‘Wow’ – Jack Grealish responds to Everton teammate’s message
James Garner and Jack Grealish were central to Everton’s victory over Brighton as they opened the Hill Dickinson Stadium in style.
Everton had started their 2024–25 Premier League campaign with a sluggish defeat to newly-promoted Leeds United, losing 1-0 as David Moyes fielded a makeshift team which failed to click at Elland Road.
Moyes‘ XI included a centre-back and central midfielder occupying the full-back roles in Jake O’Brien and Garner respectively, but the Scot kept faith for the true opening of the new season against Brighton.
The Toffees marked the beginning of a new era with the first ever competitive match at their new home on Liverpool’s waterfront, and kicked if off in perfect fashion with goals from Garner and Iliman Ndiaye.
Garner finds ‘new home’ at left-back in ‘top’ Everton display
Ndiaye had made history to become Everton’s first goalscorer at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in the 23rd minute of Sunday’s clash, having also netted their last two goals scored at Goodison Park last season.
Both Jack Grealish and fellow recent arrival Thierno Barry had a hand in Ndiaye’s opener to give Everton fans a glimpse of their new-look attack, while Garner did his starting left-back hopes no harm either.
The 24-year-old was also teed up by Grealish to fire home the Toffees’ second on 52 minutes, and posted on Instagram at full-time to celebrate only the second goal of his Everton career so far.
Garner’s post commemorated the opening of the Hill Dickinson Stadium, and said; “What a way to start in our new home – some team performance”.
Grealish responded with the message of; “Oooo – TOP brother”, after setting up Garner’s strike, which Everton academy product Lewis Dobbin added “wow” alongside a ‘rocket’ emoji.
Everton accelerate transfer plans after Brighton victory
Football Insider Verdict
A deserved 2-0 win which also included Jordan Pickford saving a controversial penalty was the perfect way for Everton to open the doors of the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with instant momentum up and running.
Everton will announce the £42million signing of Southampton’s Tyler Dibling imminently, and Mick Brown has told Football Insider that a late move for Tottenham’s Yves Bissouma is on the cards for the Toffees.
Dibling and Bissouma‘s respective arrivals would strengthen Everton’s midfield stocks even further, and even if Garner isn’t able to feature in the middle on a regular basis, Moyes will know that the versatile 24-year-old can do his job wherever required.