Everton 2-0 Brighton: Jack Grealish stars at Hill Dickinson Stadium as Toffees win in new stadium opener

Everton 2-0 Brighton: Grealish Stars as Toffees Celebrate New Era at Hill Dickinson Stadium

Jack Grealish delivered a statement performance on his home debut for Everton, assisting both goals in a 2-0 victory over Brighton as the Toffees marked their first Premier League match at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in style. Goals from Iliman Ndiaye and James Garner, combined with a late penalty save from Jordan Pickford, ensured a perfect start to life at their new riverside home and got David Moyes’ side off the mark for the new campaign. Grealish the Architect After a disappointing loss to Leeds on the opening weekend, Everton bounced back emphatically — thanks in large part to summer signing Jack Grealish, who registered two assists and was named Player of the Match. Grealish’s first moment of magic came in the 24th minute, weaving past his marker before delivering a precise low cross that Ndiaye converted with confidence. It was Ndiaye’s second landmark goal in as many matches, having scored the final goal at Goodison Park. In the 52nd minute, Grealish played a key role again, setting up James Garner, who rifled home a thunderous strike from 20 yards to double the lead. “It was positive for the manager as well,” Moyes said post-match. “Jack gave us something different — composure, creativity, and ball retention. He carried the ball really well and was decisive in the final third.” Brighton Waste Chances, Welbeck Misses Penalty Brighton had their opportunities — and plenty of them. Kaoru Mitoma struck the crossbar early on, while Danny Welbeck missed from close range and later squandered a chance to bring his side back into the game from the penalty spot. Matt O’Riley also saw an effort saved after intercepting a poor back-pass from James Tarkowski, and Jan Paul van Hecke struck the post in a chaotic first half for the visitors. The penalty — awarded after Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was penalised for handball — was poorly taken by Welbeck, with Pickford guessing correctly and saving comfortably. Special Day at the Hill Dickinson Stadium The occasion was about more than just three points. With fans exploring Everton Way and posing with commemorative granite stones, the stadium — framed by stone walls and dockside views — offered a sense of history and hope. Architect Dan Meis had called for the new home to become “a bear pit”. Judging by the atmosphere, it’s well on its way. “The crowd gave us everything today,” said Moyes. “To have that backing from the first whistle in a new home — it means a lot.” Player Ratings Everton: Pickford (7), O’Brien (6), Tarkowski (5), Keane (6), Garner (7), Gueye (6), Iroegbunam (7), Dewsbury-Hall (6), Ndiaye (7), Grealish (8), Barry (6).Subs: Beto (6), Alcaraz (6), McNeil (5), Armstrong (N/A). Brighton: Verbruggen (5), Wieffer (6), Van Hecke (6), Dunk (6), De Cuyper (5), Baleba (5), Ayari (6), O’Riley (6), Minteh (7), Mitoma (7), Welbeck (5).Subs: Hinshelwood (6), Kadioglu (6), Gomez (6), Gruda (N/A).

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Everton Manager David Moyes Honoured with OBE

Everton manager David Moyes has been appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by the Prince of Wales. Moyes, 62, managed West Ham from 2017 to 2024, and under his tenure the team secured its first major trophy in 43 years in the 2023 Europa Conference League. He managed Everton from 2002 to 2013 and returned to the Merseyside team in January. Moyes said Prince William had congratulated him on the way things had turned around in the second half of the season. He said the Prince told him about going to Aston Villa games with his sons. Moyes said: “I think in many ways it shows that the royal family are very much part of the people as well and want to do normal things in life”. Prince William pins a medal onto the jacket of David Moyes. They are standing inside Windsor Castle. Other men in royal dress stand in the room. Aston Villa finished sixth in the Premier League, with Everton in 13th place. They were just one point above the relegation zone when Moyes returned to Goodison in January. The former Celtic and Preston player, who also managed Manchester United, said he learned about the honour in December. Moyes told PA he had not believed it when he was contacted by the Home Office, having previously missed messages about it. “I went back, we checked, and I’ve got to say it was a big moment for both me and my wife. It was emotional,” Moyes said. He added he believed his success at West Ham was a key part of him making the New Year Honours list. “Bringing a trophy to West Ham, I think was huge, and I’ve been really fortunate that I’ve been able to manage and stay in the game for a long time,” he added. Moyes has the third-most Premier Leagues matches as a manager, behind Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger at Manchester United and Arsenal respectively.

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EPL: Ola Aina May Return Against Everton

Ola Aina would be back for Everton although that feels like a bit of a long shot, some reports had claimed. The 27-year-old was struck down with a calf problem against United and it’s not clear how long he will be out for. Now, a photograph has been shared on the player’s official Snapchat and it would seem that he’s still not walking without the aid of crutches. That does feel like a blow for Forest as the team will undoubtedly view the home games as winable and crucial in the quest for Champions League football. The Nigerian international has been one of the most consistent players this season and would be in the running for Player of the Year. Aina is very important to the way in which Espirito Santo wants his teams to play and the hope will be that he can be back on the pitch in no time.

