Jack Grealish delivered a masterclass performance in his first start for Everton, providing both assists in a historic 2-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion. The debut marked the first competitive Premier League match at Hill Dickinson Stadium, Everton's magnificent new £802 million home on the Mersey waterfront.
The 29-year-old winger tormented Brighton's defence throughout the match, creating chances and showcasing the skill set that made him English football's first £100 million player. Grealish nearly registered a third assist when setting up substitute Dwight McNeil for a late opportunity that went begging.
Stadium milestone moment
Iliman Ndiaye scored the stadium's first ever goal in the 23rd minute, making history at the 52,888-capacity venue. The striker holds the unique distinction of scoring both the final goal at Goodison Park and the inaugural goal at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Manager David Moyes described feeling "privileged" to oversee Everton's first match at their new home. The Scot has previously declared Grealish to be among the Premier League's elite players and believes the stadium now needs a team to match its grandeur.
Architectural vision realised
Dan Meis designed the stadium specifically to create the ultimate "home field advantage" with acoustic features that retain crowd noise. The American architect attended the match, having previously witnessed a Roma friendly 15 days earlier as his vision came to life.
The venue represents the second most expensive stadium in Premier League history, trailing only Tottenham's £1 billion ground. Located at the historic Bramley-Moore Dock, it symbolises Everton's ambitious plans for a new era of competitiveness.
Grealish's fresh start
The Birmingham-born player has arrived on Merseyside seeking to revitalise his career after struggling within Pep Guardiola's system at Manchester City. Under Moyes's guidance, Grealish aims to force his way into Thomas Tuchel's World Cup squad for next summer.
According to the Mirror, Jordan Pickford played a crucial role in recruiting Grealish through personal phone calls and their existing friendship. Grealish demonstrated his commitment by tracking back defensively, making a perfectly-timed challenge to deny Yankuba Minteh in his own penalty area.
Sources used: "Liverpool Echo", "Daily Mail", "Guardian", "Mirror", "Metro"
Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
