Follow live coverage as Everton face Brighton & Hove Albion today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Liverpool look to fend off competition from Arsenal, Manchester City and more.
The race for the Champions League places should also be a compelling battle, with a fifth place possible for English teams. Manchester United’s latest rebuild under Ruben Amorim sets expectations high once more after a dismal season last time out.
Meanwhile, it’s Burnley, Leeds United and Sunderland who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Everton FC 2 - 0 Brighton & Hove Albion FC
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:31Referee Stuart Attwell blows his whistle and for the first time we have Premier League football at Dickinson Hill Stadium!
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
16:31Referee Attwell blows his whistle for one final time then and Everton begin life at the Hill Dickinson Stadium with all three points courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Brighton! Grealish ends his first Everton start with two assists, the first of which was a wonderful bit of play down the left flank to tee up Ndiaye to become the first man to score at the Toffees' new stadium. The Manchester City-loanee then teed up Garner to thump home the second, which proved enough of a cushion. However, Brighton boss Hurzeler - whose side had a superior xG of 2.46 to 1.84 - will be pulling his hair out in frustration that his side failed to score in this game. They hit the woodwork twice in the first half through Mitoma and Van Hecke, while Welbeck missed a great chance and O'Riley failed to punish an awful error from Tarkowski. The Seagulls' boss will have known for sure it wasn't his side's day when Welbeck's tame penalty, after Dewsbury-Hall pinged for handball, was saved by Pickford. Ultimately, though, it's a day of celebration for Everton and David Moyes, as the Toffees start their journey at their new home with all three points. Thanks for joining us folks, until next time!
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:57FULL-TIME: EVERTON 2-0 BRIGHTON
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:54Beto goes into the book after catching Dunk on the follow through. VAR had a quick check, but wisely decided a caution was punishment enough.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:53Grealish receives a standing ovation and a rousing reception from a new adoring home crowd as he is replaced by local product Harrison.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:52Keane comes across on the cover to thwart Gruda, who wanted a penalty for a clip from O'Brien but nothing doing.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:50Substitute Kadioglu goes into the book for a crude foul on Alcaraz, as he sought to break free in midfield.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:50Dewsbury-Hall now also goes into the book for a smart tactical foul.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:50There will be seven additional minutes of added time here.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:48Another good chance! Dewsbury-Hall breaks free from midfield as the spaces begin to open up, he lays off to McNeil, who cuts onto his left foot and drags wide of the right post.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:47Everton should be 3-0 up! Alcaraz initially tries to deliver a low centre that Brighton deal with. Grealish collects it on the left and weights a great ball into the path of McNeil, who scuffs his shot when the net should have bustled. Beto then picks up and fires wide when he should have hit the target!
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:45While O'Brien was having a check by the Everton medical staff, Brighton made another change with Wieffer - who has struggled a little up against Grealish - replaced by Gruda.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:45More injury concern here for Everton, as O'Brien goes down when making a clearance. Everton already have their share of issues at full-back, they won't want to lose O'Brien - more at home in the centre - too. It looks like he's going to be okay, though.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:42The cameras catch a glimpse of Pickford's water bottle, which suggests Welbeck goes 50-50 with his spot-kicks. He went to Pickford's left on this occasion, but the Everton man was wise to it.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:41Everton have failed to win two Premier League games in which they led by two-plus goals in 2025 (drawing against Man United and Ipswich). Barring a real collapse here, they will surely avoid a third instance.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:39That moment really sums up Brighton's afternoon to be honest. They missed some glorious first-half chances and they earn a penalty but fluff their lines completely. It looks a long way back for them now.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:36SAVED BY PICKFORD! Oh, it's an awful effort in truth from Welbeck! The forward goes low towards the bottom-right corner but there's absolutely no purchase on the strike and England's number one gets down low to his left to make the save. Everton still lead 2-0!
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:36Penalty Miss Danny Welbeck
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:36The check is over and Brighton have an enormous opportunity to get back into this game now...
