Everton are set to play their first ever competitive match at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium this afternoon against Brighton & Hove Albion, a historic occasion that manager David Moyes is relishing.
The Blues are facing a full blown defensive crisis going into the clash as the team will be without three key defenders, with full-backs Nathan Patterson and Vitaliy Mykolenko ruled out, alongside centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite.
Both teams come off the back of results that they would consider as disappointing, as the Toffees fell to defeat against Leeds, whilst Brighton could only manage a draw at home against Fulham.
Everton really need to put in a strong response to their dismal display at Elland Road, where they struggled to create many chances of any real threat. Meanwhile, the Seagulls will also be looking for an improvement on the display from last weekend.
This match is the perfect opportunity for Grealish to prove himself to the Everton fans after a small cameo against Leeds. The winger certainly contains the quality to cause his opponents an issue.
Given his experience in one of the top Premier League teams, Grealish looks like he will play a vital role in leading the Everton frontline this season.
This is a fixture which Brighton prevailed in last year, winning 3-0 at Goodison Park as Mitoma and Welbeck both got their names on the scoresheet on that day. It has been quite a tough fixture for Everton as of late, who have failed to win any of their last four home matches against Brighton.
The Toffees have often had slow starts at home, losing their first home match in the last three seasons. Moyes will be hoping that the new stadium brings his side some new luck.
Everton confirmed line up
Starting XI: : Pickford, O’Brien, Garner, Tarkowski (c), Keane, Gana, Iroegbunam, Ndiaye, Grealish, Dewsbury-Hall, Barry.
Subs: Travers, McNeil, Beto, Chermiti, Coleman, Alcaraz, Aznou, Armstrong, Onyango.
Your Toffees for our first ever Premier League game at Hill Dickinson Stadium! 🔵 pic.twitter.com/YxgVx326fo
— Everton (@Everton) August 24, 2025
Brighton confirmed lineup:
Starting XI: Bart Verbruggen, Lewis Dunk (C), Jan Paul van Hecke, Yankuba Minteh, Carlos Baleba, Danny Welbeck, Kaoru Mitoma, Yasin Ayari, Mats Wieffer, Casper De Cuypers, Matt O’Riley
Subs: Subs: Steele, Gruda, Hinshelwood, Milner, Boscagli, Kadıoğlu, Gómez, Veltman, Coppola
TEAM NEWS! 🚨 Our #EVEBHA starting XI… 👀 pic.twitter.com/HuM9SiBzDP
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) August 24, 2025
