Brighton vs Everton
Date – 29/12/2018
Venue – Amex Stadium
K/O: 15:00
Referee – Andy Madley
A Brighton side who will be looking for their first win in five host an Everton team who won their first game in six after thrashing Burnley last time out.
Brighton’s last outing was a 1-1 draw with Arsenal in a game full of spurned chances. Albion are ten points clear of the relegation zone, but fans may be worried after the winless run as teams below them are starting to pick up points. Their last wins came against Huddersfield and Crystal Palace and have since been handed defeats by Burnley, Chelsea and Bournemouth.
Brighton have given themselves a great chance of survival this season, playing quality football and being relatively solid defensively, having only conceded 27 goals. Wins against opposition around them has proved crucial to their points total and Chris Hughton continues to build a very competitive Premier League team. A hard-fought draw with Arsenal only furthers belief that Brighton can compete against any team this season.
Glenn Murray is a key player capable of scoring for Brighton at any time. His eight goals this season have earned the Seagulls vital points. The poacher’s instincts are exactly what a side who have the potential to end up in relegation battle need. Shane Duffy and Lewis Dunk have also been pivotal to the defensive stability that Brighton possess, whilst also bagging five goals this season.
Everton won their first game in six on Boxing Day with a 5-1 win at struggling Burnley. This came as an immediate response to being thrashed by Spurs 6-2 at Goodison Park. The loss to Tottenham may have been the kick up the backside that Marco Silva’s side needed as they looked ruthless in tearing apart a woeful Burnley side.
Their run of poor form left the Toffees way behind Arsenal in fifth, but they can still catch sixth placed Manchester United if they are to qualify for next seasons Europa League. However, fans may have begun to accept that their side are a work in progress.
The stylish, attack-based football that Silva has incorporated has been successful but has resulted in a number of losses this season. There has been less focus on defensive tactics and consequentially, teams of a better quality can pick them off, as Spurs did last week.
Top goalscorer Richarlison is in fine form after adding to his goal tally in the 5-1 win. He started as a substitute as Silva looked to rest the Brazilian in the busy Christmas fixture list, but his cameo role led to him scoring his ninth goal this season. Gylfi Sigurdsson has been in the goals too. With eight league goals this season, the Icelandic international has been one of the key figures behind Everton’s attractive football.
Lucas Digne has scored three goals already this season, including two fine strikes against Burnley. The Frenchman is providing something that perhaps Leighton Baines has been lacking in recent seasons, and is helping to ease the goalscoring burden on Richarlison and Sigurdsson.
Everton will be in high spirits this weekend, having only lost one of their last five visits to the South Coast. They beat Brighton 3-1 at Goodison Park earlier in the season and will be confident of taking all three points against the Seagulls once again.
Team News
Brighton
Lewis Dunk will almost undoubtedly return to the starting lineup after he has served his suspension, but Brighton are without a few players. Jose Izquierdo and Alireza Jahanbakhsh are sideline with injuries whilst their goalkeeper Mat Ryan is away on international duty in the Asian Cup with Australia.
Houghton is likely to start a similar side that he fielded against the Gunners with the exception of Ryan leaving and Dunk returning.
Everton
Ademola Lookman has returned to training this week after an ankle injury and could make the squad. Meanwhile, after a long-term injury, James McCarthy is ready for selection after recovering from a horrific leg break last season.
Marco Silva is likely to start a similar team but Richarlison may replace Dominic Calvert-Lewin after being rested against Burnley. After a successful win, things are unlikely to change in terms of their squad.
Predicted Lineups
Brighton (4-5-1): Steele; Montoya, Duffy, Dunk, Bernardo; March, Groß, Stephens, Pröpper, Locadia; Murray
Everton (3-4-3): Pickford; Mina, Zouma, Keane; Coleman, Sigurdsson, Gomes, Digne; Walcott, Bernard, Richarlison
Score prediction: Brighton 1-2 Everton
Chris Hughton’s side will make it difficult for Everton with their resilient defence but Everton should be able to get goals if they are to play the way that they did against Burnley. Everton’s new formation looks to have made them a more secure outfit at the back and they should be able to outscore Brighton.
