read on Palace yet. 

Winning the Conference League in May was a landmark for the club, Jean-Philippe Mateta’s goal against Rayo Vallecano capping an incredible European run under Oliver Glasner. But Glasner left, Pierre Sage arrived from Lens, and now they’re a side in transition.

Pre-season hasn’t been reassuring. 

Losing 3-0 to Bromley and 3-0 to Freiburg in their final friendly are the sort of results that worry me, even accounting for squad rotation and the fact Sage was running two separate elevens per half in some games. Beating Fulham 2-1 at a closed-doors friendly was a brighter moment, and the 5-1 win over Swindon at least got the summer off to a positive start.

Dwight McNeil is the interesting addition, having swapped clubs with Johnson. Sage will want him involved from the off. But I don’t know enough about how Sage wants Palace to play yet, and I suspect the players are still figuring that out too.

Team News: Sage has reported a clean squad. Henderson could be monitored after appearing to limp following the Freiburg defeat.

Predicted Lineup: Henderson; Munoz, Richards, Lacroix, Mitchell; Wharton, Lerma; McNeil, Kamada, Sarr; Strand Larsen.

• Palace have won just one of their last 22 league meetings with Everton.
• Both teams scored in the last three Premier League fixtures at Everton’s ground between these two.
• Everton won four of their seven pre-season matches, scoring 11 goals.
• Palace conceded six goals across their final two friendlies.
• Everton finished 13th last season on 49 points, two places and four points above Palace in 15th.

Opening day is always tricky. I’m going with Everton, but I’m not confident about it. 

Their home advantage at the Hill Dickinson Stadium counts for a lot - they won the reverse fixture 2-1 last October - and Palace under a new manager feel like a side that could take weeks to gel.

What I don’t trust is Everton’s defence. 

They leaked goals late last season, and without Garner organising things in midfield, I can see Palace creating chances through Ismaila Sarr and Jorgen Strand Larsen on the counter.

A tight 2-1 Everton win wouldn’t surprise me. Nor would a draw. If you’re comparing prices through NZ betting sites, the over 2.5 goals line looks the smartest play regardless of who wins.

Over 2.5 Goals @ $1.80

Both teams scored in the last three league meetings at Everton’s ground, and I’m expecting more of the same. 

Everton need to attack without Garner anchoring their midfield. Palace’s defence looked poor in pre-season and Sage is still working out his best back line.

Everton scored 11 goals across pre-season. Barry and Ndiaye were both clinical, and Johnson will want a debut goal against his former club. On the other side, Sarr was Palace’s top scorer in their Conference League campaign with nine goals.

At $1.80, I don’t think you’re getting great value, but it’s a price I’m happy to back on betting bonuses offered through NZ bookmakers this weekend.