Everton face the Seagulls at the Amex Stadium on Saturday as they look to maintain their impressive recent record at Brighton.
The Toffees have won three and drawn two on their previous five trips to the south coast, which is remarkable considering the past five seasons have been among the worst in the club’s history.
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They continue to struggle against Leeds United at home and may be relieved to be away from home this weekend. There are definitely some teething issues at Hill Dickinson Stadium, both on and off the field. Brighton were the first Premier League opponents in August and the pitch was shaking in the summer sun. As the adjustment continues after so long at Goodison Park, there is a sense of frustration.
After a miserable first half, the team at least showed the spirit to fight back and earned a point against the Whites. Two months ago, there had been five home games without a win.
This contrasts with their excellent away form, winning four of their last six games, drawing one and keeping five clean sheets.
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This game helps Everton stay in touch with the European teams, although the intensity of the league means they are not far away from the middle and lower places. However, another win here could see them move up to sixth place.
opposition
Brighton, like many teams, appear to be experiencing mid-winter inconsistency. They moved up to fifth place with a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the end of November, but have won just one of their 10 league games since – against struggling Burnley. However, they knocked Manchester United out of the FA Cup with a superb 2-0 victory at Old Trafford.
They have lost just once at home – a dramatic 4-3 comeback against Aston Villa – taking 20 of their 30 points at the Amex Stadium.
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Everton’s 1-0 win over Brighton last January was only their second win of David Moyes’ tenure in charge, a game perhaps best known for Iliman Ndiaye being booked for imitating a seagull after scoring the winning penalty. One of the most notable wins came in May 2023, when the Toffees won 5-1, which went a long way to securing their top-flight status.
last meeting
On a historic afternoon last August, Everton beat Brighton 2-0 in their first Premier League match at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Iliman Ndiaye converted Jack Grealish’s cross for the opener before Grealish set up James Garner for the second goal to seal the win.
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Team news
Everton have been rocked by the news that Jack Grealish will miss the remainder of the season with a foot injury.
Thankfully, the news is better elsewhere. Michael Keane’s three-game ban for pulling his hair has ended, while Charlie Alcaraz and Tim Irogbunam have also returned to training after injuries. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jarrad Branthwaite returned against Leeds United and are pushing for starts.
Everton’s good away form and impressive record against Brighton mean fans should head south with confidence, especially with the injury list finally easing. The Seagulls aren’t an easy team to beat on their own turf, though, so I’m going for a draw.
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last word
Everton’s good away form and impressive record against Brighton mean fans should head south with confidence, especially with the injury list finally easing. The Seagulls aren’t an easy team to beat on their own turf, though, so I’m going for a draw.
