Everton 2-0 Brighton (24 Aug, 2025) Game Analysis
Iliman Ndiaye and James Garner got Everton up and running at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in a 2-0 win over Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday.
Jack Grealish starred for David Moyes’ side, assisting both goals either side of half time in a dominant performance from Everton.
Ndiaye took his goal well when scoring on the volley from a Grealish cross in the first half, making history in the process, as the first player to score at Everton’s new home.
Seven minutes into the second half and Garner doubled Everton’s lead with a sweet hit into the bottom corner from a Grealish pass.
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Brighton were awarded a penalty with 15 minutes remaining after Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s handball, but Jordan Pickford guessed the right way and comfortably saved Danny Welbeck’s effort into the bottom right corner.
The two sides began tentatively, with Ndiaye’s long range effort being saved by Jordan Pickford the only major talking point in the first 10 minutes.
Kaoru Mitoma almost gave Brighton an early lead with a spectacular volley, which grazed the top of the crossbar after 18 minutes.
It was then the home side who took put themselves in front, with new signings Dewsbury-Hall and Grealish combining, before the England winger found Ndiaye with a pinpoint cross for the Senegal forward to tap home on the volley.
Brighton struck the upright for a second time late in the first half when Jean-Paul van Hecke’s effort took a heavy deflection.
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Again though it was Everton who took the initiative and again it was Grealish who was involved, this time laying Garner off who struck a first-time effort brilliantly past Bart Verbruggen from outside the box.
The home side seemed in complete control after going two goals to the good, marshalled expertly by the experienced James Tarkowski.
Brighton looked to have found a way back into the game when awarded a penalty after 75 minutes when Dewsbury-Hall handballed a Yankuba Minteh effort.
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Welbeck’s penalty attempt was tame to the right hand side though and it was a comfortable save from Pickford.
Replacement striker Beto had a good chance to put Everton 3-0 up when blazing an effort high and wide from six yards out as the home side looked to finish strongly.
Dewsbury-Hall received the ball in space and played in another substitute in Dwight McNeil who dragged his shot wide of the right post.
Grealish was replaced by young Harrison Armstrong in stoppage time to a rousing applause by Everton fans who will be hoping to see more of his brilliance throughout the season.