Brighton’s young manager Fabian Hurzeler started his Premier League career with an impressive win that meant Everton began their final season at Goodison Park in miserable fashion.
The venue has been Everton’s home ground since 1892, but they will move to a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock for the start of next season.
Hurzeler, the Premier League’s youngest ever permanent manager, and his Brighton side were in no mood to provide any sentiment towards the opposition.
Tackles flew in during a thunderous first half in which Everton’s Jack Harrison had an early goal ruled out for offside, while at the other end Joao Pedro rattled the post with a stinging low drive.
The visitors took the lead courtesy of Kaoru Mitoma’s easy finish at the back post following fine work from debutant Yankuba Minteh, who was heavily linked with a move to Everton before joining Brighton this summer.
Everton had a penalty award overturned at the start of the second half despite Lewis Dunk appearing to catch Dominic Calvert-Lewin, as referee Simon Hooper reviewed the incident on the pitchside monitor.
Feeling hard done by, Everton were then punished further as Idrissa Gueye misplaced a pass in midfield, allowing the Seagulls to counter, and Danny Welbeck stroked in a lovely finish from the edge of the box.
Everton’s Ashley Young was sent off as the last man for pulling back Japan international Mitoma, and Simon Adingra slid home a third goal late on to inflict a thoroughly desperate opening defeat on the home side.