Brighton suffered a painful 2-0 loss as Everton started life in their impressive new Hill Dickinson Stadium with a victory against the Seagulls.
Everton’s loan signing from Manchester City, Jack Grealish, added the class with two assists as goals from Iliman Ndiaye and James Garner sealed the historic win.
Brighton though could easily have been two-up. Yankuba Minteh was a menace down the right flank and his run and cross teed-up Danny Welbeck on 15 minutes, who somehow scooped the ball over the bar from close range.
Kaoru Mitoma was then desperately unlucky as the Japan international cracked a brilliant volley against the bar. Jordan Pickford was well beaten and it would have been a fine first goal to grace the new stadium.
Fabian Hurzeler's team were made to pay. Grealish teased Albion full back Mats Wieffer before pinging a cross to the far post and Ndiaye tapped home for a first ever Premier League goal at their new home.
Brighton refused to sit back and Jan Paul van Hecke saw his long-range effort hit the post, via a deflection and Matt O'Riley really should have scored after he latched on to James Tarkowski's back pass.
Jack Hinshelwood came on for Carlos Baleba at halftime but a hammer blow soon arrived. On 52 minutes Idrissa Gueye's excellent first time pass found Grealish, who teed-up James Garner and his low shot from 25 yards evaded Bart Verbruggen's outstretched right hand. Verbruggen will be disappointed with that.
Hurzeler needed something to go his way, anything… And their chance came with almost 15 to go when Minteh's powerful effort crashed into the arms of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
A penalty was awarded but Danny Welbeck's tame effort was saved. Matt O'Riley, who scored from the spot last week against Fulham, was the first to console him.
Hurzeler looked to his bench but with Georginio injured, Joao Pedro and Simon Adingra sold and Evan Ferguson on loan in Italy, Brighton lacked game-changing options. Van Hecke was up front for the final stages. Here’s how the Seagulls rated…
5. Maxim De Cuyper 6
Booked in the first half after a tangle with Ndiaye and was replaced by Kadioglu on 65 minutes. Photo: Ryan Pierse
6. Yasin Ayari 5
The Sweden international was below his best today and was replaced by Gomez on 66 minutes. Photo: Mike Hewitt
7. Carlos Baleba 5
Still seems to be struggling with a knee issue that he sustained in pre-season. Looked a little laboured in the first half and didn't appear after the break. Photo: Michael Regan
8. Matt O'Riley 6
Picked up some dangerous positions and neat enough in possession. But he really should have buried a chance just before the break after latching on to Tarkowski's poor back pass. Why didn’t he take the penalty? Photo: Michael Regan