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:35PENALTY TO BRIGHTON! Well this could really change the outcome of this game. It's worked out to the right again towards Minteh, he strikes it goalwards and it's blocked by the hand of Dewsbury-Hall as he slides across to make the block. VAR is having a look at it...
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:33Minteh twists and turns again on the right of the area but his cross is booted clear by Tarkowski.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:30Well, whatever the issue is for Iroegbunam it's enough for his race to be run this afternoon. He is replaced by McNeil.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:29Gueye helps team-mate Iroegbunam stretch out as he seems to be suffering with a little bit of cramp. The physios are on but it didn't initially look too serious.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:26And the lively Ayari takes a seat after being replaced by Gomez.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:26Hurzeler makes a couple more changes for Brighton as De Cuyper, who was booked in the first half, shakes hands with Kadioglu.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:26Fantastic recovery from Dunk! Beto tries to make an instant impact and ghosts past the Brighton captain into the left of the penalty area, but the England defender not only gets back on the slide but manages to avoid conceding the corner.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:24And Barry takes a seat after a hard-working first Premier League start, with Beto taking his place for the final stages.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:24Moyes heads to the bench for the first time this afternoon as history-maker Ndiaye is replaced by Alcaraz.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:23Garner, scorer of Everton's second, is booked by Attwell, seemingly for dissent when he asked for a free-kick when going down under a challenge.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:22Grealish makes a really good challenge on the recovery to deny Minteh in the penalty area. Ayari goes over to deliver the corner but it's headed away by Garner.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:20Brighton win the ball high up the pitch and Ayari manages to get a shot away on the stretch from inside the D but Pickford makes the straight-forward save.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:18Minteh remains a danger down the right for Brighton and he clips a cross into the area looking for Welbeck, but Tarkowski gets a really clever touch on it to deal with the danger.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:18O'Brien collects Barry's flicked header and wins a corner from Dunk's cleared block. Dewsbury-Hall goes over to deliver and it's headed over by Barry from point-blank range in the six-yard box. It was high and he just got too much purchase on the header.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:14Brighton win a corner and take it short, it's poorly executed and Everton come away with ease. What a waste of a set-piece.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:14This is a huge test for Brighton now. At 1-0 it felt like they were very much still in the game, at 2-0 and an increasingly noisy home stadium, they have it all to do.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:12It might not have the brilliance of his first assist but it's another clever piece of play from Grealish, who just calmly rolled the pass into the path of Garner to smash home.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:12GOOOOOOAAAAAALLLL! EVERTON DOUBLE THEIR LEAD! Oh, that's some hit by Garner! Everton initially break down the right channel but it's eventually worked out left by Gueye to Grealish, who stands up against his man and rolls the ball into the path of Garner who hits it hard, and hits it low from 25 yards to find the bottom-right corner. The Toffees lead 2-0!
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:11Iroegbunam is felled by Cuyper around 25/30 yards from goal. Dewsbury-Hall clips it in but it's over everyone and a promising opportunity is wasted.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:08Keane launches a brilliant cross-field pass to Ndiaye, who can't quite get past De Cuyper.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:05Attwell blows his whistle and we back underway at the Dickinson Hill Stadium!
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15:04Brighton make a change at the break as Baleba is replaced by Hinshelwood.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:53Brighton's superior xG of 1.46 to 0.95 will give them confidence that they can turn this one around, but as the game goes on they will be concerned about the spaces that might start showing up the likes of Grealish and Ndiaye to really exploit. There's plenty of life left in this one, so stick with us for the second half folks.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:51Attwell blows his whistle for the last time this half and it's so far, so good for Everton who lead 1-0 at the break thanks to Ndiaye's goal from Grealish's fabulous assist. Brighton, though, will be scratching their heads at how they are losing this game. The Seagulls have struck the woodwork twice, seen Welbeck miss a great opening, then failed to capitalise on a woeful bit of defending from Tarkowski at the end of that first half. Perhaps the Footballing Gods are just not going to be on their side today?
