New home, new spark: Grealish and Pickford crown Everton’s perfect opening night

Everton opened Hill Dickinson Stadium with the performance the occasion demanded, defeating Brighton 2-0 as Jack Grealish announced himself with two assists on his first start since arriving on loan from Manchester City. Iliman Ndiaye volleyed in the opener from Grealish’s cross on 23 minutes, and James Garner rifled home from distance early in the second half to ignite the club’s new era.

There were nerves to ride out and big moments to win. Brighton hit the woodwork twice and were handed a route back on 74 minutes, only for Jordan Pickford to plunge left and save Danny Welbeck’s penalty. On a night of ceremony and sound, Everton found resilience and a cutting edge to match it.

A cauldron christened in royal blue

The £800m arena on the riverfront felt alive from the first drumbeat, architect Dan Meis introduced to acclaim as he spoke of a “long and emotional journey.” The bear-pit ambition rang true as Hill Dickinson rose with Everton’s first Premier League steps in their new home, a wall of royal blue nudging the tempo.

Early jitters were inevitable, but Grealish set the tone. He urged defenders to ditch hopeful balls and trust the pass, then punished Brighton when the moment came. By night’s end he departed to a standing ovation in the 94th minute, having shaped both goals and much of the mood.

Grealish’s statement debut

The first breakthrough was pure incision. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall worked the ball wide and Grealish went after Mats Wieffer, zipping a cross to the far post that Ndiaye volleyed in with authority. For the forward, it added symmetry to a history already made: the last league goal at Goodison, the first at Hill Dickinson.

Seven minutes after the restart, Brighton appealed for offside against Thierno Barry in the build-up, but play continued and Idrissa Gueye picked out Grealish on the far side. His lay-off invited Garner to let fly from 25 yards, the shot skimming through traffic and inside Verbruggen’s near post. Grealish could have had a third assist late on, only for Dwight McNeil to scuff the finish.

Resilience amid Brighton’s surge

Everton had to navigate spells of strain. Mitoma’s bar-rattler followed a Tarkowski misjudgment; Welbeck scooped over from Minteh’s cutback; Van Hecke clipped the post via a deflection off Grealish; and Pickford spared Tarkowski by smothering at O’Riley’s feet before halftime. This was a win earned as much by responses as by craft.

Moyes’s side again started without a recognised full-back, with Brighton targeting Garner at left-back from the first whistle. The midfielder stood up to the examination and then delivered at the other end. Carlos Baleba’s departure from the visitors’ midfield later helped Everton protect their advantage with greater comfort.

Pickford’s moment and lift-off

When Dewsbury-Hall was penalised for handling Minteh’s shot, the script threatened to turn. Pickford read Welbeck’s intent, saved low to his left, and banked the eighth Premier League penalty stop of his career. It felt like the final exhale inside a stadium keen for an untroubled first-night ending.

From there Everton managed the game, helped by Grealish’s ball retention and the crowd’s energy. The clean sheet and three points bring immediate lift after the disappointment at Leeds and give the new home a winning debut to remember.

What’s next for the Toffees

Momentum is the aim now. Everton host Mansfield Town in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, 27 August before a Premier League trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, 30 August, a quick-fire double that offers the chance to consolidate a bright start at Hill Dickinson.

For the record, Brighton head to Oxford United in midweek before facing Manchester City at the Amex on Sunday, 31 August. But the evening belonged to Everton: a new address, a new soundtrack, and a win shaped by Grealish and sealed by Pickford.