PREVIEW: Brighton and Hove Albion vs Everton – 15/10/17

Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Everton

Date: 15/10/17

K.O: 13.30pm

TV: Sky Sports Premier League

Brighton & Hove Albion host Everton on Sunday at the AMEX, with Chris Hughton looking to build on two successive home league victories at the expense of increasing pressure on his counterpart Ronald Koeman.

Everton has amassed just three points in their last four Premier League games, scoring two goals and conceding ten in the process. Pressure is undeniably mounting on Koeman, and he will see Sunday’s visit to the south coast as a must-win for this Everton side.

Brighton; tipped by many for immediate relegation to the Championship, go into this clash with seven Premier League points, as well as having conceded the second lowest number of goals (9) within the current bottom eight, bettered only by Swansea City (8).

Brighton:

Tomer Hemed remains suspended for Chris Hughton, whilst Davy Propper picked up an injury (knee) on international duty, and will be assessed prior to Sunday’s meeting with Everton.

Anthony Knockaert was dropped to the bench for Brighton’s meeting with Arsenal, though Chris Hughton could turn to his talisman to replace Pascal Gross (leg) who will face a last-minute fitness check ahead of Sunday.

Solly March’s impressive form is expected to see him retain his starting XI spot out wide, with Hughton’s defence is likely to remain unchanged, comprising of a central defensive partnership of Lewis Dunk and and Shane Duffy.

Everton:

Seamus Coleman, Ross Barkley, Yannick Bolasie and Ramiro Funes Mori remain sidelined permanently, whilst James McCarthy (knee) is also a doubt ahead of the Brighton clash.

Koeman is yet to find his best attacking formula despite having a plethora of talent available, with the recent revival of Oumar Niasse meaning a selection dilemma between Sandro Ramirez, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Niasse for Everton’s number nine position.

Tom Davies impressed for England U21’s on international duty; scoring in their 1-0 win over Andorra, and could return to the Everton starting XI having been dropped to the bench for the 1-0 defeat to Burnley.

Expected starting XI’s: 

Brighton & Hove Albion: Ryan; Bruno, Dunk, Duffy, Bong; Knockaert, Stephens, Propper, March; Gross, Brown.

Everton: Pickford; Cuco Martina, Keane, Williams, Baines; Schneiderlin, Gueye; Davies, Rooney, Sigurdsson; Calvert-Lewin.

Prediction: Brighton & Hove Albion 0 Everton 2

Written by Tom Newman.