David Moyes was rewarded for giving Jack Grealish his first start for Everton as the on-loan winger assisted both goals in the 2-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion that opened the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Grealish managed only two assists in the last two Premier League seasons at Manchester City, with his last coming in September 2024, but matched that tally on his home debut for his new club, setting up Iliman Ndiaye and James Garner.
Moyes started the England international after he made a brief cameo in the defeat at Leeds United last Monday and was pleased with how the winger provided a new impetus to an Everton attack that has not always convinced.
“Really pleased with Jack. He has done a lot of good things,” the Everton head coach said. “I don’t know if he gave the ball away today. We’ve been looking for those attacking options and that flair and he gave us something.
“We all want the Jack Grealish we all know but you don’t play for the club if you haven’t got it and Jack has certainly got it. We need him to show it more.
“He had licence to go at people, he ball-carried and his assists, especially the first one, was a little bit more of what you hope for.
“I just want Jack to be what he can be. We want him to take people on and be positive. I think the boy who we saw playing for Man City in the year they won the treble is a really exciting player and I hope we can get him back.
*“He didn’t shirk it, he didn’t want to come off at 60 minutes. He probably thinks he has something to prove.*”
Getty: Michael Regan
A winning start to Everton’s life at their new stadium made for the perfect day as the club took an historic step.
Almost 52,000 spectators filled the £800-million venue for the first game away from Goodison Park in 133 years, and Moyes was proud of how the team and supporters rose to the occasion.
“It was a great first win so really pleased,” Moyes added. “The atmosphere and noise was fabulous when we got the goals. The crowd were great. At the end you can see what it means to them. They’ll grow into the stadium.
“We’ve got a brilliant stadium now. The plan is over the next few years to try and build a top team. Coming back to Everton has been a great move [for me]. It’s been a brilliant opportunity and the crowd are right behind us which is really important.”
'We created enough to win the game'
Brighton were left frustrated at not taking their chances — twice they stuck the woodwork and Danny Welbeck also had a penalty saved by Jordan Pickford — and have now picked up just the solitary point from their first two games, with City to come next weekend.
Getty: Clive Mason
This is the first time since 2018 that Brighton have failed to win either of their opening two Premier League games and Fabian Hurzeler, the head coach, said there were no excuses for spurning good opportunities, even though striker Georginio Rutter was out injured.
“If you score the goals we wouldn’t have this discussion,” said Hurzeler. “It would be an excuse if we said we missed a striker. Overall we created enough to win the game and enough chances to score, so that’s the thing to take away.
*“The dynamic of the game could have been different but the facts say something else and the result doesn’t lie.*”