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AS Roma Edge Everton in Historic Hill Dickinson Stadium Test Event Matías Soulé’s second-half strike secured a narrow 1-0 victory for AS Roma over Everton in a highly significant friendly match on Merseyside, which marked the final test event played in front of a full capacity crowd at the Blues’ new Hill Dickinson Stadium. The pre-season fixture, held on Saturday, 9 August, was less about the result and more about the rigorous operational assessment of the new 52,769-seater stadium on the city's waterfront. While a moment of quality from Roma’s Matías Soulé settled the scoreline, the day was hailed as a comprehensive success in preparation for Everton's official 2025/26 Premier League campaign opener. The fixture against the Italian giants, who share an ownership connection with Everton through the Friedkin Group, provided both a stern sporting challenge and a critical logistical test for the club’s much-anticipated new home. Context of a Historic Day The match represented the final and largest test event, following earlier fixtures involving the club’s academy sides played in front of gradually increasing attendances. The complete sell-out crowd was the first time the structure and infrastructure of the Hill Dickinson Stadium were pushed to full capacity, testing everything from concourse movements and catering facilities to safety and access protocols. For many long-serving Evertonians, the sight of the stadium filled for a senior men’s game, accompanied by the familiar pre-match strains of 'Z Cars', was an emotional culmination of years of planning and development. Manager David Moyes used the occasion as the final warm-up for his senior squad before the Premier League season begins. He gave extended minutes to key players, including defender Jarrad Branthwaite, who featured for the first time since returning from a minor injury that kept him out of the club's USA pre-season tour.
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The friendly also provided a prominent debut for new summer signing, midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who displayed energy and creativity in an advanced role before being substituted in the second half. Match Analysis and Incident The game itself was characterised by high intensity, unusual for a pre-season friendly, with both sides treating the occasion as a meaningful final preparation. Everton started brightly, forcing several early saves from Roma's Mile Svilar and showcasing immediate synergy between Dewsbury-Hall and striker Thierno Barry. Barry was involved in one of the Toffees' clearest chances, failing to properly connect with a chipped effort after excellent build-up play from the new signing. The biggest setback for the home side came early in the first half when full-back Vitalii Mykolenko was forced off with an injury after just 11 minutes, being replaced by teenager Adam Aznou. This incident, while unwanted, tested the club's medical response and bench depth just weeks before competitive action begins. The winning goal arrived in the 70th minute. Following sustained pressure from the visitors, Matías Soulé found space on the edge of the area and curled a precise left-footed shot past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, securing the victory for Daniele De Rossi's side. Although Everton pressed late for an equaliser, with substitute Charly Alcaraz forcing a save, the visitors’ defensive shape, marshalled by Gianluca Mancini, held firm.
Expert Reaction and Club Preparedness Post-match discussions focused heavily on the operational success of the new venue. Speaking to the media after the game, a senior club source, who asked not to be named, emphasised the logistical success of the day. “To host over 52,000 supporters and manage the flow across the concourses and surrounding area with minimal friction is an outstanding achievement by all teams involved,” the source stated. “This was the final hurdle before our first competitive fixture, and we have proven the stadium can operate safely and efficiently at capacity. The atmosphere the fans generated was truly electric; it’s a sign of what is to come. ” Football analysts also offered their perspective on Everton's on-field performance, noting that despite the narrow loss, the team showed promise. Former Premier League midfielder Alan Smith highlighted the integration of the new players. “What David Moyes will take from this isn’t the 1-0 scoreline, but the immediate impact of Dewsbury-Hall,” Smith noted during his analysis. “He looked sharp, he was creative, and he clearly raises the technical quality in that midfield engine room.
The Mykolenko injury is a concern, of course, but as a final performance before the start of the season, Everton showed they can compete physically with a strong European side like Roma. The focus now shifts entirely to hitting the ground running in the league. ” Outlook for the Season The friendly was quickly followed by a 'Legends' match featuring past heroes from both clubs, including Phil Jagielka for Everton and Aldair for Roma, further cementing the celebratory nature of the day. For Everton, the successful completion of the Hill Dickinson Stadium test events provides a massive confidence boost as they prepare to host their first Premier League fixture at the new venue on Sunday, 24 August. The immediate focus for the coaching staff will be assessing the fitness of Mykolenko and fine-tuning the attacking movements seen in stages against the well-organised Roma defence. AS Roma, who look well-drilled under De Rossi, now return to Italy to conclude their preparations ahead of the upcoming Serie A campaign, having secured a valuable win and a physical workout on English soil. The entire double-header event served its purpose: providing a crucial final rehearsal for Everton’s biggest structural change in a generation, and delivering an intense, top-level friendly for both clubs ahead of the domestic season.
1 day ago Friendly Match match Everton vs Roma 09.08.2025. Preview and stats followed by live commentary, video highlights and match report.
8 hours ago Everton’s Hill Dickinson debut ends in disappointment on Saturday evening as Roma claim a 1-0 win, leaving the Toffees without a victory during their
8 hours ago Everton were defeated 1-0 by Roma in the first senior men's game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
8 hours ago Everton 0-1 Roma: Match Report & Instant Reaction | Visitors win Hill Dickinson Stadium opener The Toffees play their first game in their new home stadium.
1 day ago Everton concluded their pre-season preparations with a 1-0 defeat against Roma in the first full capacity match at the Hill Dickinson stadium.
12 hours ago Everton vs Roma LIVE - Hill Dickinson Stadium updates, team news, kick-off, TV, score, stream Everton play their final pre-season friendly in what will be their first full capacity.
7 hours ago Liputan6.com, Jakarta AS Roma memetik kemenangan tipis 1-0 saat menghadapi Everton dalam laga pramusim di Hill Dickinson Stadium, Sabtu (9/8/2025). Gol tunggal Matias.
1 day ago Live coverage of the Everton vs. AS Roma Club Friendly game on ESPN (AU), including live score, highlights and updated stats.
1 day ago On 9 August 2025 stay tuned with World's Club Friendlies for Everton vs Roma live scores, lineups & H2H stats. Follow Soccerway for more soccer stats.
1 day ago Everton Roma live score (and video online live stream) starts on 9 Aug 2025 at 14:00 UTC time in Club Friendly Games, World.
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