Everton head into the new Premier League season this weekend, and this update, published 17 September 2026, brings the picture up to date ahead of Saturday’s kick-off against Crystal Palace. David Moyes’ squad news, the captaincy call and the latest from the transfer market all point to a settled but cautious approach as the Blues look to end a difficult run of opening-day results.
Updated status: Everton prepare for 2026/27 opener
Everton begin their 2026/27 Premier League campaign against Crystal Palace at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday afternoon. It is the club’s first competitive fixture of the season and the first true test of how Moyes has shaped his squad over the summer.
For background on the ground itself and the work carried out there, our recent Hill Dickinson Stadium updates cover the detail. This piece builds on our original season opener report, adding the confirmed team news and the latest transfer line as matchday approaches.
Moyes confirms transfer budget limits during Liam Delap talks
Everton are in talks with Chelsea over signing former Manchester City striker Liam Delap, though no deal has been agreed and no timeline has been confirmed. Moyes has been candid about the constraints he is working under as those discussions continue.
Speaking ahead of the weekend, Moyes admitted Everton are currently “limited on funds” as the club tries to finish its business before the transfer deadline, according to David Moyes. That comment frames the Delap talks as a genuine effort rather than a formality, with the manager managing expectations rather than promising a swift resolution.
The remark also fits the club’s broader approach to spending under its current ownership, detailed in our look at the financial strategy under current ownership. Supporters should treat any Delap move as unresolved until Everton or Chelsea confirm otherwise.
Opening day hoodoo and Tarkowski’s pride as new captain
Everton have lost each of their past four Premier League opening fixtures and failed to score in any of them, a record Moyes will be desperate to end on Saturday. That sequence has become a familiar talking point among supporters heading into every new campaign, and it adds extra weight to this weekend’s game.
Amid that backdrop, James Tarkowski has been named Everton captain, and he has not hidden how much the honour means to him. He described it as the “proudest moment” of his career, according to James Tarkowski, a comment that reflects the defender’s standing among teammates after several seasons as a defensive mainstay at Goodison Park and now at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Our wider breakdown of opening fixtures and key statistics sets that opening-day record in a longer-term context for anyone wanting the full picture.
Pundit reaction: Cundy and Williams offer blunt assessments
External opinion on Everton’s prospects has been sharp in the build-up to the opener. Jason Cundy described Everton as “makeweights” in the Premier League during a talkSPORT segment, according to Jason Cundy on talkSPORT, a blunt assessment of where he expects the club to finish.
Ashley Williams was equally direct, labelling Everton “boring” in his own assessment of the team, according to Ashley Williams. Neither view carries any official standing, but both give a sense of the low external expectations Moyes and his players face as the season begins.
Everton team news: Injury updates for Crystal Palace fixture
Everton’s team news for the Crystal Palace fixture confirms three senior absentees. Christian Nørgaard, James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam are all unavailable through injury for Saturday’s opener at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
No return date has been set for any of the three, and Moyes has not indicated when they might be back in contention. That leaves Moyes with reduced options in central midfield as he selects his side, though the manager has not suggested the absences will change his overall approach to the game.
What happens next for Everton
Attention now turns to team selection and to whether Everton can finally win, or even score in, an opening fixture after four straight failures to do so. Moyes is expected to give a clearer picture of his starting eleven closer to kick-off.
On the transfer front, talks with Chelsea over Delap remain ongoing, and any update on his future will be reported once it is confirmed rather than assumed. Supporters can follow the latest from Hill Dickinson Stadium and the club’s financial approach through our existing coverage as the story develops through the rest of the window.
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