Everton

Tom White
BBC Sport journalist

A grand total of 99 days after Everton's tearful goodbye to Goodison Park, the Toffees play their first competitive fixture at Hill Dickinson Stadium with Brighton & Hove Albion the visitors.

David Moyes' side will want to hit the ground running in their new surroundings, with Monday night's 1-0 defeat at Leeds taking some shine off fan excitement around a fresh start in their new ground. Indeed, Moyes warned fans in his pre-match news conference that after "a difficult window" the club could be in for "a difficult season".

Moyes will hope the stadium move can quickly coincide with an upturn in the Blues home form. Of the teams to have featured in each of the past three Premier League seasons, Everton's 19 victories from 57 home games is the fewest, while their five wins at Goodison last term was only better than the three relegated sides.

Brighton, meanwhile, found it was a new season but the same old frailties on the opening day, letting a one-goal lead slip at home to Fulham when substitute Rodrigo Muniz scored a 96th-minute equaliser to deny them victory.

The Seagulls are unbeaten in their past four visits to Everton (W3, D1) and will be hoping to replicate their performance from the opening day of last season when goals from Kaoru Mitoma, Danny Welbeck and Simon Adingra gifted Fabian Hurzeler a 3-0 victory in his first game in charge.

Welbeck didn't start against Fulham but will undoubtedly be keen to face the Toffees, against whom he has five goals and five assists in his last 18 appearances as well as scoring in his past two starts away at the Merseyside club.

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Everton boss David Moyes has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Brighton at Hill Dickinson Stadium (kick-off 14:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Jarrad Branthwaite, Vitaliy Mykolenko and Nathan Patterson are unavailable due to injury. Branthwaite is "on his way back" but Mykolenko and Patterson "aren't fit".

• Summer signing Adam Aznou "returned to training today" and could be available.

• When asked whether Jack Grealish might start this weekend, after a substitute appearance last time out, he replied: "I thought his first glimpse was OK, so let's see where it goes from there."

• He believes his return in time to lead the Toffees into their "new era" was "written in the stars in some way", admitting: "I was actually looking forward to coming to the new stadium as a football supporter to watch the games and then I got offered the job."

• On whether there is extra pressure to get the first win at the new ground, he said: "When I came in last year I felt pressure to get results to stay in the Premier League, then I felt pressure to win the last game at Goodison, so you can always put pressure on things." However, the squad are "looking forward to it" and he hopes the supporters are "excited for it" as well.

• They haven't trained at Hill Dickinson Stadium this week in preparation, choosing to make "the best use of their time" at the training ground instead. He added: "We've had the chance to play down there a couple of times already, so we hope we can get used to it quickly. Everybody knows playing at a new stadium is never that easy."

• On facing Brighton: "They are a progressive football club who have continued to improve year-on-year. They have a very good team and it will be a tough game against a good footballing side. I don't think anybody gets an easy game against them and we don't expect that either."

• There has been progress on the transfer front but he warned that he "cannot guarantee" things will "come off" the way the club wants. He was also hesitant to reveal any of the club's targets.

• He rejected the idea that other clubs spending big this summer is hindering the Toffees: "We've got money to spend so we are trying to spend it. We are in there and we are trying to be competitive, but we're just finding it very difficult at the moment."

• When asked why Everton are struggling in the market, he responded: "It's absolutely European football. I've had the chance to manage a club with that offering before and you attract a different level of player. At the minute, we are having to build up an awful lot of trust with the players and agents that we are a club moving in the right direction."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Everton are interested in signing 30-year-old Manchester City and Netherlands defender Nathan Ake to reinforce their defence. (Mail), external

Crystal Palace will attempt to gazump Everton in the race to sign 19-year-old Southampton winger Tyler Dibling by making a £35m-plus bid for the teenager. (Givemesport), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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Everton have announced a new strategic partnership with Japanese side Nagoya Grampus.

The two clubs will share resources and knowledge in regards to development of emerging talent, academy tours, youth training opportunities, coaching and performance staff, and expertise across both men's and women's football.

The Toffees say the collaboration will 'span football, community and commercial activities' and will be "underpinned by values around player development, coaching excellence, social responsibility and innovation".

