David Moyes enjoys the first Premier League match in Hill Dickinson Stadium while his Everton team is preparing for Brighton on Sunday.
The Toffees fell on Monday to a late defeat in their Premier League opener against Leeds United and gave a fine of the 84th minute in a 1-0 loss on Elland Road.
Everton ended their time in Goodison Park last season at a peak and stooped with a 2-0 win over Southampton thanks to a brace by Iliman Ndiaye.
Moyes is optimistic about the start of the new stadium, but he remains wary of the challenge with which they will be confronted against Brighton.
“We are all looking forward to the new stadium,” said Moyes. “It is something that has been on the horizon for so long, and it is now here.
“We hope that we can get used to it as quickly as possible. Everyone knows that a new stadium is never that easy, but it is something we are really enthusiastic about.
“Brighton is a very progressive football club that does a good job the year on year. They buy and sell extremely well.
“Their model is very good for what their club needs, and more importantly, they have a really good football team.”
Preparations will take place for the first @premierleague matchday in our new house. pic.twitter.com/tcdvhvytyv
– Everton (@EVerton) August 21, 2025
Brighton also dropped points late in the first match of their league campaign and admitted a 97th-minute equalizer to Fulham in a 1-1 home stretch.
Fabian Hurzeler knows for sure that his side Everton will give a real challenge in their new stadium, while he praises the addition of the toffee of Jack Grealiskh.
“The atmosphere [at Goodison Park] Was a special atmosphere, so I expect the same thing this weekend, “said Hurzeler.
“We look forward to seeing the new stadium, but we are not there to be the nice club.
“The Moyes teams are always very organized and difficult to create opportunities [against]. You must always be awake.
“Grealisk is a great signature and I am sure he will help Everton, he is an incredible talent.”
Players to watch
Everton – Carlos Alcaraz
Although he did not find the back of the net against Leeds, Carlos Alcaraz was one of Everton's better artists.
The 22-year-old, who scored twice last season and provided three assists in 15 games after arrival on loan, registered the only shot on goal for the Toffees and also registered most accents in the opposition box (three).
Brighton – Danny Welbeck
Danny Welbeck was involved in 10 Premier League goals in 18 performances against Everton (five goals, five assists) and is one of only nine players with both five goals and five assists against the Toffees.
He also scored in his last two road against Everton, but he only appeared from the bank against Fulham last weekend.
Match forecast – Draw
This will be the very first competitive game in Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium. Only one of the 10 clubs that played in two different permanent home grounds in the Premier League has lost their first such game in their new house (five wins, four draw), in which Southampton went to Chelsea 2-0 to Chelsea in St Mary's in August 2001.
Everton won their first home Premier League match in five consecutive seasons between 2017-18 and 2021-22, but they lost their last three without scoring.
The toffees also want to avoid an unwanted record. They have lost their first two games in each of the last three seasons, without a team in the English history of top flights that have lost their first two games in four consecutive seasons (without relegation in between).
After they have lost each of their first four Premier League matches against Everton, Brighton is now unbeaten in their last four visits (W3 D1).
Everton will have to keep an eye on Jan Paul van Hecke this weekend. The defender made 29 line-breaking steps on MatchDay one of the Premier League season, 12 more than any other player. He was also the only player who reached double digits for line -breaking passes under pressure with a high intensity of an opponent (20).
The seagulls ended the 2024-25 campaign with two getting on the jump. They last won three away in a row in January 2023, the third of which was in Everton.
Opta wins probability
Everton – 32.4%
Drawing – 26.8%
Brighton – 40.9%