Archive August 24, 2025

It was a day of new beginnings for Everton and for a player who ran the risk of becoming one of the Premier League’s great lost talents as blue smoke soared toward the River Mersey during pre-game pyrotechnics.

Everton finally abandoned Goodison Park after 133 years when they played their first Premier League game in their magnificent new, state-of-the-art stadium.

Fans gathered in their thousands of hours before kick-off, heading from the renowned Liver Birds’ Pier Head to Hill Dickinson Stadium for a historic day, announcing Everton’s plans for a prosperous new era in the wake of years of financial and footballing strife.

And Jack Grealish, the most prominent arrival at the club this summer, was the one that was on so many fans’ lips when he was released from life in the shadows at Manchester City to start again on loan at Everton.

Grealish, who turns 30 in September, has recently made just seven league starts under Pep Guardiola.

With the World Cup afoot in the summer of next year, England head coach Thomas Tuchel has the motivation to know that he has a vested admiration for him. The objective is clear.

Grealish immediately felt the love of more than 50, 000 Everton supporters as he quickly showed a desire to fight defenders, a trait that seemed lost in his later years at City.

Even though Everton’s performance may not have been flawless, they did so in a game where only victory mattered and they came away with a 2-0 victory over Brighton, with Grealish playing a significant part.

When the ball was at his feet, he experienced the buzz of the crowd for the first time in a long time, and it took only 23 minutes for Grealish to make his pitch available on Merseyside from Etihad Stadium in the exact match that Everton manager David Moyes wanted.

Before drilling a cross to the far post, where the incoming Iliman Ndiaye made a challenging finish appear simple, Grealish drove deep into the Brighton penalty area leaving Mats Wieffer in his wake.

Grealish’s second assist, a short pass to James Garner, was a more conventional move that Bart Verbruggen could not have done without.

Grealish had as many assists in 52 minutes as he had in his previous two Premier League games for Manchester City.

He had three assists in a game for the Premier League, including two against Leeds United in December 2022 and three against Liverpool in October 2020.

In the closing moments, Grealish put a chance on Dwight McNeil’s plate with a miscued shot in front of a gaping goal, but the substitute made a complete hash of it.

Grealish’s play impressed more than just its antagonistic elements. When necessary, he was more than willing to do the dirty work.

Everton (7) had the most possessions of all time, and Grealish, along with Ndiaye, had three tackles in top three.

Four minutes into stoppage time, Everton manager Moyes took the opportunity to let Grealish enjoy a standing ovation as he was replaced by Harrison Armstrong, who had been playing for the team.

Grealish, who wore a smile throughout the game that appeared to require having it removed, said: “Brilliant, brilliant day.

Before the game, we stated that we wanted to put on a show for the fans. It was a big day entering the new stadium for the club itself. The day turned out perfect.

“I believe we gave that one to every fan,” he said. In this stadium, it is a pleasure to play for this team.

Grealish applauded his assistance, saying, “It’s just as significant for me. I learned a lot from Kevin de Bruyne when I played with him, but scoring goals in football is so important.

In my opinion, assistance is superior to scoring. It’s a special feeling to assist your team-mates. I only want to contribute to this club in my free time so that we can continue to improve and give more goals and assists.

Everton lost to Leeds in their opening game, so getting off the mark helped both the relief and the cheer.

That’s what we had been hoping for and waiting for, Moyes declared to BBC Sport. We are attempting to add that extra quality, and we are doing just that. Both Jack and Kerry Dewsbury-Hall did a fantastic job. We’re thrilled that we have added a little more quality and that we need to get some more goals.

After the game at Leeds United, we played more like Everton. The Everton things required that we do.

After a depressing performance at Elland Road, Everton fans gathered around the stadium to celebrate this historic victory, which was the ideal start.

Moyes believed that he would travel to Everton for a second spell to help them settle in their new home, and that “it might” have been “written in the stars.”

In 100 years, someone will be standing here interviewing a manager. We’ll be long gone, but today we started it, and I’m hoping that people will talk a lot about the future’s history.

Betfred Super League

Wigan (18) 44

Goals: Keighran, Smith 5; Nsemba, Field, Marshall, Walters;

Wakefield (2) 2

With a comprehensive victory over Wakefield Trinity at Brick Community Stadium, Wigan Warriors reclaimed second place in the Super League.

At the break, Adam Keighran, Bevan French, and Zach Eckersley gave them a 16-point lead.

After the break, Junior Nsemba, Jai Field, Eckersley, Liam Marshall, and Sam Walters scored the two points for a strong performance.

A well-weighted grubber kick from the hosts came in 15 minutes and found Australian centre Keighran who bravely faced two defenders to touch down and start the scoring.

For his 100th try of the Super League, French responded quickest to the loose ball by dipping down underneath the sticks after another French grubber kick intended for Walters.

In the 32nd minute, Warriors won their third goal thanks to a fantastic one-handed offload from French, who turned in Eckersley over the bar unopposed in the right corner.

