Everton's new era begins on the Mersey
A new stadium. A new chapter. Everton host Brighton & Hove Albion today in the club's first competitive match at Hill Dickinson Stadium, a 52,769-seater on the banks of the River Mersey. Kickoff is 2:00 PM BST (9:00 AM ET, 6:00 AM PT, 12:00 AM AEDT Monday). After 133 years at Goodison Park, the Toffees finally flip the page in front of a full house and a national TV audience.
The timing adds edge. Everton stumbled out of the gate with a 1-0 defeat to newly promoted Leeds United on opening weekend. David Moyes needs a response, and fast. A strong performance would calm nerves and set the tone for a season built around momentum, matchday revenue, and a home-field identity in a brand-new venue.
Hill Dickinson Stadium is now the seventh-largest in the Premier League. It is designed to keep fans close to the pitch and the noise trapped in, the kind of atmosphere Everton relied on at Goodison. The club has talked up sightlines, accessibility, and a matchday layout meant to move crowds quickly around the concourses. The waterfront setting gives the place a different feel from the old neighborhood walk to Goodison, but the job is the same: make it loud and make it hostile for the visitors.
Leaving Goodison was never going to be easy. That ground saw title runs, European nights, and escapes that still make hearts race. The hope now is simple: carry that defiance down the road and make new memories that matter. An opening-day win would help build belief that the move is more than a real estate project; it is a football advantage.
Brighton arrive with inconvenient timing for the hosts. The Seagulls drew their opener against Fulham after conceding an equalizer in the final seconds, so they will feel they left points on the table. They also have history on their side: Brighton are unbeaten in their last four visits to face Everton, with three wins and a draw. They tend to travel well, play on the front foot, and punish loose passes. If Everton hesitate in build-up or switch off on set pieces, Brighton can flip the game fast.
Moyes used his new signings in the Leeds defeat, and this is the stage for them to make a real entrance. Jack Grealish gives Everton a ball-carrier who draws fouls and opens angles around the box. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall adds legs and delivery in midfield, a link from the first pass to the final third. Thierno Barry brings width and pace. Put those profiles together and you get a plan: win second balls, play forward early, and ask Brighton's back line to defend while facing their own goal.
Expect Everton to lean on structure. Moyes teams are usually compact between the lines, strong on restarts, and pragmatic about when to press. Brighton are brave in possession, so Everton can bait traps, jump passing lanes, and turn mistakes into quick chances. The risk is obvious: if the press is half a step late, Brighton will cut through and force Everton's defenders to make big one-on-one stops.
- The first goal at the new ground will go straight into club trivia. Players feel that kind of history. It can free nerves or add pressure.
- Set pieces could decide it. With a new stadium, new sightlines, and a loud stand behind the goal, delivery and second-phase reactions are huge.
- Transition defense is the swing factor. If Everton lose the ball with fullbacks high, Brighton will race into the space.
- Grealish's positioning. If he drifts inside and draws two defenders, Everton's opposite winger will have room to attack the back post.
- Game management. Brighton have scored late in games before; Everton must close halves cleanly.
Kickoff time, TV channel, and how to watch
Kickoff: 2:00 PM BST (United Kingdom) / 9:00 AM ET (United States) / 6:00 AM PT (United States) / 12:00 AM AEDT Monday (Australia).
United Kingdom: Live coverage is on Sky Sports. Check Sky Sports Main Event or Premier League channels for the broadcast and pregame build-up.
United States: The match airs on USA Network. You can stream it with your cable or live TV login, or via services that carry USA Network, including Sling TV and others that offer the channel in their packages.
International: Rights vary by region. Many territories offer Premier League coverage on local broadcasters and official streaming platforms. If you use a VPN while traveling, make sure you follow local laws and your provider's terms.
Radio and mobile: Most regional rights holders also offer audio streams and mobile app coverage. If you're on the move, match alerts and live radio commentary remain the quickest way to stay connected to key moments.
Matchday notes for fans going to the game: arrive early. Opening day at a new stadium means new routines at the turnstiles, longer queues for transport, and a bit of trial and error with concourses and seat access. Give yourself time to explore and still be in your spot for the teams walking out.
Beyond the spectacle, this is about points. Everton cannot afford a slow start that snowballs into pressure by September. The new stadium should lift energy levels and help turn narrow matches, but results must follow. Brighton, meanwhile, will see opportunity: a nervous home side, a massive occasion, and recent success away in this fixture. The details will decide it — not the ribbon cutting.
Season context matters too. A modern stadium changes the club's economics: more matchday revenue, more hospitality, and a platform to recruit. But the pitch is still the truth. If Everton harness the noise, settle on a compact shape, and get early delivery into dangerous areas, they can flip the narrative from opening-day disappointment to home-opener statement. If Brighton control tempo and pull midfielders out of position, they can spoil the party and keep their unbeaten run in this matchup going.
If you're just here for the quick info: the Everton vs Brighton live stream is on USA Network in the US, Sky Sports in the UK, and local Premier League partners worldwide. The first whistle at Hill Dickinson Stadium comes at 2:00 PM BST. The rest is history waiting to happen.
