Everton will host Brighton & Hove Albion in their first competitive match at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, looking to bounce back from the opening day defeat to Leeds United.
Disappointed with the way they have started the season, and Everton will look to get back to winning ways vs Brighton & Hove Albion at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday afternoon. They will certainly fancy their chances of picking up all three points at home.
Matches involving these two teams are often evenly matched, and this will be a cracking contest between them. The last time Brighton visited Everton, they picked up a 3-0 win away from home. The Seagulls will be hoping for the same this weekend.
Meanwhile, Brighton & Hove Albion were held to a draw against Fulham in their opening game of the 2025/26 season. They will look to pick up their first win of the season. Everton can be quite inconsistent, and it was evident in the opening game of the season against Leeds United.
Brighton will look to take advantage of their vulnerability and inflict another defeat here. It will be interesting to see if the away side can come out on top here. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Everton
Jarrad Branthwaite recently suffered a hamstring injury, and he is set for a spell on the sidelines. Apart from the English international, Everton have a full squad to choose from vs Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend. They are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Jordan Pickford in goal.
Seamus Coleman and Adam Aznou will start in the full-back roles. They will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Michael Keane will form the central defensive partnersjipalongside James Tarkowski.
As for the midfield unit, Idrissa Gueye will start alongside James Garner in the double pivot. The two players will look to protect the defensive unit and break down the opposition’s attacking moves.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall will start in the attacking midfield role, and he look to create opportunities for his teammates in the final third. He will be supported by Carlos Alcaraz and Illiman Ndiaye on the flanks. Finally, Thierno Barry will lead the line for Everton vs Bir.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Tarkowski, Aznou; Garner, Gueye; Alcaraz, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Barry
Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion will be without Adam Webster and Solly March due to a knee issues. Tariq Lamptey is sidelined as well. Brighton are likely to shape up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation with Bart Verbruggen in goal.
Mats Wieffer and Maxim de Cuyper will start as the full-backs. They will look to keep things tight at the back and hit Everton on the break. Jan Paul van Hecke and Lewis Dunk will pair up hdefence.
As for the midfield unit, Yasin Ayari and Carlos Baleba will start in the double pivot in the middle of the park. They will look to add defensive cover to the side and drive play as well.
Matt O’Riley will start as the attacking midfielder, and he will look to help create opportunities in the final third. He will link up with Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh on the flanks. The two players will look to add pace and unpredictability to the Brighton attack. Georginio Rutter will lead the line for Brighton vs Everton on Sunday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Wieffer, Hecke, Dunk, de Cuyper; Ayari, Baleba; Minteh, O’Riley, Mitoma; Rutter
Key Stats
Brighton & Hove Albion are undefeated in their last six Premier League matches.
Everton have won two of their last six matches against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Everton have won two of their last six matches vs Brighton & Hove Albion (D2 L2).
19 goals have been scored in the last six matches between Everton and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Both teams have scored in four of the last six matches between Everton and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Player to Watch
Kaoru Mitoma
Embed from Getty Images
The Japanese international is our key player to watch out for, and he could cause all sorts of problems with his pace, flair, and unpredictability. Mitoma has been a key player for Brighton & Hove Albion in recent seasons, and he will look to make his mark here.
Everton can be quite vulnerable defensively, especially without their top central defender. It will be interesting if the Japanese international can help create opportunities for his teammates and find the back of the net. Brighton will need him to step up and deliver if they want to grind out all three points.
Prediction
Everton 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Both sides will be desperate for a win, and this is likely to be a tight contest. Matches between these two teams are often evenly matched, and this one is unlikely to be any different. It will be difficult to separate Everton and Brighton & Hove Albion. They are likely to get on the scoresheet here, but they will end up cancelling each other out and share the spoils in a draw.