After five minutes of play, Marshall unselfishly set up Nsemba to score the Warriors’ fourth try and put an end to the contest.

Farrell found Patrick Mago, whose line break set up Field and completed a lovely move during a pleasant afternoon for the hosts.

Ethan Havard was sent to the sin-bin after clattering high on the hour mark while making his 100th Super League appearance for Wigan.

Wigan overloaded the visitors on the right wing, with French and Farrell getting involved once more before Eckersley scored his second try despite having only 12 men.

Daryl Powell, the head of Wakefield Trinity, stated to BBC Radio Leeds:

“We just gave away too much in the first half,” he said. You can’t play that kind of game against Wigan if you get into good positions and start the game well, but you can’t drop the ball when you play.

The first two tries were difficult to defend, respectively. If you want to win a game against Wigan, you don’t use those kinds of stats, even though Wigan had 91% territory in the first half.

We were simply described as poor. Even though today’s performance isn’t great, a little perspective is needed from where we’ve come from. Individual players must play well for the team to succeed. We were really poor today, despite what I believed to be true.

Nsemba, Mago, Leeming, and Hill are the exchanges.

Sin-bin: Havard (60 mins)

Wakefield includes the following: Jowitt, Walmsley, Scott, Pratt, Johnstone, Trueman, Lino, McMeeken, Hood, Storton, Vagana, Griffin, Pitts, and Johnson.

Atoni, Cozza, Smith, and Faatili make changes.

Old Trafford’s Hundred women’s competition, and Old Trafford

Birmingham Phoenix 111-3 (100 balls): Perry 55* (48), Kalis 43* (39)

Manchester Originals 95 (100 balls): Smale 29 (34), Schutt 3-14

Birmingham Phoenix defeated Birmingham by 16 runs.

After falling to Birmingham Phoenix by 16 runs at Old Trafford, Manchester Originals’ chances of making it to the women’s team were hampered.

The Originals lost four powerplay wickets before being bowled out for 95 in what should have been a routine chase of 112.

After earlier lowering Birmingham Phoenix to 17-3, they were left disappointed that they had missed out on opportunities to dismiss Ellyse Perry and Sterre Kalis, who had combined for an unbeaten 94-run fourth-wicket partnership to avenge a match-winning total.

The Originals, who have never previously advanced beyond the women’s group stage, knew that a top-three finish would come after their final two matches.

The Originals have since lost four points, falling behind London Spirit in terms of net run-rate and trailing second-placed Northern Superchargers by four points in Headingley on Tuesday.

Before Perry and Kalis combined to rebuild their side’s innings, Phoenix lost three wickets in 30 balls, with Georgia Voll, Emma Lamb, and Amy Jones all missing for single-figure knocks and Mahika Gaur taking 1-5 from her 15 powerplay deliveries.

Perry had to have been stumped on eight balls to get her second half-century in as many games. Meanwhile, Alis capitalized on Beth Mooney’s 13-point drop to score 43 (39).

The Originals responded with a terrible start, with Kathryn Bryce needlessly being run out on the third inning. After being caught for a four-ball duck, Megan Schutt (3-14), Alice Monaghan and Melie Kerr both left the batting line with a score of 14-4.

The Originals’ slim chances of winning were lost when the big-hitting Deandra Dottin was caught by Ailsa Lister for 13 on the boundary.

Sophia Gardens, The Hundred women’s competition

Trent Rockets 145-6 (100 balls): Sciver-Brunt 38 (26), Davies 3-26

Welsh Fire 122-9 (100 balls): Dunkley 26 (23), King 3-17

By 23 runs, Trent Rockets won.

Welsh Fire’s 23-run victory over Trent Rockets kept their flimsy qualification hopes alive in the Sophia Gardens women’s competition.

The Rockets are now just four points outside of the top three heading into their final group game against Phoenix on Wednesday, combined with the defeat of the Manchester Originals.

Rockets successfully defended a close call at 145-6 while Fire, who had already lost, struggled to find partners in their 122-9 reply.

They were perplexed by the world-class spinners Ash Gardner and Alana King, both of whom took five wickets each.

With 3-17, Leg-spinner King seized control and turn from the Cardiff surface, while Gardner’s relentless accuracy saw her smash the key wickets of Hayley Matthews and Sophia Dunkley.

With 20 balls left, the Rockets were set for a formidable total of 120-2, but Fire regained some control as both set batters dropped in six balls, Sciver-Brunt scoring 38 and Gardner finishing with 36.

At the end of the third ball, Freya Davies took two wickets in two balls, but despite their strong fightback, the result was far too much for a batting line-up that had had a difficult campaign.

London Spirit will need to beat Oval Invincibles at 15:00 BST to increase their top-three hopes in the women’s competition, which is a crucial day for them as they aim to do so.

At 18:30 BST, Invincibles has already confirmed a spot in the knockouts, and Spirit has already left.

Despite being substituted early in the Gunners’ 5-0 win over Leeds United, scans on Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard suggested neither had sustained long-term injuries.

