Everton have started life at the Hill Dickinson Stadium with a victory after beating Brighton and Hove Albion 2-0.
Everton have finally brought Premier League action to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, and it proved to be a memorable day for Toffees fans.
David Moyes’ side lost 1-0 at Leeds United on Monday night but hit back in style with a comfortable 2-0 victory.
Iliman Ndiaye scored the first Premier League goal at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, firing home Jack Grealish’s cross from close range.
Grealish was the provider again in the second half, pulling back for James Garner to slam home number two.
Brighton appeared to have a route back into the game as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall handled Yankuba Minteh’s shot, but Jordan Pickford saved from Danny Welbeck.
Everton’s victory brings a number of winners, but also a couple of losers, after the first Hill Dickinson Stadium clash…
Everton v Brighton & Hove Albion - Premier League
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Winner: Jack Grealish
No prizes for guessing this one, but Jack Grealish looked like a player reborn in his first start for Everton.
Grealish joined Everton from Manchester City earlier in August, and came off the bench for his debut against Leeds United last week.
David Moyes threw Grealish in from the start against Brighton, and he didn’t disappoint.
Grealish drove at the Brighton defence to set up Iliman Ndiaye’s opener, before attracting the attention away from James Garner as the left-back smashed Everton into a 2-0 lead.
Grealish is still seeking full match sharpness, but two assists at this stage show the quality Everton have added with his capture.
Winner: Michael Keane
Everton are without Jarrad Branthwaite right now, with the defender facing a spell on the sidelines through injury.
Branthwaite’s absence means Moyes is going with Michael Keane next to James Tarkowski, and Keane turned in a strong display.
The former Manchester United man defended his box admirably and shackled Danny Welbeck very impressively, all while playing some brilliant passes out from the back.
Keane showed that he can still make a big impact when called upon in the Everton back four, and may have even staked a claim to keep his place once Branthwaite returns.
Winner: David Moyes
Moyes may have been concerned after Everton’s defeat at Leeds United.
The Toffees managed just one shot on target in that game, and looked disjointed against the newly-promoted Whites.
Moyes got it right against Brighton, bringing Grealish into the team to provide major attacking quality alongside Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Iliman Ndiaye.
A pulled-up sock may not have been in sight from those three, but they were very effective in the final third and have given Moyes a platform to build more success moving forward.
Winner: Jordan Pickford
If James Trafford wants to become England’s first-choice goalkeeper for the 2026 World Cup, he will have to displace Jordan Pickford.
The Everton stopper was in brilliant form against Brighton, including bailing James Tarkowski out of trouble with a fine save to deny Matt O’Riley in the first half.
Pickford produced further heroics, saving Danny Welbeck’s second-half penalty to preserve his clean sheet in style.
Pickford looked determined to start life at the Hill Dickinson Stadium with a clean sheet and a victory – and he duly obliged.
Everton v Brighton & Hove Albion - Premier League
Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar Via Getty Images
Loser: James Tarkowski
James Tarkowski captained the Everton side against Brighton, with club captain Seamus Coleman on the bench.
Tarkowski may feel a little unsettled without Branthwaite next to him, and he certainly had some shaky moments.
One moment saw Tarkowski misjudge the ball, allowing Kaoru Mitoma to sneak in and volley against the crossbar.
Tarkowski then found himself dithering on the ball outside his own box, and inexplicably played Matt O’Riley through on goal.
Jordan Pickford bailed him out brilliantly, and while we saw some fine leadership and organisational quality from Tarkowski in the second half, these errors may just leave Moyes to consider going with Keane and Branthwaite down the line.
Loser: Beto
Moyes decided to go with Thierno Barry in attack, having seen Beto struggle against Leeds on Monday night.
Barry posed a threat and showed some promising signs of hold-up play, an area in which Beto really struggled at Elland Road.
Beto came on and had a couple of chances inside the box, but he may now find that Barry has done enough to keep his place.
Barry is a raw and inexperienced forward at this level, so Beto could win his place back, but Barry’s display was more impressive than Beto’s against Leeds.