Everton's chief executive officer, Angus Kinnear said: "This partnership reflects Everton's ambition to build purposeful, rewarding and long-term relationships with organisations and clubs who share our values and vision.

"We look forward to learning from each other and delivering meaningful benefits for both clubs – and our respective communities."

Nagoya Grampus chairman, Moritaka Yoshida, added: "We are extremely pleased to have entered into this strategic partnership with Everton, a club with a long history and a strong connection to its community.

"Everton is actively engaged not only in football but also in sustainability and social contribution activities, values that align with Nagoya Grampus's vision of becoming 'the number one club in our town'.

Image source, Getty Images

Where to start? David Moyes has expressed his frustration at the lack of signings this summer and his mood would not have been helped by an awful display in the defeat at Leeds United.

Moyes has prioritised a right-sided attacker all summer. Negotiations for Southampton's talented teenager Tyler Dibling are dragging on, while a move for Lyon's Malick Fofana was placed on ice as he weighs up his options.

Leicester City's Abdul Fatawu is another of interest, but Moyes simply has to get a deal over the line in that position to inject pace and creation.

Everton will also look at right-back - where they thought they had Fulham's Kenny Tete only for him to decide to stay at Craven Cottage – and Leicester City's James Justin is of interest, although Leeds United also want the talented defender.

Norwich City's Kellen Fisher has also caught the eye. A defensive midfielder will also be on the agenda to give help to 36-year-old Idrissa Gueye.

A fairly full "in tray" for Moyes.

Read Phil's analysis on every Premier League club here

Everton still want to sign new players before the deadline - especially a winger - and could make another bid for Southampton's English forward Tyler Dibling, 19. (Sky Sports), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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Ian Kennedy
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

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David Moyes would clearly like to see some new faces bolster the ranks before the transfer deadline closes.

The team selection for the Leeds United game wasn't helped by injury problems, but it is not ideal to have players playing out of position and that also left the bench short of options.

The right-hand side is the hot topic at the moment, and we will wait and see whether that can be addressed or not, but it would would be good for the Blues to have some reinforcements there.

On the plus side, we saw the introduction of Jack Grealish for the last 20 minutes at Elland Road.

Perhaps patience will be needed in terms of getting him fully up to speed, but once he is, he could make a real difference – a player of undoubted quality who will surely now get regular game time.

Grealish has got the touch, vision and guile to give Everton an extra dimension - but they will then need someone to get on the end of that guile and convert the chances.

Moyes' side had precious few on Monday, so it wasn't an easy night for Beto, and we wait to see what threat Thierno Barry can provide on a regular basis.

But a fresh chapter begins on Sunday at Hill Dickinson - and Everton will hope it inspires a first win of the new season.

Listen to Total Sport Merseyside from 18:00 on weeknights and find details here of live Everton match commentaries on BBC Radio Merseyside

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Nottingham Forest have joined Everton in the hunt for Norwich right-back Kellen Fisher, 21. (Pete O'Rourke, external)

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Giulia Bould
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

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The James Tarkowski penalty debate is still raging and while David Moyes was furious with the decision, I know it is unlikely to have been that which kept him up last night. He will be more concerned with his side's performance after just one shot on target.

A serious rebuild is needed at Everton after 12 players went out the exit door over the summer. Many, it can be argued, were not good enough to launch an assault on the European places this season but, even so, it has left the squad threadbare.

It was obvious the transfer window would be a slow burner for the Toffees during their trip to America last month. The squad for the Premier League Summer Series was padded out with under-21 players and the manager himself announced he was looking to bringin "nine or 10" more in the coming weeks.

The arrival of Jack Grealish on loan last week did create a buzz. It has been a good while since the Blue half of Merseyside made a marquee signing. You could argue the England star is the first big name since the arrival of James Rodriguez in 2020 - though it should be said no fans got to see the Columbia winger play in the flesh because of the pandemic!

However, that good feeling Grealish created driving into Finch Farm disappeared as fast as the travelling Blues left Elland Road on Monday night. It is very clear the club needs numbers - and quickly.

Central midfielder James Garner was forced to play at left-back while Jake O'Brien, who has made his desires to return to being a centre-back clear, has been the first-choice right-back since Moyes returned last term. Just two examples of how lacking Everton are right now.

