Crystal Palace 0 Everton 0: Wilfried Zaha returns as Morgan Schneiderlin sent off in Selhurst Park stalemate
Wilfried Zaha came off the bench to make his first appearance since handing in a transfer request but could not inspire Crystal Palace as they were held to a goalless draw by 10-man Everton at Selhurst Park.
The Ivory Coast international started on the bench and came on with half an hour to go, but after Morgan Schneiderlin's red card for two bookable offences, the Eagles could not find a way past Jordan Pickford.
Palace could have easily been behind after just two minutes when Lucas Digne's cross was cleared out to Gylfi Sigurdsson and the Icelandic midfielder, usually so clinical in front of goal, sent his shot wide from 12 yards.
The Toffees were certainly on top in the early moments and had another chance to take the lead after a well-worked corner routine. Richarlison ran to the front post to meet Sigurdsson's short pass and his effort was cleared off the line by Christian Benteke.
With Benteke and Jordan Ayew struggling to impose themselves up front, Max Meyer and Andros Townsend took on the responsibility of creating chances and the German caused problems for Seamus Coleman down the left.
On the half-hour mark, Vicente Guaita was forced into action to deny Richarlison after Digne's cross was deflected into the Brazilian's path.
But Palace found their feet and enjoyed an encouraging spell towards the end of the half, with Meyer's deflected effort going over by a matter of inches before Scott Dann went close with a header from a corner.
Palace later denied Everton with yet another goal-line clearance. Digne's cross found Sigurdsson free in the area and the 29-year-old did everything right, beating Guaita but not Patrick van Aanholt, who hacked the ball away.
Roy Hodgson's men nearly punished Everton for not taking their chances as they fashioned two in the space of a minute.
Benteke slid in Ayew and the Ghanaian sprung the offside trap, but on the stretch he couldn't beat the onrushing Pickford.
Pickford was forced back into action moments later, blocking Meyer's shot at the far post after having very little to do up until that point.
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Sensing an unlikely victory, Hodgson sent on Zaha for Ayew with under half an hour to make an impression, while Marco Silva introduced his new £27.5million teenage sensation Moise Kean.
But it was Schneiderlin who earned himself the spotlight. After a needless caution in the first half, the Frenchman caught Luka Milivojevic late from behind and referee Jon Moss pulled out a second yellow card.
Despite playing against 10 men, Palace rarely showed the attacking intent that might have been expected of them as the game fizzled out, although Zaha nearly set up fellow substitute Connor Wickham for a winner two minutes from time.
Given how the game started, Hodgson perhaps would have accepted the result with open arms, but this felt like a missed opportunity for all three points.
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It will be interesting to see how Palace cope without Aaron Wan-Bissaka this season after his £50m move to Manchester United.
Photo: Getty
It was understood that Roy Hodgson wanted to sign a replacement, with Nathaniel Clyne among the host of defenders linked before his injury, but in the end the 71-year-old kept his faith in Joel Ward.
The 29-year-old made just seven Premier League appearances last season and this will be a tough test today against the tricky Brazilian winger Bernard.
Seamus Coleman will captain Everton for the rest of the season after Phil Jagielka's summer departure.
The 30-year-old, in his 10th season at Goodison Park, regularly stepped into the role last season.
But after being chosen by Marco Silva in the starting XI today, the Ireland international will lead the team out on his 249th appearance for the Toffees.
Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson explains Wilfried Zaha starts on the bench today because he's only had a week of training since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations and was, of course, absent from training on deadline day.
The Palace boss adds that he would have "no problem" using the winger if he needs to.
Photo: PA
The Palace players are put through their paces on a sunny afternoon in south London.
Photo: AFP
Laying down a marker
Everton have enjoyed one of their best transfer windows for some time after pulling off a number of impressive signings.
One of which is Moise Kean, the 19-year-old who arrived in a £27.5 million deal from Juventus. The 19-year-old starts on the bench today but is expected to challenge Dominic Calvert-Lewin for the lone forward role.
The sale of Idrissa Gueye to PSG allowed Marco Silva to bring in highly-rated Jean-Philippe Gbamin from Mainz and the deadline-day arrival of Alex Iwobi will undoubtedly strengthen Everton's attacking options.
But we've seen this before: Everton splashing out and failing to deliver. That's why Crystal Palace will have reasons to feel optimistic today.
As expected, all three of Crystal Palace's new signings are on the bench today.
Victor Camarasa, James McCarthy and Gary Cahill all signed for the Eagles towards the end of the transfer window but it's more of the same as far as Roy Hodgson is concerned.
Photo: PA
Team news
Everton XI: Pickford; Coleman, Mina, Keane, Digne; Gomes, Schneiderlin; Richarlison, Sigurdsson, Bernard; Calvert-Lewin
Subs: Lossl, Holgate, Walcott, Tosun, Gbamin, Davies, Kean
Team news
Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Ward, Kelly, Dann, Van Aanholt, Milivojevic, McArthur, Townsend, Meyer, Benteke, Ayew
Subs: Hennessey, Kouyate, Zaha, Wickham, McCarthy, Camarasa, Cahill.
Zaha named as Palace substitute
Wantaway star Wilfried Zaha was named on the bench for Crystal Palace’s Premier League opener against Everton - the club he was denied the chance to join this summer.
Zaha looked set to be in the away dressing room here at Selhurst Park for the first game of the season, but despite his late transfer request the winger has been told to accept his fate of at least another six months in south London.
Though he only returned from a three-week break following the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday, Zaha has surprised manager Roy Hodgson by just how sharp he has looked in training.
Without both Mamadou Sakho and James Tomkins, who are recovering from respective long-term injuries, Hodgson named Martin Kelly and Scott Dann as his central defensive pair to face Everton.
There was no place in the visitors' squad for Alex Iwobi, a deadline day arrival from Arsenal, who will meet his new team-mates on Monday.
Good afternoon and welcome to Standard Sport's live coverage as Crystal Palace begin the 2019/20 Premier League campaign at home to Everton.