Grealish impresses with two assists as Everton beat Brighton in first league game at new stadium

Everton boss David Moyes, speaking to Sky Sports: “Very proud. I think every one who manages against Brighton will tell you how hard it is to play against them and it was the same again today in the new stadium.

On James Garner’s goal: “He’s got the ability to shoot like he did do. It’s a good strike. He’s a midfield player playing out of position. It’s a good goal.

On Ndiaye and Grealish playing together: “We’ll see how they play and if their performances are good. Jack has got a couple of assists today and Iliman has a goal. We need to score more goals. One thing I don’t want to lose is the spirit on the pitch. We want more flair and quality.

On penalty save: “It was huge save by Jordan because they were the stronger team. If they’d scored, it would have been a tough 20 minutes.

On the atmosphere: “It will grow the more the people get used to the new stadium.

More business to be done? “Yes, definitely.”

“We need to give the fans a TOP TEAM because we’ve certainly got a top stadium!” 💪

David Moyes is looking forward to settling into life at the Hill Dickinson Stadium after seeing off Brighton 🏟️ pic.twitter.com/YuG2496gMz

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 24, 2025

“Hopefully many more goals and assists for both of us!”

Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye loved playing together for Everton 🔵 pic.twitter.com/wrtbdzFrL3

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 24, 2025

Everton boss David Moyes, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “I think we all wanted that [to get a win] and when you play Brighton it isn’t enjoyable because they are a really good football team. We got over the line, we are Everton and we do that quite a lot. We added some quality, the quality probably stood out today at the right moments when we needed it.”

Brighton chances: “Brighton had great chances in the first half but they didn’t take them and we did. It’s the tight margins in football. We are improving as a football team and I don’t want us to lose the heart and soul of Everton, I want us to keep working hard and be competitive which we were today.”

On improvement from Leeds game: “Against Leeds we lost narrowly to a poor decision. We didn’t play well but that’s how close it was. Today we are still improving. We have a makeshift back four at the moment because we don’t have any defenders. They deserve a lot of credit to get a result against Brighton today especially with the players we had out defensively.”

On Jack Grealish: “That’s what we have been hoping for and waiting for. We want to add that extra quality and that’s what we are trying to do. Kiernan [Dewsbury-Hall] and Jack both played exceptionally well. We are thrilled we are adding a bit more quality and we need to score some more goals which we did today.”

On Jordan Pickford: “Some of his decisions are a bit strange at times and have got me pulling my hair out but he’s a top goalkeeper and that’s why he has been England’s best goalkeeper and still is. You need people who can make big decisions and you need your goalkeeper to save a penalty when it is required.”

On the first day at the Hill Dickinson Stadium: “It was brilliant, it is something we all hoped would come around some day. Someone will be standing here interviewing a manager here in 100 years time, we’ll be well gone but we started it off today and I hope that the history of the future will be talked about a lot.”

Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “I expected [Matt] O’Riley to take it and I didn’t want to look at my bottle. I decided to go left so I was never changed my mind. I thought I was a bit unfortunate against Leeds the other night but that’s football.”

On the whole day at Everton’s new stadium: “Brighton are a really good side, we know they are really good off the ball. The manager said we are going to have to work hard which we did. We defended like Everton does. Sometimes that is what it takes to get an Everton result and the fans have gone home happy so it’s a great day.”

“It’s amazing, the fans are always behind us whether we go home or away, we’ve got great support and we can’t thank them enough. It’s about letting them go home happy which we have done today. It’s a start and we want to keep building momentum at this place and be resilient so that’s what we’ll try to do.”

Everton’s Jack Grealish, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: “Brilliant day.

“We were saying before the game that we wanted to put on a show for the fans. For the club itself, it was a big day coming into the new stadium. It was the perfect day.

“I think we dedicated that one to all of the fans.”

On his two assists: “For me, it is just as important. Scoring goals in football is so important, but when I played with Kevin de Bruyne, he was the one I learned so much off in football.

“Assisting is just as good as scoring, in my own opinion.

“Providing the assist for your teammates is a special feeling. When I’m here, all I want to do is do good things for this club, and hopefully we can push on and provide more goals and assists.

“I felt really good. It was nice. I don’t want to get into like saying I didn’t feel free before [at Man City]. Out there today I could drift, I could do what I want more or less and play with a bit of freedom.

“Take more risks. I feel like I have done that.

“I was so happy with the team’s performance with my own as well. The last time I played 90 minutes, think was April or March. Nearly four or five months ago.

“To get that under my belt in a tough game, I am happy with myself.

“For myself, I think today I was nowhere near fit. Hopefully, I can provide a lot more and better performances.

“It is a pleasure to play for this team in this stadium.”