It is my understand that deals are likely to go to the wire on deadline day simply because, while Everton are within the profit and sustainability rules threshold, they are not allowed to spend big so it means there is competition for the players they are looking at.

The only consolation for fans is the window shuts at 19:00 BST so at least it will not be a late night waiting for news.

Watch more reaction on iPlayer

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Without early recruitment "you are always trying to play catch-up", says David Moyes' former assistant Steve Round.

Everton's season got off to a difficult start on Monday as they lost 1-0 away to promoted Leeds.

The side were out-played in the first-half as manager Moyes tries to contend with a high turnover of players this summer.

"The most important thing to a good start to a season is early recruitment," Round told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

"You get the chance to work for six weeks of pre-season with your team - getting them in shape, in the way you want to play and with your identity, that stature and structurer you want to get in place.

"But, if you don't get new recruits in until the last week [of the transfer window] - and you saw that with Jack Grealish against Leeds - you can't really embed them into the way you want to play. You are always trying to play catch up and it's very, very difficult."

The Toffees have brought in seven new faces so far this transfer window, but that comes off the back of a campaign where a starting XI's worth of players left the club.

Moyes had been vocal during pre-season about the need to bolster the a thin squad, saying after a 3-0 defeat by Bournemouth that they needed at least six more players.

"Everton are starting to get one or two better players through the door, and I think they'll get two or three more before the end of the window. But, it will have been really frustrating for David not having them at the start of the transfer window so they can work with the team," Round added.

"They need cover at left-back. Probably need a right-back to cover Seamus Coleman there. They also probably need a really good central midfielder and another centre forward. A quality striker to be the real number nine."

Listen back on BBC Sounds

Briony Bragg
Fan writer

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After such a disappointing performance it is hard not to overreact.

Indeed, I can't really decide whether to be angrier at the terrible penalty decision or the inability to create anything on the pitch.

Leeds fully deserved the win. Everton had no flair, creativity or drive going forward.

The season has approached with a fair amount of promise. Very rarely has a signing excited the Everton fans the way Jack Grealish has, and unlike his predecessor's talk of an impending relegation battle last year, David Moyes has refreshingly spoken of wanting to challenge the top end of the table - not the bottom.

With a new ground that looks fit for challengers for European football, there really are some reasons to be optimistic.

And yet, the gaps in the squad are glaringly obvious. This is the biggest rebuild in the league. In all fairness to him, the manager has made that very clear.

Everton began the game at Leeds with no recognised left or right-back (and the left-back they did buy was not even in the squad).

On paper, the team lacks serious firepower and depth compared with Premier League rivals.

A right-winger, right-back, a defensive midfielder and, to some extent, even a striker are what this team needs as a bare minimum to move forward.

The transfer window continues to be a major source of anxiety for the fanbase, with a new recruitment team failing to inspire confidence in their first real test.

Time is ticking before the window shuts. The Friedkin Group asked fans to judge them on their actions. Over to them.

Image source, Getty Images

Everton defender Jake O'Brien has described Monday's defeat at Leeds United as "very frustrating and very disappointing".

The towering centre-back was critical of the penalty award that led to the hosts' winner, but also said, even without that call, his team simply were not performing well enough to secure a result.

"I don't know where he is supposed to put his arm. He is tucked in as much as he can, and it's as behind as much as he can put it," O'Brien told BBC Radio Merseyside.

I don't know what the referee wanted him to do, but there is nothing he can do. It is very harsh.

"It's natural that he has put his body on the line, and it's literally behind him in a natural position. They took five minutes to look at it, and they still couldn't see that it was in a natural position.

"But penalty or no penalty, we weren't good enough and we didn't create enough. There were times we didn't look up to it, but the next game is coming up fast."

Listen to more from O'Brien on BBC Sounds

The Monday Night Club was on air during Everton's opening game of the season at Leeds United - but after seeing the late penalty decision, talk soon turned to the referee's decision.

"That's absolutely not a penalty," said former Premier League striker Chris Sutton. "James Tarkowski's arm is down by his side so it is a genuine attempt to block a shot.