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:49HALF-TIME: EVERTON 1-0 BRIGHTON
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:48OFF THE HOOK THERE! What on earth was Tarkowski thinking there? Usually Mr Reliable, the centre-back gets caught a little flat-footed then sees a pass back to Pickford picked up by O'Riley, who tries to go past Pickford but then sees his shot blocked by the England goalkeeper. That really ought to have been 1-1.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:47There will be a minimum of two additional minutes at the end of this first half.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:45Grealish started to cop a lot of criticism for a perceived lack of output at Manchester City. But he's looked extremely lively here so far today and already has an assist to his name. You get the sense that a bit more creative freedom could be exactly what he needs to get going again.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:44Ooft, some wonderful pandemonium there. Dewsbury-Hall plays a wonderful ball into the area, O'Brien nods it back across goal but can't find a team-mate, Grealish almost re-works it before it lands at the feet of Garner, who curls one narrowly wide of the right-had post.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:41Well, this could be problems for Wieffer, who has already struggled up against Grealish. He's licked by the new Everton man again and clips him to ground to receive an obvious caution.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:41Iroegbunam goes in late on Ayari and clatters into his opponent for a very clear yellow card.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:40OFF THE POST! Wow, that was close to the leveller. Van Hecke has space to move into and the towering centre-back takes aim with a long-range effort that clips the rear end of Grealish, flies past Pickford, and smashes the left post. That was mightily close.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:39Mitoma shows more nice footwork down the left and clips a deflected ball into the area that seems to hang for an awful long time before Pickford takes matters into his own hands and punches it well clear...that was quite some thump, noted Toffees fan Tony Bellew would have been proud of that one.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:36NICE WORK! Iroegbunam skips past Ayari and Dunk before executing a well-hit left-foot shot that just goes past the left post. It wasn't too far away at all. Everton still lead 1-0.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:35Minteh has been a real danger for Brighton and has already created three chances for his team-mates. Thus far, though, no one in a Brighton shirt has been able to add the finishing touch.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:32Dewsbury-Hall lifts a free-kick into the area towards Tarkowski but Brighton deal with the danger.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:30De Cuyper is the first name in the book as he grapples a little too closely with the shirt of Ndiaye to concede a free-kick in a dangerous area.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:30The home fans produce a round of applause in memory of Michael Jones, an Everton supporter who tragically died during the construction of Dickinson Hill Stadium.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:27It was wonderful work from Grealish, who many would have expected to roll it to Ndiaye but he went for a bit of fizz. He wants to make a big impact this season and this is the ideal start.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:27Interestingly, Ndiaye was the last player to score at Goodison Park and he's now the first to score at the Hill Dickinson. Not a bad place to be in terms of Everton's history, eh?
