Everton’s Jack Grealish (centre) celebrates with the fans after the Premier League match at Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton. Picture date: Saturday August 30, 2025. (Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)

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In Wolverhampton on Saturday, just as was the case the previous week in Liverpool, there was one man in the blue of Everton who got the fans off their feet when he received the ball.

Tapping the ball with the inside of his right boot and shifting his shoulders, Jack Grealish looked every inch the creative mastermind England fell in love with in the summer of 2021.

He might be sporting a tied-up man-bun rather than a floppy sweep of hair these days, but the cheeky smile remains just as prominent.

For the second time in a fortnight, the danger was backed up with results. Grealish contributed two assists against Wolverhampton Wanderers, taking his total to four in the first two games of the season.

Former Premier League striker-turned-pundit Darren Bent was left salivating over the performance and suggested he needed to be back in the England team after such a showing.

“He was absolutely unbelievable,” Bent said. “Jack Grealish, every single time he got the ball. Positive. He had two assists today as well. Wolves didn’t know how to deal with him.

“The only thing is I don’t know how he’s not in the England squad.

“If he keeps putting these performances in, he’s going to be in the England squad for the World Cup, that’s for sure.”

“This game was all about Jack. He was the real star power between the two teams.

The words were echoed by former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock who told BBC Sport: “We often talk about not having mavericks in the team. Jack Grealish is a maverick, but he can play in a system and he can work hard for the team.

”The home fans last week at the new stadium were on their feet because he was battling for everything – he’s got that side in him as well.”

Manager David Moyes, who chose to bring in Grealish on loan this summer from Manchester City, admitted that he didn’t realise quite how good the attacking midfielder was.

“He is even better than I thought,” said Everton boss David Moyes postgame.

“He probably needs a bit of love and attention. He needs the games as well. Hopefully he starts building on it and he gets even better as the season goes on.

“He is making a big difference. Whether it is his assists, his presence, lots of things. So all credit to him. He is playing the minutes he may not have had in recent years.

“You know, he’s so good. What Jack gives us is something just on the edge, which, hopefully it’s on the edge of creativeness and maybe scoring goals.”

Towards the end of his City career, Grealish was becoming an increasingly isolated presence. He was trusted with fewer appearances by his manager, Pep Guardiola, and rarely had an impact when he played.

His transformation in the first games at Everton has been dramatic, but his new coach is refusing to take any of the plaudits.

“It’s nothing to do with me, let me tell you – it’s all to do with Jack and his own mentality to be better,” Moyes said.

“There’s a wee bit to prove, I’m sure – I think we all have. I think in life, you’ve always got something you have to strive to do.

“And I think Jack wants to show that he’s a good player. I think he’s showing it at the moment.”

Given the relentless criticism in the UK media about Guardiola’s methods somehow suffocating the free-form abilities of Grealish, it was little surprise that the sly digs began in the wake of his impressive display in the West Midlands.

“Jack Grealish played with an instinct and magic that had been missing at Man City in Everton’s 3-2 win at Wolves – and he has David Moyes to thank for it” roared the headline in the Daily Mail.

“This, potentially, is a magical signing for Everton. Guardiola’s status as a revolutionary coach and an improver of footballers is beyond question but there were points during this 3-2 win when you watched Grealish playing instinctively and doubted whether he would have done the same at City,” suggested journalist Dom King in the accompanying piece.

He added: “Perhaps Moyes is simply a better fit, more attuned to what Grealish needs to thrive. He’ll challenge the 29-year-old in a different way, ask new questions and won’t accept being shortchanged, but it might be the environment and dressing room dynamic he’s fostered suits the £100million man better.”

Drawing such conclusions from two, admittedly sparkling, performances is ridiculous. There is a far simpler reason Jack Grealish has looked more incisive in an Everton shirt and that is the opposition.

Both Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brighton and Hove Albion the week before, set up with a more attacking approach than they would have done against Manchester City.

Rather than being faced with two banks of defenders seeking to push him down the outside, Grealish can see space and opportunity ahead of him.

It’s far easier to shine in a team where the opposition gives you more of a chance to play.

Sure, it might be the case that the midfielder has greater confidence, but that also comes from a lowered expectation. He is not required to perform in the same way as he did at City and the risks of his losing aren’t as high.

And this is before we even get to the managers because no one in their right mind could possibly suggest that David Moyes has a less of rigid structure than Pep Guardiola or is any less specific in his demands.

Let’s hope Grealish’s form continues, but not forget that it’s the opponent rather than his manager that are giving him more of a platform to shine.