England Premier League
Sunday 2nd January 2022
Kick off at 2pm GMT
Venue: Goodison Park
Match Preview:
For Everton a pressure remains but at the same time the club have shown glimpses of passion and digging deep which can be relate-able for a club who pride themselves on their history. A recent 2-1 victory over a better Arsenal side when the chips looked down and the club were trailing 1-0 at home is an example. In the Toffees last game they had to travel to the European champions Chelsea, and with a depleted squad where they found themselves 1-0 down but again they came back and the game finished 1-1, it was an unexpected result. You’d think these moments would bring the team together and they will need that when they take on a very good Brighton side at the weekend.
This will of course be Everton’s first home game of 2022 and the club have not played any games over the Christmas period because of the new wave of Covid-19 meaning games have had to be postponed. The players have been well rested then and the fans will be expecting to see all 3 points. It remains a worry that the club has just 1 win since September but at the same time one has to ask how long that unwanted record will last for?
At home Everton have won 50% of their games but from their last 15 points at home they have picked up only four and would be 11th in the league based on home form only. Overall Everton are instead in 15th place though victory here and the right results going the clubs way could see them move up a couple of places. The club continue to have significant injuries which is also clearly hampering their season but the good news is that Dominic Calvert-Lewin is set to return after a 3 month lay off and the forward can bag Everton 10-15 goals a season and will be invaluable to be on the pitch with the team.
Brighton are five points ahead of their hosts and are in 10th place and while no one will be saying it just yet the club could well have their eye on finishing in a European place. Graham Potter has overall done a good job at the club and it is only one defeat from their past five games. The club could move up a couple of places with victory and they will have a spring in their step after going to Chelsea and drawing with them 1-1. In that result they have a lot in common with Everton.
On the road Brighton haven’t stunned but they have excelled and have only lost one game. The problem is they are hardly picking up wins and six from their nine games played have ended in draws. Indeed their last 3 away games have all ended this way. Maybe Everton should be on high alert given that Brighton’s last visit to Merseyside ended in a 2-2 draw with Liverpool.
Team News:
Everton: Yerry Mina and Richarlison are due to miss this game with on going calf injuries. Andros Townsend is out with a foot injury.
Brighton: Lewis Dunk is out with a knee injury, Leandro Trossard is being pencilled in to return for this game after his hamstring injury but will have to be assessed. Jeremy Sarmiento is out for at least two months with his hamstring injury.
Everton vs Brighton Head to Head:
The clubs have only played each other 20 times with Everton having the majority win share with 10 victories.
Brighton have only beaten Everton in 20% of all fixtures the clubs have played.
Brighton have never beaten Everton away from home.
Earlier in the season Everton beat Brighton 2-0 in the reverse fixture.
Everton vs Brighton Prediction:
This will be a hard ask for Everton because Brighton have been well drilled and organised and that is a credit to Graham Potter’s hard work at the club. At their best Everton can lift themselves and can be a top 8 side in the Premier League but clearly they have had their struggles this season. When you fail to win games that can affect confidence but the recent draw at Chelsea would have felt like a victory and if you are going to turn a new page you must make sure that you make your home games three pointers.
The pressure will really be on manager Rafa Benitez this month and if Everton don’t push on his job will be under threat. Perhaps history is with Everton given that Brighton have never won here but we feel Brighton are the stronger side and will likely have most possession. Whether they cn make the most of it remains to be seen but we will cautiously back the away side. We will also back Calvert-Lewin to score on his return and surely the forward will be relishing the chance to play football again and impress the home fans.
Everton vs Brighton Betting Tips:
Asian handicap (0.0 Brighton) at 1.98
Anytime goalscorer: Dominic Calvert-Lewin at 2.50
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