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Everton have to leave south coast with the points

By Matt Townsend

Everton's Colombian midfielder James Rodriguez (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring their third goal during the English Premier League football match between Everton and Brighton Hove and Albion at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England on October 3, 2020. (Photo by Jan Kruger / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by JAN KRUGER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Everton's Colombian midfielder James Rodriguez (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring their third goal during the English Premier League football match between Everton and Brighton Hove and Albion at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England on October 3, 2020. (Photo by Jan Kruger / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by JAN KRUGER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Following a hugely disappointing draw in their last match, Everton travel to Brighton this coming Monday and they simply have to claim all three points.

Another two dropped points or a defeat to the Seagulls would be disasterous for Everton in their increasingly unlikely pursuit of European qualification.

The Toffees away form has been much better than their performances at Goodison Park where the Blues have dropped 24 points in the Premier League this season.

The last example that 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace, was a very costly one and saw Everton drop another two points really needed to keep that European dream alive.

In contrast the Blues have managed nine wins on the road and really need to make it ten on Monday when they take on Brighton.

The Seagulls have had a typical up and down campaign in the lower reaches of the league and are not yet safe from relegation so they still have plenty to play for. They have also drawn quite a few matches meaning they need a few more wins to be sure of Premier League football next season.

Brighton have several good and dangerous players in particular Tariq Lamptey who has been strongly linked with a move to Goodison Park this summer.

They also have a few other major threats like Neal Maupay, a very clever forward and central defender Lewis Dunk who is also a significant set-piece goal threat.

If the Toffees have a poor home record then Brighton’s is catastrophic as the Seagulls have only managed two wins at the Amex Stadium in the Premier League. They are perhaps the optimum example of how strange this season has been in that respect.

So given that, the difference in quality between the teams and the Blues away day excellence, then there should be only one winner.

Going into Monday’s match Everton have more injury problems to deal with after Andre Gomes had to go off against Palace after Allan had not been fit to play.

Gomes is still out but Allan might make it for the game at the Amex, while Jordan Pickford and Abdoulaye Doucoure both sit it out with injury, although the Frenchman might return before the season finishes.

Critically, it’s really important that the Toffees forwards don’t repeat the string of awful misses against Palace and take their chances in this game to ensure Everton can claim all the points and keep pace with their immediate rivals for the European places. Nothing less than a win will do.