Thierno Barry Shines as Everton Defeats Crystal Palace 2-0 in Premier League Opener
Everton kicked off their Premier League campaign with a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Hill Dickinson Stadium, and the spotlight shone brightly on Thierno Barry. With less than 15 minutes remaining, the crowd erupted as the match-winner left the pitch, having played a pivotal role in the game. Barry scored the decisive goal early in the second half, connecting with Iliman Ndiaye's cross to extend Everton's lead and effectively seal the match. This marked a significant turnaround for the 23-year-old French striker, who had struggled with a 14-game goal drought after his £27m transfer from Villarreal. In his post-match comments, manager David Moyes praised Barry's performance, emphasizing the importance of his goal and the quality of Ndiaye's assist. Moyes stated, "Look, strikers will probably be judged on their goals, so he can walk away and be really happy with it." Barry's journey at Everton has been one of adaptation. Arriving at a club that had faced managerial instability and a points deduction, he was expected to develop over time. Despite a slow start, with only one goal in 18 appearances initially, Barry's season took a turn in January, finishing with eight goals in 38 Premier League appearances. His scoring streak coincided with the injury of key player Jack Grealish, and Barry's strong performance helped propel Everton towards a potential European spot. With an impressive shot conversion rate of 21.1%, only slightly below that of Erling Haaland, Barry looks poised to become Everton's main striker moving forward.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-08-22