Palace and Forest Share Points as Everton Shine in New Stadium
It was another busy afternoon in the Premier League as Crystal Palace hosted Nottingham Forest at Selhurst Park, while Everton marked their first home game at the brand-new Hill Dickinson Stadium with a clash against Brighton. Both fixtures carried plenty of intrigue, with new signings, squad rotations, and tactical tweaks catching the eye.
At Selhurst Park, Palace manager Oliver Glasner made a few key adjustments from his midweek Conference League tie. Chris Richards and Tyrick Mitchell were brought back into the starting lineup after being rested, while Jefferson Lerma and Borna Sosa dropped to the bench. The bigger talking point, though, was the continued trust placed in young midfielder Justin Devenny. Having stepped in for Eberechi Eze in midweek, the £4.5m youngster was once again handed a start, showing how much faith is being placed in him already.
Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, arrived unchanged from their win against Brentford. That meant Steve Cooper’s side kept faith with a settled eleven, though new arrivals like Douglas Luiz, James McAtee, Omari Hutchinson, and Arnaud Kalimuendo were all waiting in the wings on the bench. Up front, Chris Wood once again led the line, supported by Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi.
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The match itself turned into a gritty affair. Palace looked compact with Richards and Marc Guehi holding the back line, but Forest’s pace in transition caused problems, particularly through Hudson-Odoi’s direct running. Chances came and went for both sides, yet neither managed to find the cutting edge. In the end, the points were shared in what felt like a fair result, though Palace fans may feel their side just lacked a spark in the final third.
Over on Merseyside, Everton made headlines not just for playing their first league game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, but also for their bold starting selections. Jack Grealish, making his highly anticipated debut, was named in the XI alongside young forward Thierno Barry. That move left summer signing Carlos Alcaraz and striker Beto watching from the bench.
Brighton, on the other hand, rang the changes too, with Danny Welbeck recalled to the starting lineup in place of Georginio Rutter, who was not even included in the matchday squad. Roberto De Zerbi’s side otherwise looked familiar, with Mitoma and Minteh providing width and Lewis Dunk marshalling the defence.
From the first whistle, the atmosphere at Everton’s new ground was electric. Grealish, clearly eager to prove himself after his Manchester City exit, showed flashes of his trademark dribbling and link-up play. Barry’s energy added another dimension, and the home fans responded with constant noise and support. Brighton threatened at times, but the Toffees carried the greater intensity, and it paid off as they secured a statement win to christen their new home.
So, while Everton celebrated a fresh chapter with a victory, Palace and Forest had to settle for a point apiece. For both clubs, there were positives to take, but also clear signs of where improvement will be needed as this long Premier League season continues to unfold.
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