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Match Preview: Everton v Brighton

By Matt Townsend

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Neal Maupay of Brighton and Hove Albion is challenged by Michael Keane of Everton 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 Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Neal Maupay of Brighton and Hove Albion is challenged by Michael Keane of Everton 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 Nigel Roddis/Getty Images) /
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After another exciting Carabao Cup win against West Ham, Everton host Brighton and Hove Albion tomorrow in the Premier League. Can the Blues make it seven wins out of seven and their best start to a season since the nineteenth century?

As Everton prepare for this latest Premier League match, they have a fair few worries over injuries. In particular there are doubts about the fitness of Brazilian stars Allan and Richarlison.

The latest news from the club tells us that manager Carlo Ancelotti is missing Allan and Andre Gomes from his first-choice midfield for tomorrow’s match, although Richarlison might still pass a late fitness test.

In addition, Jonjo Kenny is also out for about a month, which means the Toffees have no back-up to Seamus Coleman should he get hurt.

All of this isn’t great news and seems yet more evidence of the almost unreal injury jinx that all too often haunts this football club.

It does though seem that even if Richarlison is unable to play tomorrow, his injury isn’t a major concern. In addition Allan and Gomes will also be ready for the return of the Premier League after the international break and that crunch derby game at Goodison Park two weeks tomorrow.

Given that Richarlison is still a doubt, the illness that Moise Kean apparently has, isn’t helpful news either. Because although far from ideal, I would have thought he might have been a contender to replace the Brazilian.

So I’m not sure how Everton will line up tomorrow. If Ancelotti wants to stick to his 4-3-3, he could bring Fabian Delph in to play Allan’s position. To be honest, I don’t think there is anyone else who can.

Gylfi Sigurdsson might also feature in midfield or Alex Iwobi on the left of the three, but I’d give Bernard that role, while up front perhaps he will play Iwobi or Anthony Gordon wide on the left hand side, that is if Richarlison doesn’t pass his fitness test.

In that worst case scenario, I don’t think the Blues will be as fluid and expansive as they have been so far this season.

And it may be that the team’s winning streak is then harder to sustain, especially against a Brighton team that I don’t think will be a pushover.

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The Seagulls have had a decent start to the season and although they’ve just lost two games back-to-back to Manchester United, including in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, they had previously won three games in a row.

Brighton are a team who play a high-tempo game with plenty of width and are strong at most of the basics. They are also an aggressive side who have several dangerous players in excellent form, in particular Solly March, Neal Maupay and young wing-back Tariq Lamptey.

They will pose a real attacking threat and Everton will have to show good levels of concentration at the back throughout the game.

Brighton will though also be vulnerable defensively and so the Toffees should have plenty of chances to score themselves.

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I think it will probably be a match that features plenty of good attacking play and a few goals, as indeed have all of Everton’s games so far this season. I’m still confident the Blues can win again tomorrow, but I reckon it might be a bit closer than the last few results have been.