Prince Rupert's Tower
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Narrow 1-0 win as Everton down Seagulls

By Matt Townsend

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Richarlison of Everton celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Brighton & Hove Albion at Goodison Park on January 11, 2020 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Richarlison of Everton celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Brighton & Hove Albion at Goodison Park on January 11, 2020 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) /
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After a hugely distracting and irritating week, Everton returned to winning ways seeing out a narrow 1-0 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion this afternoon.

Coming into this match, Everton had endured one of their worst weeks in many a while, with a horrendous derby defeat to Liverpool followed up by fan protests and alleged player discontent.

It was crucial to get a win and the three points today, but also to put in a performance to appease the supporters. The Blues duly obliged, although in the end they made hard work of it and should have put the game to bed much earlier.

Still after a slightly nervous but fairly confident start the Toffees took a well deserved lead when Richarlison controlled Lucas Digne’s pass superbly and coolly slotted home.

The Brazilian was lively along with several other Blues players and indeed Everton were on top in the first half and could have added further goals.

The Toffees though couldn’t add those further goals in that half in a match increasingly affected by the weather conditions with a strong wind swirling around Goodison Park.

Theo Wacott had had a decent shout for a penalty turned down on review by that much-loved system called VAR. Then in the second half, Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s goal was also ruled out by VAR for handball.

Brighton rarely offered a sustained threat although they had chances and the game eventually petered out with Everton holding on reasonably comfortably for the three points, despite late Seagulls pressure.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti had picked a team with several significant changes. Micheal Keane came in for an unexpected start alongside Mason Holgate in central defence.

And although I would have liked to see Moise Kean get a rare start up front, the Italian persisted with the strike force of Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin.

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Overall then a better effort and a victory that went a small way to overcoming memories of that dreadful game at Anfield last Sunday. It will also have helped mend the frayed relationship between the players and fans with some improved individual performances, especially from the two Brazilians Richarlison and Bernard.

In further transfer news, Everton are now being linked with a move for another Brazilian, called Everton! The Brazilian section of US sports network ESPN, claim the Blues are considering a $36 million deal for the Gremio forward in this transfer window.

This might be as simple as just putting the two names together and seems a highly unlikely move. The player has though been linked with moves to England before, with Arsenal rumoured to be keen on signing him back in the summer.