Everton 0 Brighton 3: Goodison Groundhog day disaster again as new season begins

What can anyone say as we watch the same old scenario play out at the Grand Old Lady with Everton once more slumping to defeat at home on opening day.

This has happened three seasons in a row now with the Blues losing at home under Frank Lampard on opening day in 2022-23, and with Sean Dyche as manager last season too.

Today was a deeply depressing three-peat of that scenario and leaves Everton supporters wondering again whether this team will ever improve.

All the cautious optimism that had emerged as the club put last season's chaos and controversy behind them to look forward positively after what has been widely considered a decent transfer window so far, has been totally punctured by today's result.

The faithful filed into Goodison for the Old Lady's last ever campaign this afternoon hoping for a strong start, perhaps even a win and three points to start the season. Some chance!

And the question has to be asked once more, will the Toffees end up experiencing yet another desperate struggle to avoid dropping into the Championship in this campaign?

I say this because nothing really seems to have changed despite those new additions and the positive signs that had emerged in pre-season.

Although the Blues had some good moments in the first half - and both Jack Harrison and Tim Iroegbunam might have scored - once Brighton went ahead through Kaoru Mitoma, it always looked an uphill struggle for the home side.

That is because of the constant problem with this team; how to score goals with any consistency.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin had a good shout for a penalty, which was eventually predictably denied and after that disappointment, the Seagulls scored a second and it was truly game over.

Eventually, the match became very one-sided with Brighton knocking the ball around assuredly as the Toffees misplaced their passes, with Idrissa Gueye losing possession for Danny Welbeck to get that second goal.

All the old failings and weaknesses were once again on display and highlighted - as if we did not know - just how limited this squad really is.

Then as if the day was not already bad enough, Ashley Young committed a reckless challenge and got himself sent off for the second time in his brief Everton career.

Finally, after Brighton had gone three up, Dyche decided to substitute his first-choice striker for a player who has only netted twice in the Premier League and then take off another forward Harrison for defender Mason Holgate!

Perhaps this is just a bad day at the office all round and in truth opening day throws up some lop-sided results.

After all Aston Villa were beaten 5-1 at the start of the last season and went on to finish fourth.

Of course Everton are not going to repeat that feat, but maybe they can recover quickly and improve soon. On today's evidence, they most certainly need to.

Next up though is really testing trip to North London to face a Spurs team the Blues have not beaten for a long time.