## Updated Introduction: Crystal Palace Travel to Goodison Park
Crystal Palace open their 2026/27 Premier League campaign on the road at Everton, and the trip carries extra weight as Pierre Sage takes charge of his first competitive match as Eagles manager. This preview was updated on 18 September 2026 ahead of the fixture, with the head-to-head record, recent results and referee details all confirmed below.
The numbers make uncomfortable reading for Palace fans. The club have not won away at Everton since a 3-2 victory in September 2014, a run stretching back well over a decade. Sage will be hoping to end that drought at the first attempt, but history is firmly against him.
## Overall Head-to-Head Record and Recent Form
Everton and Crystal Palace have met 55 times in competitive fixtures. Everton hold the clear edge with 24 wins, Palace have won 12, and 19 matches have finished level. That gap reflects the long shadow cast by Palace’s away form at Goodison Park in particular.
The September 2014 win remains the club’s most recent away success in this fixture. Every visit since has ended in either a draw or a defeat, a pattern Sage will want to break as he begins life in south London’s away dugout.
## Recent Fixture History: The 2025/26 Season
Last season offered little encouragement. Palace lost 2-1 at Goodison Park on 5 October 2025, then were held to a 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park on 10 May 2026. Two meetings, no win, and the away record extended once more.
Those results follow the wider trend of recent seasons, with Everton proving one of the more stubborn opponents on Palace’s fixture list. Fans hoping for a change under new management will point to the fresh voice in the dugout as a reason for optimism, even if the underlying numbers have not shifted.
## Referee Focus: Paul Tierney’s Record
Paul Tierney has been appointed to referee this fixture. He has taken charge of 22 Crystal Palace matches during his career, with Palace winning seven, drawing eight and losing seven under his officiating.
That record is close to even, offering no strong pattern either way. Supporters familiar with Tierney’s previous Palace games will note a referee who has, on balance, been neither a lucky nor an unlucky charm for the club.
## Everton vs Crystal Palace Stats: Head-to-Head Breakdown
Everton lead the all-time head-to-head with 24 wins from 55 competitive meetings, while Crystal Palace have 12 wins and 19 games have ended in draws. Palace’s last away win in this fixture came in September 2014, a 3-2 scoreline that has not been repeated since.
The table below sets out the key figures at a glance, drawing together the overall record, last season’s results and the referee appointment for this weekend’s game.
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Competitive meetings | 55 |
| Everton wins | 24 |
| Crystal Palace wins | 12 |
| Draws | 19 |
| Last Palace away win | September 2014 (3-2) |
| 2025/26 result 1 | Everton 2-1 Crystal Palace (5 October 2025) |
| 2025/26 result 2 | Crystal Palace 2-2 Everton (10 May 2026) |
| Referee | Paul Tierney (7 wins, 8 draws, 7 losses in 22 Palace games) |
## What Happens Next for Pierre Sage’s Side
Beyond the numbers, one familiar face adds interest to this fixture. Brennan Johnson, a former Crystal Palace player, now turns out for Everton and will line up against his old club at Goodison Park.
Sage’s task is to find a way to break Palace’s long-standing away hoodoo in this fixture while settling into the job at the same time. The manager will lean on the options across his first-team squad options as he shapes his approach for the opener, with the club’s summer transfer review giving context on how the squad has changed heading into the new season.
There is no confirmed word on further additions before the window closes, and nothing here should be read as speculation on new signings. For a wider look at where Palace stand heading into the campaign, the pre-season talking points covered the key issues facing Sage before a ball was kicked. Readers wanting the full background to this preview can also revisit the original head-to-head preview published in August.
