Everton served Pierre Sage a harsh dose of Premier League reality on opening day, brushing aside Crystal Palace 2-0 to kick off the new campaign in style. While Everton toasted a fresh era, Sage left Merseyside nursing a tactical headache and a mounting injury crisis after defender Chadi Riad stretchered off in tears.
Dewsbury-Hall Sparks Merseyside Party
Everton created a party atmosphere at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, celebrating season ticket-holder Andy Burnham’s first match as Prime Minister. The hosts needed a fast start after last term’s dismal seven-game winless run torpedoed their European ambitions, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall delivered the decisive spark late in the first half.
David Moyes named a familiar starting side, introducing only summer signing Hayden Hackney in the holding midfield role alongside midfielder Merlin Rohl, who filled in at right-back. The makeshift setup held firm despite early pressure from the visitors.
Palace Pay Price for Glaring Misses
Palace dominated the early exchanges but paid a devastating price for their wastefulness in front of goal. Jean-Philippe Mateta uncharacteristically stabbed a close-range chance wide before rattling the upright, while Jordan Pickford produced a breathtaking acrobatic save to tip Eddie Nketiah’s thunderous strike onto the exact same post.
Those missed opportunities haunted the Eagles when Dewsbury-Hall struck just before the interval, snatching the momentum and sending the home crowd into raptures.
Riad Injury Blow Marred Opening Day
Sage’s afternoon went from frustrating to disastrous in the second half when Chadi Riad collapsed while defending a Vitaliy Mykolenko cross. The 23-year-old Moroccan international twisted his left knee in obvious distress, prompting goalkeeper Dean Henderson to frantically wave the medical team onto the pitch.
Riad pulled his shirt over his head to hide his tears as staff stretchered him off to warm applause from all four corners of the ground, making way for Takehiro Tomiyasu in the 72nd minute. Palace quickly took to social media to support the defender, writing on X: “We’re right behind you, Chadi.”
Sage Urges Caution Ahead of City Clash
Speaking immediately after the final whistle, a deflated Sage offered an initial assessment of his defender’s condition.
“At the moment I don’t know, I hope it will be better than we think. We await the medical tests,” Manager Pierre Sage added.
Addressing the media ahead of Friday evening’s clash against Manchester City his first game under the lights at Selhurst Park the 47-year-old Frenchman provided a further update while keeping his cards close to his chest.
“For the moment, we need another advice from a specialist because it’s always difficult to give a good schedule for this kind of thing. That’s why I prefer to wait and to give you an official position,” Sage added.
Losing on opening day is one thing, but losing a key defender while your chief goalscorers fire blanks is the sort of baptism by fire that defines a Premier League manager’s initiation.
