The selection headache Everton will get answer to after starting XI vs Crystal Palace confirmed

Everton have made some interesting calls against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The Toffees face the Eagles in their Premier League opener on 22 August at home.

It isn't surprising to see Jordan Pickford start in goal, while Merlin Rohl, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Brantwaite and Vitalii Mykolenko form the backline.

Palace's trip to Hill Dickinson Stadium will surely give David Moyes an indication of where his squad stands at the moment.

Hayden Hackney gets his first competitive start for the Blues, with Harrison Armstrong and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall also featuring in the engine room.

Brennan Johnson could also make his debut for the Merseyside outfit off the bench, but the main talking point at the end of the game could potentially be the Scottish manager's options up front.

What David Moyes will want to see from Everton number nine vs Crystal Palace

Thierno Barry has started over Beto to lead the line for the Toffees against Palace, with Iliman Ndiaye and Tyrique George out wide.

The two strikers have had opportunities during pre-season, but the former Villarreal ace arguably delivered the more encouraging displays.

Moyes has now decided to start the Frenchman up front and what the 63-year-old head coach and fans want to see is reliability up top.

Barry and Beto were inconsistent last season and shared goalscoring responsibility.

While the Guinea-Bissau international was in fine form at the end of the 2025-26 campaign, Barry is the chosen option for the start of the new season.

If the young centre-forward performs well against the Eagles and proves himself, the Scottish manager could have an answer to his number nine dilemma in L3.

Why David Moyes won't be worried if decision vs Crystal Palace doesn't work out

Everton fans will surely want to see their team get off to a strong start after failing to win their last seven Premier League games in the previous campaign.

There's an acknowledgement among the Hill Dickinson Stadium fanbase that the Toffees may need a new striker before the transfer window closes.

If Barry and Beto are unable to make a mark against Palace, the Blues still have time before deadline day to address their needs.

Moyes wants Chelsea's Liam Delap and the Merseyside outfit could yet complete a late deal for the 23-year-old English striker soon.