The Grealish Impact was the decisive factor on the south coast as Everton finally broke their long and miserable run of results against Bournemouth.
Jack Grealish’s superb late goal delivered a 1–0 victory at the Vitality Stadium and reminded Everton fans of his value at a crucial point in the season.
Jack Grealish’s strike earns @Everton victory on the road 💪 pic.twitter.com/ldQe9f7Q0A
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 2, 2025
The win came at the perfect moment for David Moyes’ side, who arrived under pressure and left with renewed confidence thanks to the Grealish Impact.
Grealish Impact Rescues Everton After Tough Week
Everton came into the match carrying the weight of a heavy 4–1 defeat to Newcastle, and Moyes needed a response. What he got was the Grealish Impact at its finest.
In the 78th minute, Grealish cut inside and unleashed a powerful strike that took a slight deflection off Bafode Diakite, beating Djordje Petrovic and sending the visiting supporters into celebration.
The England star marked the moment with a kiss to the club badge, a message of loyalty and responsibility after weeks in which Everton lacked leadership and inspiration.
It was also his first major contribution in several matches, arriving exactly when his manager needed him most.
Bournemouth Field Youngest Premier League Line-Up
For Bournemouth, the defeat deepened concerns around form and squad depth. Andoni Iraola took bold steps by fielding the club’s youngest ever Premier League starting XI, averaging 23 years and 254 days. But youth alone could not stop the Grealish Impact from deciding the contest.
The dropping of Evanilson, Adam Smith and Marcus Tavernier raised eyebrows. Teenage striker Junior Kroupi – already on four league goals this season – replaced Evanilson, yet Bournemouth lacked a cutting edge throughout.
With Marcos Senesi suspended, Iraola also made the unusual decision to hand £65m winger Antoine Semenyo the armband.
While the fearlessness of youth was encouraging, the absence of experience became clear as the match wore on.
Early Pressure from Everton Sets the Tone
Everton settled more quickly. Vitaliy Mykolenko’s long throw in the 13th minute caused panic in the Bournemouth box, and Jake O’Brien’s effort was only blocked by sheer numbers.
It was a reminder that Everton, despite recent struggles, remain threatening from set-pieces and direct play.
Historically, the Vitality Stadium has been something of a nightmare for Everton. Before this match, they had not won in eight consecutive visits, with two managerial sacks – Sean Dyche and Frank Lampard – linked to defeats here.
But the Grealish Impact began to shift that narrative as Everton played with more confidence than in previous trips.
VAR Intervention and First-Half Frustration
Bournemouth’s best moment of the first half came when Semenyo forced Jordan Pickford into a brilliant save from a deflected free-kick.
Moments before the interval, Kroupi thought he had equalised with a neat finish, only for VAR to rule him marginally offside.
The offside call underlined Bournemouth’s growing frustration. Despite flashes of energy, they lacked the quality in thefinal third that Everton showed through the Grealish Impact.
Lack of Cutting Edge Haunts Both Teams
Iraola’s squad issues worsened when Tyler Adams received his fifth yellow card of the season, ruling him out of the next match.
Meanwhile, substitute Thierno Barry missed Bournemouth’s best chance of the game, sending a weak chip wide when faced one-on-one with Pickford.
At the other end, Everton lacked sharpness until Grealish took control. Without the Grealish Impact, the match seemed destined for a dull goalless draw.
Grealish Impact Decides the Contest
The match turned decisively when the Grealish Impact produced that decisive moment. Cutting inside with trademark confidence, the £100m forward delivered the one piece of high-quality finishing that Bournemouth simply could not match.
Petrovic did his best to keep Bournemouth in the game, later tipping away an Iliman Ndiaye volley, but the damage had already been done by the Grealish Impact.
Bournemouth Facing Growing Pressure
For Bournemouth, this defeat makes it five Premier League games without a win, a worrying slide as they prepare to face Chelsea next. With suspensions, form struggles and a squad stretched thin, Iraola has difficult weeks ahead.
The youngest squad in the league will need to grow up quickly – and find solutions fast – if Bournemouth want to avoid being dragged into deeper trouble.
Everton Leave with Momentum
Everton, on the other hand, leave with hope restored. The Grealish Impact not only delivered three points but provided a platform to rebuild confidence.
After a tough week and a difficult season, this gritty win may prove a turning point for Moyes and his players.
