Everton secured their first three points of the season on Sunday after beating Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0.
Plenty of positives can be taken from Everton’s victory, but the biggest plus was showing some attacking threat.
At the heart of the three points was Jack Grealish, who was making his full debut for the Toffees in front of the Hill Dickinson crowd.
In his weekly column for Everton News, Alan Myers shared his delight after Grealish’s display against the Seagulls on Sunday.
Grealish’s brother expected him to play as the number 10, but he did feature from the left, and it was a decision which really paid off.
Having seen the 29-year-old flourish on Merseyside, Troy Deeney spotted something drastically different about the Everton loanee.
Everton v Brighton & Hove Albion - Premier League
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Troy Deeney spots major Jack Grealish change at Everton
After the game on Sunday, Louis Saha backed Grealish to make the England squad ahead of next summer’s World Cup.
The former Everton striker was not the only one to like what he saw from the 29-year-old forward.
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Speaking on Match of the Day 2, Deeney has admitted he felt Grealish’s body language looked completely different from even before the game had kicked off.
“To me, it doesn’t matter where he’s playing. It’s about how he feels. Does he feel loved? When he was at Aston Villa, he was on the left side, but they gave him the ball and that freedom,” said Deeney.
“At Man City, he was one of many great players, and I think it kind of stifled him a little bit. He had to be very deliberate in his movement, deliberate with his play. I think you saw today [Sunday], he had the freedom to do what he wanted.
“There was a lovely picture at the start with his daughter. I thought that was a real encapsulation of where he’s at.”
“This is a young man who is enjoying himself, and that only bodes well.”
Agreeing with Deeney’s analysis, Grealish admitted he’s playing with more freedom at Everton, having departed Manchester City.
In his first start on Merseyside, the early signs are extremely positive for what Grealish could bring to the club.
Jack Grealish receives praise from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Already, it appears as if Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have formed a close partnership at Everton.
This is exactly what fans will want to hear, with their two biggest signings of the summer looking set to take the club forward together.
Posting on Instagram after the game, Dewsbury-Hall praised the 29-year-old who returned two assists.
Grealish shared a heartfelt message to the Everton fans, saying:
‘Phwoaaar what a Sunday that is. What a feeling to make my home debut and get our first win of the season. The stadium, the fans, the passion!! And thank you to the fans for such a nice reception! Incredible.’
In response, Dewsbury-Hall, among other players and former players, shared his praise for Grealish.
‘Enjoyed that,’ said Dewsbury-Hall, who was joined by the likes of Morgan Rogers and Robbie Keane in responding to the winger.