Everton’s new era at the Hill Dickinson Stadium began in style as they secured a 2-0 victory over Brighton in front of nearly 52,000 fans on Sunday.
Iliman Ndiaye and James Garner found the net on either side of halftime, with Jack Grealish marking his first Everton start by providing two assists.
Brighton, however, were left to regret a host of missed chances, including a Danny Welbeck penalty saved by Jordan Pickford, leaving the Seagulls still searching for their first win of the season.
Everton remain a work in progress, with manager David Moyes keen to strengthen the squad further before the transfer window closes. Yet signs of optimism were clear on an afternoon years in the making.
The Toffees, nine-time English champions, have not lifted a major trophy in three decades and spent their final seasons at Goodison Park battling relegation. Now, with Grealish as their marquee summer signing, fans were treated to flashes of the ability that once made him a £100 million signing for Manchester City.
Ndiaye, who scored Everton’s final goal at Goodison in May, made history again with the first goal at their new ground, timing his run to convert Grealish’s pinpoint cross at the back post in the 23rd minute.
By that point, Brighton should already have been ahead. Kaoru Mitoma struck the bar with a spectacular volley after flicking the ball over James Tarkowski, while Welbeck fired over from close range. Further opportunities came and went, with Jan Paul van Hecke hitting the post and Matt O’Riley denied by Pickford’s quick reactions.
Everton capitalised again seven minutes into the second half when Garner unleashed a thunderous strike from distance, doubling the lead. Grealish was credited with the assist, though Garner’s finish stole the spotlight.
Brighton’s best chance to claw back into the game came in the 75th minute when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s shot was blocked by a handball. But Pickford rose to the occasion, diving to his left to deny Welbeck from the spot and preserve Everton’s perfect opening at their new home.
At Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest shared the points in a 1-1 draw amid tensions off the pitch. Palace fans voiced anger over UEFA’s decision to demote the club from the Europa League to the Conference League, a ruling that benefitted Forest.
The Eagles struck first through Ismaila Sarr, who converted Daniel Munoz’s cross. But Forest responded through Callum Hudson-Odoi, who finished calmly from Dan Ndoye’s pass.
Forest’s preparations were overshadowed by uncertainty surrounding manager Nuno Espirito Santo, who admitted on Friday that his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis had soured, fuelling speculation he could become the season’s first Premier League managerial casualty.
