Everton Football Club ushered in a new era at the Hill Dickinson Stadium with a resounding 2-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion. The atmosphere was electric as nearly 52,000 fans packed into the state-of-the-art arena to witness the historic first Premier League match at their new home.
The match marked a significant moment for both the club and its supporters, who had eagerly anticipated the move to the new stadium on the Liverpool waterfront. The impressive win provided the perfect start to life at their new ground and ignited hopes for a successful season.
Jack Grealish, the on-loan winger from Manchester City, stole the show with a dazzling home debut, providing the assists for both of Everton's goals. His arrival has quickly made an impact, with fans already appreciating his playmaking abilities.
Everton started the match brightly, fueled by the energy of the crowd and the desire to mark the occasion with a victory. However, Brighton's patient and accurate passing soon took hold, and they created several opportunities early on. Despite Brighton's early dominance, it was Everton who broke the deadlock midway through the first half. Grealish delivered a precise cross that found Iliman Ndiaye, who expertly converted to score the first Premier League goal at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Ndiaye, who also scored the final goal at Goodison Park, has now written his name into Everton folklore.
Brighton responded strongly to going behind, hitting the woodwork twice and creating several other clear-cut chances. However, they were unable to find a way past Everton's goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who proved to be a formidable presence between the posts.
The second half began with Everton extending their lead in the 52nd minute. Grealish was once again the architect, laying the ball off to James Garner, who unleashed a thunderous strike from distance that left Brighton's goalkeeper with no chance. Garner's stunning goal sent the home fans into raptures and further solidified Everton's control of the match.
Brighton were presented with a golden opportunity to get back into the game when they were awarded a penalty in the 77th minute after a handball. However, Pickford produced a brilliant save to deny Danny Welbeck from the spot, further amplifying the celebratory atmosphere. Pickford's penalty save seemed to deflate Brighton, and Everton were able to see out the remaining minutes with relative ease.
The final whistle was met with a roar of approval from the Everton faithful, who celebrated a memorable victory in their new home. The 2-0 win over Brighton marked a perfect start to a new chapter in the club's history and provided a glimpse of what the future may hold.
David Moyes' side will look to build on this promising start as they continue their Premier League campaign. The team had a busy pre-season schedule, including matches against Accrington Stanley and Blackburn Rovers, followed by the Premier League Summer Series in the United States against Bournemouth, West Ham United, and Manchester United. They also played a friendly against Roma.
