Premier League: The Only Thing to Expect is the Unexpected!

Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion

If the two Premier League meetings between these sides last season taught us anything, it is this: expect Premier League highlights, goals galore and surprises.

For their two meetings could hardly have been more contrasting as both Everton and Brighton won heavily away from home.

Of course, what proved a successful season for one club almost proved a disaster for the other with the Toffees managing to cling onto their top flight place by the narrowest of margins.

Recent form suggests they will not have such a scare this time, yet recent form also suggests Brighton can continue to punch well above their weight, despite another summer of saying farewell to key talent.

Talking Points

Going into the game, Everton will certainly be buoyed by their midweek victory over Burnley which saw them despatch the Clarets with a bit to spare to progress to the League Cup quarter-finals.

It followed hot on the heels of their 1-0 league success at West Ham on Sunday.

The midweek triumph was a fitting tribute to their late chairman Bill Kenwright as the Toffees registered a fifth win in seven matches in all competitions as they eased aside Sean Dyche’s former club.

The Merseysiders staged a moving homage before kick-off to Kenwright, the club’s chairman for the past 19 years who died last week following a long illness. His partner, Jenny Seagrove, daughter Lucy Kenwright and friend, the Everton legend Joe Royle, all laid wreaths in the centre circle amid warm applause from all sides of Goodison. An Everton scarf was draped over the chairman’s seat.

The performance that followed stands them n good stead for the visit of Brighton, who are trying to juggle European and domestic commitments.

They were not in action in midweek and were pegged back by Fulham in a 1-1 draw on the south coast.

It means the Seagulls, who are so now well respected they even managed to secure a season long-loan of young talent Ansu Fati, are now without a win in four Premier League games.

They remain a side who should never be underestimated and that, alone, means this could offer us compelling fare on Saturday afternoon.

History

The contests last season could barely have been more contrasting.

Early in the New Year, Brighton travelled to Goodison and inflicted misery on the Toffees, just a few days after they had gained an impressive draw at champions Manchester City.

Frank Lampard’s men were demolished on their own turf as Kaoru Mitoma opened the scoring before three goals in six minutes early in the second half had the home fans exiting in their droves.

Ewan Ferguson, Solly March and Pascal Gross all found the net before a last minute Demarai Gray penalty for the home side.

Lampard was sacked a few weeks later and, by early May, his predecessor Dyche’s side simply could not afford to lose on their Bank Holiday visit to the south coast, yet what followed stunned everyone in a superb display of counter-attacking.

It took Abdoulaye Doucoure just 34 seconds to open the scoring and he added his second before the half hour to leave even visiting fans taken aback.

An own goal and a second half double from Dwight McNeill sealed a 5-1 win with an Alexis Mac Allister penalty all the home side had to show for their efforts.

Everton last beat Brighton at home in October 2020, played behind closed doors during the Covid restrictions, when Carlo Ancelotti’s side recorded a 4-2 success and were flying high.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Yerry Mina scored before James Rodriguez netted twice as they made it four Premier League wins from four for the then table-topping Toffees.

Future Everton man Neal Maupay and Yves Bissouma, now at Spurs, replied for Brighton.

Overall, Everton have had the edge in their meetings with 11 victories compared to six Brighton successes and six draws.

The first clash came in the second round of the FA Cup in 1913 when a goalless draw at Brighton was followed up by a 1-0 Everton win at Goodison in the replay when Frank Jefferis netted the goal.

Betting Tip

Brighton are slight favourites with the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds.

You can opt for Roberto de Zerbi’s men 1X2 @ 2.20 or Everton 1X2 @ 2.77.

It is also close with Asian Handicap betting with the Toffees priced 0.00 @ 2.28 and the Seagulls -0.50 @ 2.20.

A 4-1 Brighton win again will earn you a big pay day of @ 38.00.

Considering the contests last season, you could rightly expect goals so it’s worth considering options such as total goal 2-3 @ 2.06, 4-6 @ 2.77 and over 3.25 @ 2.19. Or will it be a lot tighter this time with total goal 0-1 on offer @ 4.70?

I can see this being a very entertaining encounter and a real battle with a sharing of the spoils.

 

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