Everton are eagerly awaiting their Premier League opening game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium with a response needed.
After Monday night’s disappointment, David Moyes will see the new stadium’s first game as the perfect opportunity to bounce back.
It was a tricky encounter at Elland Road, and the Toffees boss showed his dismay, with Moyes even getting frustrated with Jordan Pickford.
Despite this, the Scotsman would have learnt plenty from the opener and could use a different approach to the game against Brighton.
It’s expected to be a tough game for Everton, but with the backing of the new ground, Gary Lineker has dropped his prediction.
Gary Lineker speaking at Club World Cup final.
Photo by Michael Regan – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Gary Lineker has predicted Everton to beat Brighton on the Hill Dickinson’s debut
The result against Leeds United has left the Toffees in familiar surroundings as Moyes will want to get his side out of this position quickly.
It’s a frustrating start, but Chris Kavanagh’s ‘bizarre’ penalty decision didn’t help by any means.
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Hopefully, there won’t be any of these antics on the Hill Dickinson’s debut, as former Toffees striker Lineker has given his thoughts to the Premier League’s Instagram.
“New stadium. I’m gonna get them to pull through at the new stadium and beat Brighton by, 1-0,” Lineker said.
It’s certainly a bold prediction from the pundit, as Everton struggled to create anything in the final third versus Leeds, but the atmosphere on Sunday could give the Toffees what they need.
Everton had penalty controversy go for them against Brighton last time
Although the Blues have been the side who have drawn the short straw in terms of refereeing decisions, this wasn’t the case the last time the two sides met.
An Iliman Ndiaye winning penalty separated the two sides in the last encounter, as Fabian Hurzeler felt it wasn’t a penalty when Joel Veltman was penalised for a handball.
“For me, no penalty. So the VAR can’t get [involved] into this situation. If the referee decides like this then you should play on. It’s not a clear handball,” Hurzeler said in a post-match interview.
Of course, handballs are certainly the topic around Everton at the moment after Kavanagh’s mistake, and although the Brighton boss didn’t think the penalty was justified, this one seemed slightly more obvious.
Joel Veltman handball at 0:11
Beto’s hard work warranted the decision, but hopefully, there are no shenanigans like this for the Merseyside club’s grand opening.
Hurzeler has praised Everton’s ‘great supporters’, and that’s what Moyes will need as they look to land their first win of the season.