LIVERPOOL: Everton’s new era at the Hill Dickinson Stadium began brightly with a 2-0 victory over Brighton in front of nearly 52,000 fans on Sunday.
Iliman Ndiaye and James Garner struck for the Toffees either side of half-time as Jack Grealish claimed two assists on his first Everton start.
Brighton were left to rue a series of wasted chances, including a missed penalty by Danny Welbeck. The Seagulls remain without a win this season.
Everton are a work in progress with David Moyes desperate to make more additions to his squad in the final week of the transfer window.
But the green shoots of a brighter future were on show on a day that has been years in the making.
Only four clubs have won more English top-flight titles than Everton’s nine.
However, they have not won a major trophy for 30 years and spent their final seasons at Goodison Park, the club’s home since 1892, battling relegation.
Grealish has so far been the marquee new addition to Moyes’ squad and showed glimpses of the talent that saw Manchester City pay Aston Villa £100 million ($135 million) for him four years ago.
Ndiaye scored the final goal at Goodison Park against Southampton in May and made more history with the first goal at Everton’s new home.
Grealish was the creator with a drilled left foot cross that Ndiaye timed his run perfectly to meet at the back post on 23 minutes.
