Everton vs Crystal Palace Stats, History and Referee Details

Crystal Palace kick off their 2026/27 Premier League campaign with a trip to face Everton on Saturday, but history offers very little comfort for the traveling South London faithful.

The Toffees represent a formidable, long-standing hurdle for the Eagles. Palace have failed to secure a single victory on Everton turf since a thrilling 3-2 triumph back in September 2014. Pierre Sage faces an immediate trial by fire as he attempts to shatter a twelve-year curse on Merseyside in his very first match at the helm.

Grim reading in the historical record

A look at the head-to-head history reveals just how tough this fixture has been for Palace over the decades. Across 55 total competitive encounters between the two clubs, Everton hold the clear upper hand with 24 wins, while Palace have managed 12 victories alongside 19 draws.

Recent history offers no solace either. Last season brought further frustration for the Eagles, who failed to beat Everton in either league fixture:

October 5, 2025: Everton 2–1 Crystal Palace (Hill Dickinson Stadium)
May 10, 2026: Crystal Palace 2–2 Everton (Selhurst Park)

The defeat at the brand-new Hill Dickinson Stadium extended the away drought, while a tense 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park in May highlighted the razor-thin margins between the two sides. To add further spice to Saturday’s opener, the match also features a swift reunion with former Palace player Brennan Johnson, who now lines up in Everton blue.

Referee assignment

While the historical match record favors the hosts, the appointment of the match official offers an unexpected glimmer of hope for the Eagles. The Premier League selected Paul Tierney to referee Saturday’s curtain-raiser.

Tierney has overseen 22 Crystal Palace matches during his career, during which the Eagles have compiled a balanced record of seven wins, eight draws, and seven losses. More importantly, the Wigan-born official holds a distinct track record of making decisive calls in favour of Palace during critical moments:

Red Cards for Opposition Players: Tierney has sent off three opposition players against Palace. He famously dismissed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang following a VAR review in a 1-1 draw against Arsenal in January 2020. He also showed a straight red card to Darwin Núñez at Anfield in August 2022 and dismissed West Brom’s Matheus Pereira during a 5-1 Palace victory in December 2020.
Crucial Spot-Kicks: Tierney awarded Palace pivotal penalties during 3-0 victories over both Norwich City in December 2021 and Arsenal in April 2022. He also awarded a dramatic late penalty against Manchester City in December 2022, which Michael Olise converted to snatch a 2-2 draw.
Key VAR Overturns: In November 2022, Tierney overturned his initial decision to award West Ham a penalty after reviewing Marc Guéhi’s challenge on Michail Antonio, paving the way for a 2-1 Palace victory at the London Stadium.

Sage must turn luck into early momentum

Officiating record aside, Sage knows that luck alone will not dismantle Everton’s defensive setup. The French manager must instil immediate tactical discipline and clinical edge if Palace hope to leave Merseyside with three points for the first time in over a decade.

While the presence of Tierney provides a reassuring backdrop for anxious supporters, the players must take responsibility on the pitch to break the curse and begin the new season on a high note.