After a COVID forced halt during the festive season, Everton welcomed Brighton and Hove Albion for the first fixture of 2022. Everton last played on 16th December, managing a sensational 1-1 draw against Chelsea, playing with a largely inexperienced team.
Everton suffered yet another appalling defeat, their ninth loss of the season as Brighton edge out 3-2 winners. The Seagulls registered their first win in 10 attempts at Goodison Park. After going 2-0 down in the first half, Everton made a comeback, showing intensity and desire but in the end it proved to go in vain as Graham Potter’s team walked away with three points.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin returned to action after missing almost four months of football. With Richarlison out and still a number of absentees due to COVID, the Toffees were far from fielding their best lineup. In a bizarre turn of events, Coleman started as a left wing back as Everton operated in a back five with Coleman and Kenny playing as wing backs.
Everton player ratings vs Brighton:
Everton were underwhelming in defence in the first half
Defence:
Jordan Pickford – 6
Jordan Pickford could have done nothing to stop the two goals from Brighton. The England No.1 pulled off a brilliant save from an Adam Lallana effort which awkwardly bounced just in front of Pickford and had he not made the save, the ball was travelling into the goal.
The 27 year old had no chance to stop the rocket from Alexis Mac Allister in the second half which restored Brighton’s two goal advantage. The Englishman was involved in distribution in the second half as Everton battled to get back into the game.
Micheal Keane – 4
Michael Keane has played every minute of the Premier League for Everton this season and was at the heart of the back three. Fingers could be pointed at Keane for the second goal as he gave up on his man far too easily, resulting in Daniel Burn heading home unmarked. In the second half, The former Burnley man gave the ball away which eventually resulted in Brighton’s third goal.
Ben Godfrey – 5
Ben Godfrey started in the back three and was finding it difficult to get the better of Neal Maupay. However, the former Norwich City man did recover well and stopped the Seagulls from extending their two goal advantage.
Godfrey moved to left back as Rafa Benitez introduced Salomon Rondon for Jonjoe Kenny in search of a goal.
Mason Holgate – 5
Mason Holgate was arguably the least impressive of the back three as he lost possession on several occasions. He did make a goal saving tackle against Maupay but the mistake from Keane eventually resulted in a goal as Mac Allister scored his second of the evening.
Bizarrely, Seamus Coleman started as a left wing back for Everton
Midfield:
Seamus Coleman – 5
Seamus Coleman started the game as a left wing back, making Rafa Benitez’s intentions very clear that Lucas Digne is no longer required at the club. Vitaliy Mykolenko was presented before the kickoff and Digne was benched. Coleman was much better when moved to right back in the second half but he’s clearly lacking the pace and precision as the age catches on.
Allan – 5.5
Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure, usually the partners in crime were lacking massively as compared to the Brighton midfield. The Brazilian was poor in reactions and just couldn’t cope with the dynamism of Yves Bissouma. As Everton got back into the game in the second half, marching with intensity, Allan was back to his huffing puffing best, at least momentarily.
The Brazilian made a thunderous attempt which Robert Sanchez got finger tips to and prevented Everton from equalizing. He was taken off in the final moments for Andre Gomes as the Toffees searched for an equalizer.
Abdoulaye Doucoure – 5.5
Doucoure, just like his partner, Allan, struggled in all areas in the first half. They desperately needed more support in the middle of the park, maybe a third midfielder. As the game went into the second half, Doucoure showed more character and dynamism, getting into the box, supporting the attackers meanwhile also making recoveries in the middle.
Jonjoe Kenny – 6.5
Jonjoe Kenny started on the right side, operating as the right wing back. Was booked early in the first half for a notorious challenge which was checked by VAR for a possible red but caution remained yellow.
Kenny did offer some threat going forward, playing some constructive passes but just couldn’t find the right delivery in the box or struggled to pick the right man. Kenny did a decent job in getting forward and combined well with Anthony Gordon in the second half. The Everton academy product registered an assist for Gordon’s second ball, threading a low cross for Gordon to feed on and score.
Anthony Gordon scored his first goal for the Everton senior side
Attack:
Demarai Gray – 7
Demarai Gray operated on both the flanks, right in the first half and left in the second. He was a live wire, always looking electric and dangerous. Gray dominated Veltman and later got the better of Tareq Lamptey too.
The former Leicester City man is easily Everton’s go-to option to create something magical. Gray saw his spectacular attempt saved in the first half as a drop of shoulder created space for him to shoot but Sanchez was there to make the save.
Through his pace and trickery, he often got the better of Brighton players, be it Burn or Webster or Lamptey but in the end he couldn’t stop the Toffees from succumbing to yet another loss.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin – 5
Interestingly, Dominic Calvert-Lewin last played against Brighton in the reverse fixture before missing 16 games due to injury. The Englishman returned and had a chance to score from the spot after Enock Mwepu fouled Anthony Gordon in the box.
Despite missing a penalty, Calvert-Lewin did a lot of hard work throughout the game, running down the channels while also winning headers and distributing them. Calvert-Lewin managed to complete entire 90 minutes upon return which will be a positive for the player, given he was out for over four months.
Anthony Gordon – 8
Anthony Gordon was Everton’s best player by a mile. He was in a different ballpark altogether. The 20 year old was a nucleus of energy and dexterity. His first goal for the senior side came in the second half as he created space by drifting in from the right and striking the ball with power which took a lucky deflection on the way, resulting in the first goal.
His second goal was even more spectacular, as Calvert-Lewin combined with Kenny who threaded the ball in the centre, inviting Gordon to attack the ball and put it past Sanchez. In fact, the 20 year old came close to scoring an unlikely hat trick but just couldn’t go past Burn.
The bundle of energy never dwindled and he never dropped his shoulder in frustration as he tried continuously to score or create a chance.