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David Moyes returns to Everton

Everton have confirmed the return of David Moyes as head coach, with the Scot becoming Sean Dyche’s replacement at Goodison Park. Dyche was sacked by the Toffees just hours before the team’s FA Cup third-round contest against Peterborough United on Thursday night, but the team managed to record a 2-0 victory in order to progress to the next stage. There has been widespread speculation surrounding a possible return for Moyes in recent days, and the Scot’s switch back to the Merseyside giants has now been confirmed ahead of Everton’s next Premier League match against Aston Villa on January 15. Moyes was previously in charge of Everton between March 2002 and June 2013, and he has since managed Manchester United, Real Sociedad, Sunderland and West Ham United. The 61-year-old’s second spell at West Ham came to an end in May, but he is now back in the Premier League and will be aiming to guide Everton away from the Premier League relegation zone in the coming weeks. Moyes told Everton’s official website: “It’s great to be back! I enjoyed 11 wonderful and successful years at Everton and didn’t hesitate when I was offered the opportunity to rejoin this great club. “I’m excited to be working with The Friedkin Group and I am looking forward to helping them rebuild the club. “Now we need Goodison and all Evertonians to play their part in getting behind the players in this important season so we can move into our fabulous new stadium as a Premier League team.” Meanwhile, Everton’s executive chairman Marc Watts said: “We are pleased that David is joining us at this pivotal time in Everton’s history. With over a decade of experience at the club, he is the right leader to propel us through our final season at Goodison Park and into our new stadium. We look forward to working with David to build the foundation of a new era for Everton.” Moyes was previously Everton manager between March 2002 and June 2013, taking charge of 518 matches, boasting a record of 218 wins, 139 draws and 161 defeats, giving him a win percentage of 42.08. The Toffees made the 2009 FA Cup final under Moyes, while they also enjoyed four European campaigns, with their best Premier League season coming in 2004-05, when they finished fourth. Everton finished 11th in 2005-06, but they then claimed sixth, fifth, fifth, eighth, seventh, seventh and sixth during an impressive period; it has been a struggle for the Merseyside club in recent seasons, though, finishing 16th, 17th and 15th in their last three campaigns. Moyes is taking charge of a Toffees outfit that are currently 16th in the Premier League table, just one point above the relegation zone, having picked up only 17 points from their opening 19 matches of the campaign. The Toffees are without a victory in the Premier League since December 4, while they have only won one of their last 11 fixtures in the top flight of English football. Moyes’ first match in his second spell at the helm will come at home to Aston Villa on January 15, before welcoming Tottenham Hotspur to Goodison Park on January 19.

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Everton sacks manager Sean Dyche

Premier League strugglers Everton sacked manager Sean Dyche on Thursday, just hours before their FA Cup third-round tie against Peterborough. Speculation about Dyche’s future had intensified with reports suggesting Everton’s new owners, the US-based Friedkin Group, were talking to potential successors since completing a £400 million ($492 million) takeover last month. Everton said in a statement Dyche had been “relieved of his duties as senior men’s first-team manager with immediate effect” after two years in charge, with the process to appoint a new boss under way. The Toffees are once again battling to avoid relegation from the Premier League after winning just one of their past 11 games, with that sole success coming against fellow drop candidates Wolves in December. Everton Under-18s head coach Leighton Baines and club captain Seamus Coleman will take charge against third-tier Peterborough on an interim basis while the Liverpool side seek a permanent replacement for Dyche. Former Manchester United and Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, currently in charge of Turkish club Fenerbahce, has recently been linked with Everton. Mourinho has experience of working with the Friedkin Group at Roma, although the Italian club sacked him just under a year ago. David Moyes, who managed Everton between 2002 and 2013, ex-England coach Gareth Southgate, Brentford boss Thomas Frank and Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola are also among the reported contenders to succeed Dyche. Everton have won only three times in 19 league matches this season and are languishing in 16th place, with only one point separating them from the relegation zone. Asked earlier this week if the club were considering his position, Dyche’s answer suggested he knew the sack could be looming. “To be clear, it should be,” the former Burnley boss said. “At the end of the day, if you’re a business of this size, succession planning should surely be part of their diligence. I’ve got no problem with that at all. “I think the noise has grown very powerful here. It does. But we’ve had it before. “The players haven’t lacked effort but it’s obviously affecting them because you can see it in their performances.” Dyche took charge at Everton in January 2023 and kept them in the top-flight despite numerous issues, including last season’s points deduction for breaching Premier League rules on profit and sustainability. They finished 17th in Dyche’s first season, avoiding the drop with a victory against Bournemouth on the last day, and came 15th last term, extending their streak of being ever-present in English football’s top-flight since 1954. But chief among Everton’s problems under the 53-year-old Englishman were a lack of entertainment and a paucity of goals. Everton’s tally of just 15 this season is the second worst in the Premier League, behind only bottom of the table Southampton’s 12.

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