Brighton were brilliant as the Fabian Huerzler era kicked off with a 3-0 victory over 10-man Everton at Goodison Park on the opening day of the 2024-25 Premier League season.
WATCH EVERTON vs BRIGHTON REPLAY
Karou Mitoma opened the Seagulls’ scoring for the season in the 25th minute, and they far from done. Danny Welbeck waltzed his way through midfield and Everton’s defense before firing home in the 56th minute, and it went from bad to worse for Everton when Ashley Young was sent off in the 66th. A few minutes later, the ball was in the back of Jordan Pickford’s net again as Yasin Ayari tapped home from close range, only to have been narrowly offside moments earlier.
No fears, though, as goal no. 3 came in the 87th minute via Simon Adingra, who cut through Everton’s spine and finished quite similarly to Welbeck before him.
Dream debut for Fabian Huerzler, building on De Zerbi’s foundation
The Seagulls made the decision to move on from Roberto De Zerbi in the summer, and then they decided to replace him with someone younger in the American-born Huerzler (by 14 years, at just 31, the youngest head coach or manager in PL history), and even more radical with his tactics. Just like under De Zerbi, Brighton will win a lot of games 3-0 or 4-1, and they will lose their fair share of games 3-0 or 4-1 as a trade-off. The high press and quick counter-attacks of Brighton were simply too much for Everton’s midfield, which lost Amadou Onana in the summer, and looked a real weakness for Sean Dyche’s side in the opener.
Player ratings - Everton vs Brighton
Everton vs Brighton updates, highlights & final score: 0-3
Goalscorers: Kaoru Mitoma (25'), Danny Welbeck (56'), Simon Adingra (86')
GOAL! Everton 0-3 Brighton: No trouble for Simon Adingra as he puts the cherry on top
RED CARD! Ashley Young sent off after dragging Kaoru Mitoma down
It all started with a bad chest and trap by Ashley Young, and it ended with a desperate tackle attempt and a red card for the 39-year-old. Kaoru Mitoma read the situation perfectly and sped away with the ball, leaving Young with little other choice.
GOAL! Everton 0-2 Brighton: Danny Welbeck weaves his way in to double the Seagulls’ lead
GOAL! Everton 0-1 Brighton: Kaoru Mitoma puts the Seagulls ahead from close range
How to watch Everton vs Brighton, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10 am ET, Saturday (August 17)
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Streaming: Watch live on Peacock
Everton starting lineup
Pickford - Young, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko - Harrison, Iroegbunam, McNeil - Doucoure, Calvert-Lewin
Brighton starting lineup
Steele - Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Hinshelwood - Milner, Wieffer - Pedro, Minteh, Mitoma, Welbeck
Everton team news, focus
OUT: Nathan Patterson (thigh), Youssef Chermiti (ankle), Dele Alli (groin), James Garner (calf), Seamus Coleman (calf) | QUESTIONABLE: Jarrad Branthwaite (groin)
The optimism stems from the tail end of last season, when Everton won five of their last eight Premier League games (5W-1D-2L). They conceded six goals to Chelsea in one of the defeats and a grand total of three goals in the other seven games, keeping a clean sheet in all five victories, including against Liverpool in the Merseyside derby. There are, however, some worries over how Sean Dyche will replace midfielder Amadou Onana, who joined Aston Villa for $64 million this summer — Everton’s standout performer a season ago, who is only getting better at 22 years old.
Brighton team news, focus
OUT: Solly March (knee), Bart Verbruggen (undisclosed), Julio Enciso (knee)| QUESTIONABLE: Billy Gilmour (undisclosed), Evan Ferguson (ankle), Pervis Estupinan (calf), Tariq Lamptey (undisclosed)
Brighton enjoyed incredible success under De Zerbi, so perhaps it shouldn’t come as a surprise they are not only looking to build upon the Italian’s aggressive tactical tendencies, but to perhaps take them a step further under Huerzler, whose St. Pauli side frantically counter-pressed its way to Bundesliga promotion in the spring. One thing is certain: The Seagulls will be easily identifiable at a glance. 33-year-old midfielder Pascal Gross moved to Borussia Dortmund this summer after seven stellar seasons on the south coast. Gross bagged 30 goals and 45 assists in 228 PL appearances since joining the club upon promotion to the PL in 2017.
Everton vs Brighton prediction
At this point, it’s one side with better talent (Brighton) and one side with a firmer grasp on how they play (Everton). Perhaps taking risks higher up the field, rather than inside their own penalty area, will serve the Seagulls better this year. Everton 0-1 Brighton.