"That's a scandal! With the way the directive is towards handballs, I think that that is really, really harsh."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer at Elland Road

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Everton manager David Moyes cut a frustrated figure throughout a difficult evening for his side at Elland Road, often seen with his head in his hands as the Blues conceded possession frequently and adopted a passive approach.

It took Everton 53 minutes to have a shot, a wild effort off target from Idrissa Gueye, and it was a tough assignment to ask substitute Jack Grealish to breathe life into this dismal display in 20 minutes.

Moyes has expressed his concerns about the lack of signings this summer and the mediocre, undercooked fare served up at Elland Road could be used as exhibit A to support his argument.

Everton barely mustered an attack worthy of the name and there will surely be renewed urgency to strengthen a squad which desperately needs a new right-back, a wide-right player and another defensive midfielder - just for starters.

An opening game against a newly promoted club is always hazardous, especially if that club is Leeds United at Elland Road, but Everton did not help themselves with such a conservative strategy.

Moyes was complaining to referee Chris Kavanagh after the final whistle - but he can have no complaints about leaving empty-handed.

Did you know?

• Everton failed to have a shot in the first half of a Premier League match for the first time since February 2024 against Brighton.

• The Toffees have lost their opening league game in four consecutive seasons, having been unbeaten on matchday one in the 10 previous campaigns.

We asked for your thoughts after Monday's Premier League game between Leeds United and Everton.

Here are some of your comments:

Leeds fans

Andy: A work in progress. A really good performance, perhaps deserving a slice of luck with the goal. Looked solid against a rather blunt Everton attack. Definitely needs a little more magic up front. But these are matches to take points from, Leeds must be on the right side of results in matches like this if they are to stay in the division.

Robert: We were a little fortunate with the penalty but we will be "unfortunate" many more times as the season progresses. Better team won. Period. Onwards & upwards!

Gary: As a Leeds fan I think it was harsh but I will take it. I'm sure over the course of the season we will have decisions go against us.

Mark: A solid performance particularly in the first half. Lacked some quality in the final third which is what needs to be sorted in the next few weeks.

Paul: It was a decent performance, particularly in the first half. Both teams struggled to create much and it wasn't always the best of quality but we proved that we can compete and this will build confidence.

Everton fans

Glenn: Poor performance and a terrible penalty decision shouldn't hide that fact. Everton are notoriously slow starters and only one new face in the starting 11 shows the transfer window has been poor so far. Beto has been awful in pre-season and our new striker Thierno Barry should've started. A makeshift back four, no right-winger, no right-back, it's hard for Moyes to establish any kind of playing style. Lots to do before the window closes.

John: A poor performance, definitely second best. But battled hard and an awful penalty decision.

Graham: Poor display. Too many backwards passes. No intent to go forward. Obviously terrible penalty decision. Need more quality signed up ASAP!

Dave: Awful display, but it's not time to panic. Moyes' teams always start slow and this one still has some incomings to sort out and major defensive injury issues. We'll grow into the season and have a strong second half to finish top half I think. Also, never a pen.

Magnus: Never a penalty. We were lucky to be in the game after first half but unlucky not to get anything from the game after our second-half performance. We can do better and with signing of players for the right side of the pitch we can challenge for Europe.

Everton boss David Moyes does not believe James Tarkowski handled Anton Stach's shot and it was "a really poor decision" to reward Leeds with a penalty.

Lukas Nmecha slotted home from the spot six minutes from time and the Toffees' first game of the season ended in defeat.

Moyes told BBC Sport: "I'm really disappointed, and unless you cut the boy's hand off, I don't know where he goes.

"I don't know if the crowd plays a part in it - they got right behind their team. They played well and probably deserved the victory, in fairness.

"It's a really poor decision. VAR had a chance to undo it. They tried to say he was leaning to the ball. Surely you're allowed to lean with your hands by your sides?

On the referees: "That's a really bad one for us. The referees haven't had a great weekend.

"Leeds came out of the blocks and we expected it. We changed at half-time and we were much better in the second half, and if any team was going to win it, I thought it would be us."

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Leeds' performance

What did you make of Everton's display?

Come back to this page on Tuesday to find a selection of your replies