Thierno Barry scored his first goal of the new Premier League season as Everton beat Crystal Palace 3-0 at Hill Dickinson Stadium. The French striker, who took 17 matches to open his account last term, headed in Iliman Ndiaye's cross to seal the win and restore smiles among supporters.
Barry's early breakthrough
Barry's slow start last season mirrored his time at Basel, where he laboured for months before finding form. His first year on Merseyside was a rollercoaster, including a purple patch and a brace against Manchester City, but spring proved tougher after the fallout over an incident in the stands at the Emirates Stadium.
Despite that, he cannot be compared to compatriot Neal Maupay and deserves to let his football do the talking. He took his goal against Palace like a classic Everton centre-forward, despatching his header with authority after a first-half chance where he got caught under his feet.
Wide boys and the Grealish question
Jack Grealish remains a supremely gifted footballer, but four Everton players pose the question: do the Blues need to bring him back if it harms the development of younger wingers? The first £100million English player, who moved to Manchester City in 2021, is fit again after a stress fracture in his toe curtailed his loan spell last January.
In his absence, Everton turned Tyrique George's loan move into a permanent switch. The 20-year-old, who scored in a pre-season win over Newcastle United, did everything but score against Palace and was voted man-of-the-match by supporters. David Moyes may not want to stifle his development by spending big money on Grealish.
On the opposite flank, Ndiaye was in irresistible form, leaving the visitors chasing shadows, with Brennan Johnson and Tyler Dibling also on the bench.
Tale of two keepers
Dean Henderson has been riding a crest of a wave with Palace, but this match showed why Jordan Pickford remains the best goalkeeper in the country. Henderson denied Ndiaye a couple of times, but Pickford's pivotal save came when he tipped Eddie Nketiah's shot onto the post after a pinpoint pass from Adam Wharton.
Palace fans chanted about their UEFA Conference League triumph and referenced Brighton and Millwall, but any rendition of "England's number one" was not heard with conviction. Pickford, who has played more World Cup matches than any other Three Lions player, showed he is still the master.
All change in the engine room
Last season it was 'Garner and Gana' in central midfield, but this match saw a new combination. Idrissa Gueye, Senegal's most-capped player who served Everton for seven seasons over two spells, has gone. The reigning Player of the Season, who missed just six minutes of football last term, returned to the matchday squad after an operation but was restricted to a late cameo.
Hayden Hackney, the Championship's Player of the Season with Middlesbrough in 2025/26, and teenager Harrison Armstrong, who had loan spells at Derby County and Preston North End, took their opportunity. Armstrong's display suggested he is now very much Premier League ready, with James Garner and summer signing Christian Norgaard still to return to full fitness.
