Everton earned a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace as Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town beat Sunderland and Leeds United won late at Nottingham Forest.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Thierno Barry scored second-half goals to secure three points for David Moyes' team on the opening weekend of the new English top-flight campaign.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who grew up watching Everton legend Kevin Sheedy conjure goals with his left foot, watched the match from the stands alongside his wife Frankie and boyhood hero Peter Reid. Burnham, wearing a royal blue suit, was on his feet to celebrate both goals as the Merseysiders overcame a difficult first half at home.
Palace had dominated the opening 41 minutes with midfielder Adam Wharton running the show, prompting interest from Manchester City, who have told the South London club to name their price. Jean-Philippe Mateta fired an early chance over before Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford denied Daniel Munoz and tipped an Eddie Nketiah effort onto the post following Wharton's lofted pass. Mateta later hit the same post with a side-footed shot from Nketiah's cross.
Everton transformed after the break when homegrown teenager Harrison Armstrong displayed great tenacity to set up Dewsbury-Hall, who struck a crisp left-footed shot from just inside the penalty area that exploded past Palace keeper Dean Henderson. The hosts had earlier missed chances when Iliman Ndiaye shot straight at Henderson from 12 yards and dragged another effort wide.
Barry doubled the lead in the 53rd minute, turning in Ndiaye's cross from inside the six-yard box after Merlin Rohl caught Palace napping with a quick free-kick on the right flank. Ndiaye forced another save from Henderson before Tyrique George blazed over late on.
Everton manager David Moyes revealed he spoke to the Prime Minister on the phone before kickoff when Andy Gray entered his office alongside Reid. Moyes said: "I think it's the first time in five years since we've won on the opening day. Kiernan's goal was very good - but we also needed our goalkeeper. After we scored the second goal we probably should have gone on to score one or two more." Moyes had spent the build-up disputing chief executive Angus Kinnear's suggestion that failing to qualify for Europe last season represented failure.
Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage, whose squad won the Europa Conference League 89 days earlier, lamented his side's missed opportunities. "Sometimes in football, you don't score when you deserve to score - and you pay the bill," Sage said. "You have to convert your chances." Sage also confirmed that Ismaila Sarr missed out through injury rather than interest from Galatasaray, adding: "Sarr will be training on Monday. He has a contract and he has won many trophies with us."
Ipswich Town stun Sunderland on top flight return
At Portman Road, substitute Jack Clarke scored a 90th-minute winner to give newly-promoted Ipswich Town a 2-1 victory over Sunderland. Clarke, a former Sunderland winger and last season's top scorer for Ipswich, curled his shot into the far corner past Robin Roefs after Sasa Lukic pounced on an Omar Alderete pass on the edge of the penalty area.
The result meant Ipswich manager Gary O'Neil matched the club's home win tally from their entire previous Premier League campaign two years ago on the opening weekend. O'Neil handed out six full debuts after Ipswich spent £150 million during the summer transfer window to bridge the gap in the top tier.
Sunderland threatened early through Brian Brobbey, but Ipswich left-back Leif Davis made a vital block following Trai Hume's pass. Club record signing Emersonn gave Ipswich the lead in the 24th minute, tapping into an empty net after Julio Enciso, who joined from Strasbourg on Monday, won possession in his own half and burst past Luke O'Nien and Dan Ballard.
Sunderland equalised shortly before half-time when Nilson Angulo curled a 25-yard free-kick into the top corner via the underside of the crossbar. The strike beat Ipswich keeper Kjell Scherpen, the tallest player in Premier League history at 6ft 9in, who had earlier saved a powerful header from compatriot Brobbey after Emersonn tested Roefs at the other end.
In the second half, Enciso nearly restored the lead with an inventive hook round the corner that just missed the far post, while Marcelino Nunez blocked a Brobbey attempt and Daizen Maeda was unable to connect with an Emersonn cutback.
O'Neil praised his side's performance after the final whistle. "I thought we played pretty well," O'Neil said. "I thought we deserved to win on the balance of it. New signings and players that have been here a while, all pulling together. The players know that they can compete at the level." Reacting to Angulo's equalizer, O'Neil added: "Welcome back to the Premier League, someone smashes one into the top corner from 25 yards and it's back to square one."
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris, whose team finished seventh in the top flight last year, rued defensive mistakes. "At the minute, we are not clinical enough to create chances and score goals," Le Bris said. "When you make mistakes, you get punished. It's not new. We want to get better and we'll bounce back."
Leeds United claim late victory at Nottingham Forest
Anton Stach scored a late free-kick to earn Leeds United a 1-0 victory against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Stach curled his set-piece strike past goalkeeper Matz Sels from the edge of the penalty area in the final minutes of a tight opening-day encounter.
The match marked Oliver Glasner's first game as Forest manager, with both teams deploying three-at-the-back systems after fighting against relegation last season. The two clubs will meet again at the City Ground on Tuesday in the League Cup.
Forest started with no new summer signings, leaving a void in midfield following Elliot Anderson's £116 million move to Manchester City. James McAtee started in a quarter-back role before being substituted after the hour mark, flicking a backheel to Morgan Gibbs-White and crossing for Nikola Milenkovic to head against the post.
Leeds goalkeeper James Trafford kept a clean sheet on his debut after joining from Manchester City, making a diving save to deny an Igor Jesus header. Debuting forward Harry Wilson had a goal ruled out for offside after poking home a cross, while Forest substitute Chris Wood dragged a late opportunity wide.
Glasner described the match as a "typical first Premier League game" and confirmed Forest are seeking "two more players, two different positions" before the transfer window closes, with interest continuing in Chelsea striker Liam Delap. Addressing Forest's tactical development, Glasner said: "There is no button to press. It is getting confidence what we are doing. It is a process. Me and my staff can't come in, put our hands on their shoulders and all of a sudden we play like Real Madrid in the 70s."
Leeds manager Daniel Farke praised Stach's match-winning free-kick and Trafford's composure. "We are talking so much about set-pieces being so important nowadays," Farke said. "If you want to be successful, if you want to win the title one day, you have to be good at set pieces. Anton is maybe not as beautiful on the eye as Juninho's free kicks but effective!" Farke added that Trafford has a "natural aura of confidence and calmness around him."