Saka left the field with a rumored hamstring injury in the second half while Captain Odegaard was forced to miss the first half due to a shoulder injury.

Manager Mikel Arteta expressed his concern after the game that Saka’s injury was “significant,” but sources have since said neither player will be ruled out for a significant amount of time.

Saka missed four months due to a serious right hamstring injury last season, but the problem was resolved in Saturday’s game.

Kai Havertz has been sidelined with a knee injury, but Arsenal quickly recovered with the signing of Eberechi Eze for £60m from Crystal Palace.

Due to injury, Havertz, Christian Norgaard, and Gabriel Jesus also had to miss the game against Leeds.

Sophia Gardens’ Hundred men’s competition

Welsh Fire 150-6 (100 balls): Eskinazi 53 (42), Cook 2-17

Trent Rockets 152-7 (99 balls): Root 64* (41), Green 2-34

Trent Rockets won by three wickets.

Trent Rockets won the match against Welsh Fire 2-0 thanks to Joe Root’s sublime 64 not out, clinching their place in the Hundred men’s standings.

With 25 balls left, Rockets were cruising at 151, but they lost five wickets for 20 runs as Fire’s bowlers dragged themselves back into contention.

With 14 needed from 5, David Payne made Fire the favorites after Marcus Stoinis and David Willey were required to score 18 from 10 balls for the visitors.

Sam Hain scored the winning runs with a ball with no trouble as Root held his nerve and whacks a six and a four to regain control.

With their victory, Rockets moved into contention with the top three teams and defeated the rest, joining Northern Superchargers and Oval Invincibles at the top of the table.

Payne had Root caught at point from the fourth ball of the innings when he was yet to score, but the third umpire confirmed that the seamer had decisively overstepped. Fire were left to rue this.

Tom Banton’s 32 was the next highest contribution, with four four fours and three sixes remaining from Root’s 41-ball knock remaining chanceless.

Before that, Fire’s own innings sprang into question as they sprinted around a run per ball for the first 60 deliveries, with both Jonny Bairstow and Steve Smith both falling early for eight.

Opening batsman Stephen Eskinazi added 97 for the third wicket with Tom Abell as he recovered his knock, taking 53 from 42 balls, including a six off David Willey, which cleared the Sophia Gardens pavilion.

At the end of the inning, Fire struggled to get started without a set batter as the pair fell in consecutive balls.

The table toppers advance straight to the final on August 31; however, the final standings of the men’s table are still to be determined.

London Spirit will need to beat Oval Invincibles at 15:00 BST to increase their top-three hopes in the women’s competition, which is a crucial day for them as they aim to do so.

At 18:30 BST, Invincibles have already confirmed a spot in the knockouts, and Spirit has already been eliminated.

Betfred Super League

Huddersfield (6) 23

Tries: Flanagan, Gagai, and McGowan.

Warrington (10) 10

With a defeat at Huddersfield Giants, Warrington Wolves’ chances of winning the Super League play-off ended in a potentially fatal blow.

The hosts took control through Aidan McGowan’s try in a game filled with twists and turns.

Warrington came out in front 10-6 at halftime thanks to Connor Wrench and Toby King.

A George Flanagan try double, a Jacob Gagai try, and an Oliver Russell drop-goal gave Huddersfield the lead.

When McGowan crossed in the corner, the Giants rose to victory despite being under early pressure.

The video referee overturned a first-time no-try decision, concluding that Flanagan’s superb work and timely conversion from a challenging angle had resulted in a fair grounding.

After Marc Sneyd’s forward kick, Warrington responded when Flanagan lost the ball to Wrench on the line. Before Sneyd failed to convert from close range, the video referee gave an official confirmation of the decision.

In a fifth game in a row against Huddersfield, Matt Dufty, back in the Wolves side, fed King with the extras, turning the situation around.

The hosts early in the second half forced Warrington to retreat, but they kept fighting back. Russell’s searching kick on the line was effectively cut out by Wrench as Gagai persisted intently.

After some brilliant improvisation, Gagai crossed for his 10th try of the season 15 minutes from time. Flanagan missed his kick, giving him the lead.

The Giants’ desire was only fueled by that failure, though. When Gagai fed Flanagan, who drove over the line before turning in his own try, they saw an opportunity and seized it.

I’m extremely pleased with how they went about it. We had a little trouble moving the ball, which was disappointing. We were always going to be a little clunky, but I applauded everyone’s efforts and drive, and we succeeded.

Ollie Russell doesn’t play, which is a fact. “We don’t win the game.” When young children aren’t ready, I don’t want them. The club supported my decision to bring him back, and that drop-goal was a really nice decision.

Interchanges: Burgess, English, Wilson, and Golding

Warrington: Dufty, Jake Thewis, Wrench, King, Josh Thewis, Williams, Sneyd, Yates, Walker, Matterson, Stone, Fitzgibbon, and others. Currie

Thomas, Powell, Holroyd, Harrison, and others.