Everton rounded off their pre-season with a narrow defeat to Roma.

David Moyes handed several summer signings home debuts in Thierno Barry and Kerinan Dewsbury-Hall while Adam Aznou was also introduced early on.

But the Blues’ dominance for large parts of a maiden outing in their new home was undone by Matias Soule’s well-taken strike barely 20 minutes from time.

Here were the key talking points from Hill Dickinson Stadium:

The dawn of a new era

Much like Goodison Park’s emotional farewell, Everton’s maiden first-team outing at Hill Dickinson Stadium was an occasion no one wanted to miss.

Defeat notwithstanding, Roma’s visit on Saturday marked the culmination of 30 years in the search for a future home befitting of this grand old club.

Several of those who had made the long and arduous journey possible were among the capacity crowd including, surprisingly, ex-owner Farhad Moshiri.

For good and ill, it was the British-Iranian billionaire’s vision which took the Blues into their awe-inspiring new abode on the banks of the River Mersey.

Dan Meis, the architect enlisted to design the genuine feat of engineering, also provided representation, as did current club figurehead Ryan Friedkin.

The result may not have provided a perfect start but the sheer number of fans openly marvelling at their new surroundings is a testament to its splendour.

All they need now is a team capable of matching its impressive new arena.

Dewsbury-Hall ready to ignite

One Everton player already appears to match the setting of their new home.

Just days after sealing an initial £25 million transfer from Chelsea, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall had supporters purring on his unofficial debut for the club.

Circumstance had forced the 26-year-old to move on from Stamford Bridge after barely 12 months, picking up two major honours for his troubles.

It is easy to see why the Londoners initially coveted his services with an opening account which was pretty much the full package from the midfielder.

Operating largely in the no.10 position, he pressed well, regularly exploited spaces and offered a perfect foil for fellow new recruit Thierno Barry in attack.

Dewsbury-Hall’s regular through passes for the France under-21 international should have seen the hosts at least draw against their Serie A counterparts.

More of the same from the Nottingham native will soon help unlock defences.

Now or never on reinforcements

Moyes has spent large parts of this summer reaffirming the need for Everton’s squad to be replenished with as many as 10 new additions estimated.

He is already halfway to replacing the nine first-team figures who departed at the end of last season but the point was laid bare early into this encounter.

Vitalii Mykolenko lasted barely 10 minutes before pulling up with an injury which forced Adam Aznou into an earlier than anticipated home bow.

The Ukraine international’s replacement fared as well as can be expected, nullifying the Giallorossi’s attacks down the left-hand side for the most part.

But while Everton remain adequately covered at right-back, with Jake O’Brien still slotting in there, the opposing side of defence is now alarmingly light.

Mykolenko’s latest setback arriving just nine days before the Premier League opener at Leeds should set alarm bells ringing among the club’s hierarchy.

Recruitment plans will need to be turbocharged ahead of that trip to Elland Road if Everton are to stand a chance of avoiding a repeat of past seasons.