Everton and Grealish make perfect start at stunning new home

As pre-match pyrotechnics sent bluish fume arching successful nan guidance of nan River Mersey, it was a time of caller beginnings for Everton – and for a subordinate who risked becoming 1 of nan Premier League's awesome mislaid talents.

Everton were playing nan first Premier League crippled astatine their magnificent caller state-of-the-art stadium, yet leaving Goodison Park down aft 133 years.

Supporters gathered successful their thousands hours earlier kick-off, making their measurement from nan celebrated Liver Birds astatine nan Pier Head to Hill Dickinson Stadium for a historical day, nan commencement of what Everton dream will beryllium a prosperous caller era aft years of financial and footballing struggle.

And nan sanction connected truthful galore fans' lips was that of Jack Grealish, released from life successful nan shadows astatine Manchester City to commencement again connected indebtedness astatine Everton, nan astir high-profile presence astatine nan nine this summer.

Grealish, who will move 30 successful September, has lived life connected nan margins nether Pep Guardiola successful caller seasons, making only 7 convention starts past term.

He has nan information of knowing England caput coach Thomas Tuchel is simply a confirmed admirer, pinch nan World Cup connected nan sky adjacent summer. The extremity is obvious.

So nan shape was set, Grealish instantly emotion nan emotion of much than 50,000 Everton fans arsenic he swiftly showed a desire to return connected defenders, a value that seemed mislaid successful his second days astatine City.

Everton's capacity whitethorn not person been perfect, but connected a time erstwhile only triumph mattered, they achieved nan desired result pinch a 2-0 triumph against Brighton, pinch Grealish playing a important role.

He felt, for nan first clip successful a agelong time, nan buzz of nan crowd erstwhile nan shot was astatine his feet, and it took only 23 minutes for Grealish to present precisely what Everton head David Moyes wanted erstwhile he made his transportation to lure him to Merseyside from Etihad Stadium.

Grealish drove heavy into nan Brighton punishment area, leaving Mats Wieffer successful his aftermath earlier drilling a transverse to nan acold post, wherever nan incoming Iliman Ndiaye made a difficult decorativeness look easy.

It was Grealish successful nan one-on-one territory he loved truthful overmuch astatine his peak, and really he relished nan merchandise of emotion and ceremony pinch Ndiaye.

Grealish's 2nd assistance was a much regular affair, a short walk to James Garner which nan second drilled emphatically past Bart Verbruggen from 25 yards.

In 52 minutes, Grealish had provided nan aforesaid number of assists arsenic he had done successful nan past 2 Premier League campaigns pinch Manchester City.

It was only nan 3rd clip successful nan Premier League that he had recorded 2 aliases much assists successful a match, having provided 3 against Liverpool successful October 2020 and 2 against Leeds United successful December 2022.

Grealish should person had a 3rd assistance successful nan closing stages erstwhile he put a chance connected a sheet for Dwight McNeil, only for nan substitute to make a complete hash of nan opportunity pinch a miskick successful beforehand of a gaping goal.

It was not conscionable nan attacking aspects of Grealish's play that impressed. He was much than consenting to do nan soiled activity erstwhile required.

Grealish won possession nan astir times for Everton (7) and was besides joint-top for tackles pinch three, alongside Ndiaye.

As his profession declined astatine City, Grealish appeared to return nan easy action of a walk excessively often, reducing his effectiveness, but present he was Everton's astir progressive player, carrying nan shot astatine slightest 5 metres connected 7 occasions.

With triumph assured, Everton head Moyes took nan opportunity to fto Grealish bask nan acclaim of a opinionated ovation erstwhile he was replaced by youngster Harrison Armstrong 4 minutes into stoppage time.

Grealish, sporting a grin that looked for illustration it mightiness person to beryllium surgically removed and which he sported passim nan game, said: "Brilliant, superb day.

"We were saying earlier nan crippled that we wanted to put connected a show for nan fans. For nan nine itself, it was a large time coming into nan caller stadium. It was nan cleanable day.

"I deliberation we dedicated that 1 to each of nan fans. It is simply a pleasance to play for this squad successful this stadium."

Grealish was delighted pinch his assists, saying: "For me, it is conscionable arsenic important. Scoring goals successful shot is truthful important, but erstwhile I played pinch Kevin de Bruyne, he was nan 1 I learned truthful overmuch disconnected successful football.

"Assisting is conscionable arsenic bully arsenic scoring, successful my ain opinion. Providing nan assistance for your team-mates is simply a typical feeling. When I'm here, each I want to do is do bully things for this club, and hopefully we tin push connected and supply much goals and assists.

"I felt really good. It was nice. I don't want to get into saying I didn't consciousness free earlier [at Manchester City]. Out location I could drift, I could do what I want much aliases little and play pinch a spot of freedom, return much risks. I consciousness for illustration I person done that."

Everton mislaid astatine Leeds successful their opening game, truthful to get disconnected nan people brought alleviation on pinch nan jubilation.

Moyes was delighted, telling BBC Sport: "That's what we person been hoping for and waiting for. We want to adhd that other value and that's what we are trying to do. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack some played exceptionally well. We are thrilled we are adding a spot much value and we request to people immoderate much goals, which we got.

"We played much for illustration Everton aft nan crippled astatine Leeds United. We had to do nan Everton things."

The sun shone arsenic Everton fans gathered astir nan stadium aft this landmark win, nan perfect commencement and conscionable nan tonic aft a hopeless capacity successful conclusion astatine Elland Road.

Moyes felt it was possibly "written successful nan stars" that he would return for a 2nd spell astatine Everton to lead them into their caller home.

He said: "Someone will beryllium opinionated present interviewing a head present successful 100 years' time. We'll beryllium good gone, but we started it disconnected coming and I dream that nan history of nan early will beryllium talked astir a lot."

This was only a start, only 1 triumph - but it was precisely what Everton and Jack Grealish wanted.