Struggling Everton meet high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion in a crucial Premier League encounter at Goodison Park.
Victory would see Everton climb to 13th if Leicester and Bournemouth both fail to win elsewhere, whilst Brighton can go seventh with a win if Fulham lose elsewhere.
Team News
Yerry Mina and Anthony Gordon could both return for Everton after they missed the Toffees’ 1-1 draw at Man City due to illness.
Amadou Onana is suspended for this clash after he picked up his yellow card of the season.
James Garner (back), Michael Keane and Andros Townsend (both knee) remain absent.
Brighton could welcome Alexis Mac Allister back after he missed their last three games following Argentina’s World Cup triumph.
Moises Caicedo is set to return after he was suspended for the Seagulls’ New Year’s Eve defeat against Arsenal.
Danny Welbeck (muscle) could return if declared match fit but Adam Webster (knock) and Jakub Moder (knee) remain absent
Stat Attack
- Everton have lost just one of their last five league meetings against Brighton (W3, D1, L1).
- Brighton have won just one of their last five visits to Goodison Park (W1, L4).
- Four of the five penalties awarded in this Premier League fixture have gone to Everton, but the Toffees only converted two spot-kicks into goals compared to Brighton’s one scored penalty.
- Two of Anthony Gordon’s three league goals for Everton this season have been scored on his left foot, compared to just one right-footed goal.
- Adam Lallana has scored in each of Brighton’s last two away matches in the Premier League (W2).
Prediction
Despite facing an incredibly difficult climax to 2022 away at Man City, Everton did well to snatch a 1-1 draw through a mixture of great defending and clinical finishing but they now need to use that performance as a launchpad to improve their results.
Brighton meanwhile were a defensive mess against Arsenal amidst some decent attacking spells as the Seagulls’ struggled with Arsenal’s press and intensity, so I do anticipate a response to that performance because they are better than what was produced on New Year’s Eve if defend better.
Everton though have been Brighton’s Achilles heel in the Premier League but with the Toffees hardly in vintage form, this is a huge chance for Brighton to reset because if they play like they did at Southampton on Boxing Day then they should get another crucial win if Everton revert to type.
Prediction: Everton 1-2 Brighton
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