Everton underwhelm in Hill Dickinson Stadium's curtain-raiser
Everton ended their pre-season programme with another defeat as they went down by a goal to nil to sister club AS Roma in their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.
Acting as the third and final test event for the new ground, it was the first time Hill Dickinson Stadium has been close to capacity but there were neither goals for the home side nor a victory for the crowd to savour with David Moyes's side ending their sequence of official summer friendlies without a victory.
Matías Soulé scored the game's only goal but, in truth, the Italians' margin of victory could have been wider as Jordan Pickford was called upon to make some impressive saves while Soulé and Pisilli spurned good chances at the end.
For Everton, Thierno Barry made a lively first pre-season, forcing a save from Svilar in the first half before teeing up Iliman Ndiaye who should have opened the scoring but he lashed wide instead.
In the second period, Carlos Alcaraz had a fine glancing header palmed wide by the goalkeeper but the Toffees generally looked increasingly ragged after star performer Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall had been substituted with an hour gone.
The new signing went straight into a starting XI that included Jarrad Branthwaite, who missed the tour to the US with a thigh problem, and provided an immediate injection of positive and creative play to the midfield, offering hope for greate production from that part of the field when the Premier League campaign kicks off.
Worryingly, however, Vitalii Mykolenko was forced off early on with an apparent groin injury, casting doubt on his ability to face Leeds in nine days' time.
Everton: Pickford, O'Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite (Keane 79'), Mykolenko (Aznou (Coleman 80')), Gueye (Iroegbunam 61'), Garner, Dewsbury-Hall (McNeil 61'), Alcaraz (Chemiti 80'), Ndiaye, Barry (Beto 61')
Reader Responses
Selected thoughts from readers09/08/2025 22:28:58
We are in a different stadium. We have a different manager. We have several different players. But this afternoon’s performance felt hauntingly similar to what we saw a year ago against Roma at Goodison. The squad looks ill-prepared for Premier League football. I think Dyche was aware of that last year. We know Moyes is aware of it now.
Some fans are drawing comfort from the winning sequence at the end of last season. Unfortunately positive results in May never offer a guarantee of success in August. The attack is fitful, bereft of a consistent goal threat. A yawning gap exists on the right flank going forward. We lack reliable cover in both full back positions.
On the bright side, after only a few days training Dewsbury-Hall gave a lively performance in the attacking midfield role, looked comfortable in possession and full of confidence in his ability to dictate play in the opposition half. As ever Tarkowski and Branthwaite looked solid at the back while O’Brien is the best right back in the club at present. N’diaye, our best finisher, was denied a goal by a fine save in the second half. And the stadium is magnificent.
Moyes has a lot to do and think about before the first game at Leeds.
10/08/2025 17:03:20
I'm clinging to the hope that when the adrenaline kicks in for the real thing that we will be able to kick up a level in our performance. Dwight McNeil in particular seems to amble through pre-season but then comes alive when it really matters. Hopefully that's true for a number of them. After all, it's hard to manufacture a meaningful match in a friendly when the players know it isn't a competitive game.
Leeds (A) will be a very difficult test, though, and I'm not looking forward to going there with an injury to a first-choice defensive starter in Mykolenko already. I'm just hoping we can get something from the game and go again in the first home game against Brighton while adding more depth to the squad in the market in the meantime.
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09/08/2025 21:10:53
For an hour I thought we were OK. KDH was very impressive, we missed three very good chances and showed our familiar lack of conviction and pace in the final third.
The last 30 minutes was very ragged, and they cut through us, significantly once Gana & KDH went off.
Barry did OK, missed his one good chance, Aznou looks like he needs time.
Familiar failings. Pace, guile and conviction in the final third are much needed in the next two weeks. Let's see what the brinkmanship with Southampton, City and others brings us!