Jack Grealish opened his Everton account in dramatic fashion, scoring a late winner to seal a 2-1 comeback victory over Crystal Palace and end their 19-match unbeaten streak.
Crystal Palace struck first in the 37th minute when Daniel Munoz found the net, but Everton drew level early in the second half after Iliman Ndiaye coolly converted a penalty.
Jordan Pickford, marking his 300th Premier League appearance, delivered a standout performance with several crucial saves to keep Everton in the game. Palace came agonizingly close through Tyrick Mitchell, who hit the crossbar, and Jean-Philippe Mateta, whose shot was cleared off the line. Ismaila Sarr also threatened, but the visitors were left to regret their missed chances.
With the game seemingly heading for a draw, Ndiaye whipped in a cross that Beto headed towards goal. Dean Henderson managed to stop it, but Munoz’s attempted clearance ricocheted off Grealish and into the net to complete the turnaround and send the Hill Dickinson Stadium into jubilation.
The win ended Everton’s four-game winless run and preserved their unbeaten record at their new ground. Palace, meanwhile, suffered their first defeat in any competition since April.
Everton’s stoppage-time strike was their latest home Premier League winner since March 2022, when they beat Newcastle United in dramatic fashion.
Grealish impressed once again, winning four fouls and making 18 passes in the final third — the third-highest of any player.
Interestingly, Everton have now won just three of their last 31 home league games after conceding first — all three victories coming against Palace: 3-2 in May 2022, 2-1 in September 2024, and 2-1 in this latest encounter.
