Everton opened their new chapter at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in style, with a 2-0 win over Brighton in their first home Premier League game at the venue. Jack Grealish, made his competitive debut for the toffees after completing the switch from manchester city, stole the spotlight with two assists that crowned a memorable day at Merseyside.
The evening carried a special weight for Toffees fans, who only months ago said farewell to Goodison Park after 133 years. Inside their new dockside home, the crowd roared with emotion as Fabian Hurzeler's Brighton threatened to spoil the housewarming. Kaoru Mitoma almost scored with spectacular volley that rattled the crossbar, before Danny Welbeck somehow failed to tap into an empty net.
Fittingly, the first Premier League goal at Hill Dickinson went the way of the hosts. Grealish weaved in from the left and drilled a ball across goal, met by Iliman Ndiaye's determined run to fire home and write his name into Everton folklore. The stadium erupted, and though Brighton struck the post through Jan Paul van Hecke before halftime, Jordan Pickford's safe hands kept Everton in front.