FC Everton – Brighton & Hove Albion
David Moyes’ return to Everton will take on a particularly emotional tone on Sunday when the Toffees play their first league game at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium. After a disappointing 0-1 defeat at Leeds on the opening day of the season, the team is hoping that their £800 million new home will bring the desired upturn. Brighton are looking to finally get going after a late 1-1 draw with Fulham. Fabian Hürzeler’s Seagulls picked up impressive points on Merseyside last season, scoring 13 goals in their last five away games there.
Everton’s defensive problems remain acute: Jarrad Branthwaite is still out with a thigh injury, while Vitaliy Mykolenko and Nathan Patterson are also unavailable. James Garner may have to fill in at left-back again, a stopgap solution that didn’t work against Leeds. For Brighton, Jack Hinshelwood is doubtful after his knock, while Adam Webster is out for the season after tearing his cruciate ligament. Despite Everton’s home advantage, the bookmakers see Brighton as slight favorites with over 40% probability.
- Venue: Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside
- Date and time: 24.08.2025, 15:00
- Competition: Premier League (Matchday 2)
Everton form & record check
FC Everton are in mixed form at the start of the season. The clear 0-1 defeat against newly promoted Leeds United four days ago revealed numerous structural problems that David Moyes urgently needs to address before the historic move to the new Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The current league form is alarming. With no points and only one goal difference, Everton are in 14th place in the table. Manchester United are level on points behind them, while they are already one point behind Aston Villa, who are fighting for survival. The statistics from the last five games show a remarkable pattern: Everton did not lead at half-time in a single match, but always drew level at the break.
The performance in Leeds was sobering. By halftime, the Toffees had only managed two touches in the opponent’s penalty area and not a single shot on goal. Nmecha’s late penalty, awarded after a controversial handball decision against Tarkowski, was symptomatic of a team that was completely toothless in attack. Injury worries in defense forced Moyes to field midfielder Garner at left back.
With Branthwaite, Mykolenko, and Patterson, three regulars are missing from the defense. Branthwaite’s absence is particularly significant, as his market value of €50 million underscores his importance to the defensive structure. The personnel shortage is forcing Moyes to improvise, which is reflected in the lack of balance between defense and offense.
The efforts to sign Tyler Dibling from Southampton for over €40 million show a willingness to invest, but so far the squad lacks the necessary depth and quality. Jack Grealish, on loan from Manchester City, brought some fresh impetus to Leeds, but was unable to turn the tide.
Everton are expected to line up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, albeit with a few enforced changes. The defense is a particular concern for David Moyes, as three key defenders are out with Branthwaite, Mykolenko, and Patterson. The loss of Branthwaite, who cost €50 million, is particularly significant, which is why the tried-and-tested Tarkowski-Keane pairing is expected to start in central defense.
The line-up for the wide positions will be exciting. Youngster Aznou could get a chance on the left, while the experienced Coleman is likely to start on the right. Garner could well fill in at left-back again if Moyes opts for more stability. In midfield, the Gueye-Garner duo should provide the necessary balance.
In attack, Ndiaye is expected to play a central role, flanked by Dewsbury-Hall and Alcaraz. Beto is likely to lead the Toffees’ attacks as the lone striker. The bench could hold some surprises, with loan signing Grealish a possible option as a super sub.
Brighton Form & Record Check
Brighton has started the new season with mixed feelings. The 1-1 draw against Fulham in their opening game was symptomatic of what can be expected from the Seagulls. O’Riley gave them the lead in the 55th minute from the penalty spot, but then exactly what often costs Brighton points happened: in stoppage time, they conceded the equalizer through Muniz.
The last five games have shown a clear pattern. Brighton remained unbeaten, picking up three wins and two draws. Their accuracy in front of goal is particularly noteworthy: they scored at least once in all five games, and all games saw more than 1.5 goals. The problem lies more in defense, where they conceded a goal again in their last game.
The personnel problems cannot be ignored. With Webster, Lamptey, Enciso and March out for the long term, important players are missing. Hinshelwood could theoretically return today, but coach Hürzeler is unlikely to rush him back. One might think that these absences would set Brighton back, but the team has compensated well so far.
O’Riley is emerging as a source of hope. His converted penalty against Fulham was his first goal in a Brighton shirt, and reports of his accuracy in front of goal seem to be confirmed. With one point from their first game, Brighton are in 10th place, level on points with Fulham and Newcastle. That’s a solid start to the season.
The form of recent months gives cause for optimism. The three wins against Tottenham (4-1), Liverpool (3-2), and Wolves (2-0) showed that this team can hold its own against the big names. Only the defensive lapses need to be addressed if they want to be successful in the long term.
Brighton are likely to line up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, which has worked well under Fabian Hürzeler. The coach has a largely fit squad at his disposal, although some key regulars will be missing.
The biggest absences are in defensive midfield and on the wings. Jack Hinshelwood, one of the most versatile players in the squad, is still being rested after an injury. In addition, there are long-term absentees such as Adam Webster and Tariq Lamptey. Julio Enciso could play a role despite his knee problems, after transfer rumors surrounding Chelsea have recently subsided.
Carlos Baleba is expected to start in the center after Manchester United ended their pursuit of the Cameroonian. Brighton have made it clear that they do not want to let their star midfielder go. Ayari could take over the defensive role alongside him, while the offense is likely to be built around O’Riley, Mitoma, and Rutter.
H2H Everton – Brighton Head-to-head comparison & Statistics
The head-to-head record from the last five meetings tells an interesting story: Everton narrowly leads with two wins to Brighton’s one, with two draws in between. Particularly striking is the range of results, which has varied from a narrow 1-1 draw to clear-cut victories.
The most recent encounter in January 2025 ended in a 1-0 away win for Everton in Brighton. Prior to that, Brighton had fought back with a clear 3-0 home win against the Toffees in August 2024. These two games are a perfect example of how unpredictable this pairing can be.
A remarkable pattern emerges in the second half: Brighton has scored after the break in each of the last four encounters, while Everton has conceded at least one goal in the same period. This suggests that Brighton often proves to be the more adaptable side at halftime.
Defensively, each team has conceded at least one goal in four of the last five meetings. Only Everton’s spectacular 5-1 win in Brighton in May 2023 broke this pattern in dramatic fashion. That result remains the highest-scoring of the recent encounters between the two sides.
The tip for a draw at half-time is supported by Everton’s remarkable statistic that they have been level at the break in all of their last five games. The Toffees’ defensive caution, coupled with Brighton’s 80% record of under 1.5 goals in the first half, suggests a cautious first half. Everton’s injury woes in defense reinforce this cautious approach. The betting market offers interesting value at 2.2 for a half-time draw, as the statistics suggest a higher probability.
The second tip, “Both teams to score: Yes,” is justified by Brighton’s perfect 100% scoring record in their last five games, while Everton have conceded in 80% of their most recent matches. The historic significance of the first home game at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium could encourage the Toffees to take more risks despite their current offensive weaknesses. Brighton’s recent BTTS rate of 80% further supports this assessment. Although the market rates Brighton as slight favorites with odds of 2.4, analysis shows that the defensive vulnerability of both teams could lead to goals. The tip for over 2.5 goals is riskier, but is supported by Brighton’s consistent attacking performance and the presence of players such as Matt O’Riley, who is considered a very accurate finisher and could exploit Everton’s weakened defense.