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:26GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL! HISTORY MADE FOR EVERTON WHO LEAD 1-0! THE HILL DICKINSON STADIUM ERUPTS! It's a classic counter-attack as Dewsbury-Hall plays Grealish free on the left, the England ace has Wieffer on toast before firing a left-foot ball across the face of goal where Ndiaye side-foots home to etch his name into the history books.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:23Grealish wins the first corner of the game for Everton. Garner clips a dangerous delivery to the near post and Barry launches himself at the ball but can only head over the top.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:22OH MY DAYS HOW DOES HE MISS?! Minteh completely outmuscles Gueye on the right channel and then lays it into the centre of the area. It's half a yard behind Welbeck, who can only scoop over the crossbar but truthfully he should have buried that. Two big moments for Brighton, but it remains 0-0.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:20CLOSE! Wow, that was almost wonderful from Mitoma. Tarkowski completely misjudges a long punt forward from and the brilliant Brighton winger races forward, flicks the ball back over the centre-back's head, then strikes a wonderful volley that leaves Pickford stranded but cannons off the crossbar. It remains goalless.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:18Pickford gets a little lucky with a poor clearance that Minteh collects but Brighton can't make the most of it. Everton then break and Gueye overhits a throughball to Barry, with Ndiaye wide open on the right flank.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:16The Hill Dickinson Stadium has today become the 62nd different venue to host a Premier League game.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:14Ayari cuts in from the left for Brighton and manages to work an opening from 20 yards, but his shot is straight at Pickford, who makes the easy hold.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:13Neither side has really been able to gain a real foothold in the early stages here, both teams are still sounding one another out.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:10Minteh beats Garner on the right of the penalty area and plays a low pass into the area, but it's behind everyone and Everton clear the danger.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:08Perhaps wisely, Brighton are now just trying to take the sting out of things but Baleba is fortunate a comedy mis-pass doesn't go out of play.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:06From the other side, Ndiaye skips past a few challenges and would have earned a free-kick but he jinked out of the tackle and gets a left-foot show away that is easily saved.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:05Everton are trying to start on the front here and a huge roar goes up as Grealish has the first chance to attack down the left flank. He almost gets the better of Wieffer but the attack dies out.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:02Hello and welcome to our live coverage of this Premier League fixture between Everton and Brighton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium!
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
14:01Here we go then, the theme from 'Z-Cars' blares out of the speaker system, a huge roar comes from the capacity crowd, who are all waving flags, blue smoke emanates into the air...that was pretty special. And the players now shake hands as kick-off fast approaches on Merseyside!
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:42Moyes spoke about the lack of goals Everton managed in pre-season and they of course drew a blank against Leeds last time out. So, that explain the two changes he makes here with summer signings Barry and Grealish thrown into the starting XI perhaps a little earlier than he might have liked, with Beto and Alcaraz shunted to the bench to make room for their inclusion. Brighton make just one change to their starting XI, with Welbeck starting up front in place of Georginio Rutter, who is carrying a slight knock.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:30BRIGHTON SUBS: Brajan Gruda, Jack Hinshelwood, James Milner, Olivier Boscagli, Jason Steele, Ferdi Kadioglu, Diego Gomez, Joel Veltman, Diego Coppola
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:30BRIGHTON (4-2-3-1): Bart Verbruggen; Maxim De Cuyper, Lewis Dunk, Jan Paul van Hecke, Mats Wieffer; Yasin Ayari, Carlos Baleba; Kaoru Mitoma, Matt O'Riley, Yankuba Minteh; Danny Welbeck
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:30EVERTON SUBS: Dwight McNeil, Beto, Mark Travers, Youssef Chermiti, Seamus Coleman, Charly Alcaraz, Adam Aznou, Harrison Armstrong, Tyler Onyango
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:30EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Jordan Pickford; James Garner, Michael Keane, James Tarkowski, Jake O'Brien; Idrissa Gueye, Tim Iroegbunam; Jack Grealish, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Iliman Ndiaye; Thierno Barry
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:30Today's opponents Brighton were not beaten in their opener but the manner of their 1-1 draw with Fulham will have felt like a defeat. The Seagulls were heading for all three points before Rodrigo Muniz stole a point in the seventh minute of time added on. As such, Fabian Hurzeler will be desperate to play the role of party pooper to get his side in the win column nice and early for the campaign.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:30David Moyes, speaking to Sky Sports before the game, described it as a "great thrill" to be the manager in charge for this historic day in Everton history. He'll want to see more great thrills from his side than they managed for their opening league fixture at Leeds United last time out, a game that resulted in a drab 1-0 defeat against the top-flight new boys.
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
13:30Yes, that's right - a little bit of history for this one today folks. After 133 proud years, Everton closed the doors at Goodison Park for the last time at the end of the previous campaign. Now, for the first time, they will host a competitive fixture at their swanky new £800million stadium built at Bramley-Moore Dock on the banks of the River Mersey. It promises to be an exciting day for the home supporters...
Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
12:00Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
