Premier League: August Sunshine Brings Seagulls to the Mersey

Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion

The youngest permanent manager in Premier League history will take on one of the league’s toughest opponents on Saturday, when Everton vs Brighton is the entertainment on offer at Goodison Park.

31-year-old Fabian Hurzeler will meet Toffees boss Sean Dyche in a tactical clash which could spark a real rumble in Liverpool.

This may be a pivotal campaign for both clubs as Everton are desperate to avoid yet another relegation battle, while Brighton are keen to continue their progress under another new head coach.

The weekly Premier League 2024 results are high stakes, and this is no exception.  

 

Talking Points

Ndiaye can be sweet for the Toffees

While the ownership saga rumbles on at Everton, manager Dyche has his usual steely focus on the task in hand, and that is to preserve the club’s top-flight status. He has to be canny in his dealings since the Toffees breached Financial Fair Play rules with their lavish spending in pervious years.

Midfielder Idrissa Gueye has signed a one-year extension to his contract at Everton, and that could be the most important deal of the summer, but the arrival of attacking midfielder Iliman Ndiaye in a €20 million deal from Marseille has excited fans on Merseyside.

The 24-year-old Senegal star starred in Everton’s 1-1 draw at home to Roma last week, adding a much-needed spark. Brighton fans will recall that their team faced him when they met Marseille in the 2023/24 Europa League, and Ndiaye previously played in England for Sheffield United.

His pace and attacking intent will give Everton much-needed creativity to take the weight off the shoulders of winger Dwight McNeil, while the loan signing of Jesper Lindstrom from Napoli adds more strength in that department.

As ever, the Toffees will need to be strong in defence, and the news that wing-back Seamus Coleman picked up a calf injury against Roma while Jarrad Branthwaite sat that game out is a concern, with fellow centre-back Michael Keane in light training.    

 

High expectations on Hurzeler  

After finishing ninth in 2022 and sixth in 2023, an 11^th place outcome last term was arguably a step back for the Seagulls, but a Top 10 place in the Premier League is always some achievement and that is what Hurzeler is expected to deliver.

The new man is a strong communicator, and he will have no trouble getting his message across to his players, who are used to playing a front foot game. Hurzeler will up the ante in terms of high pressing and will get close to emulating the “heavy metal football” made famous by Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.

The new man will be without one of Brighton’s most consistent stars over the past seven seasons, as midfielder Pascal Gross has moved to Borussia Dortmund in a £10 million deal.

But there have been some exciting incomings, not least 20-year-old attacking midfielder Brajan Gruda in a £25 million deal from Bundesliga side FSV Mainz. He has agreed a contract until 2028m and Gruda joins midfielder Yankuba Minteh, who has arrived in a £25 million switch from Newcastle United after a year on loan at Feyenoord, and also Matts Wieffer from Feyenoord for £25 million.

There may be another incoming in the shape of Leeds United forward Georginio Rutter, who looks set to leave Elland Road in search of Premier League football. The player has a release clause of £40 million, and the Seagulls are said to be keen to close the deal.

The Brighton board are backing their new man and they will give him time to deliver, but the ambitious Hurzeler has set himself high standards, and he’ll be delighted if his team can make a positive start on Saturday. 

 

History

The head-to-heads between Everton and Brighton have seen some good tussles over the years, with the Toffees having a slight edge at six wins to four. Both meetings last season ended in a 1-1 draw, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see a repeat.

Brighton’s pre-season form has been much better than Everton’s with four wins, scoring 14 goals and conceding three, finishing up with a 4-0 victory over Villarreal.

The Toffees won one, drew two, and lost two but looked better in their final outing against Roma.

 

Betting Tip

The Premier League 2024 betting odds make this a tight one to call, with the Toffees marginal favourites at a SBOTOP price of 2.39 and the Seagulls at 2.59. A 1-1 draw priced at 5.89 is a nice long shot alterative. Brighton will be confident coming into the game, but Dyche will set his team up to make it very hard indeed for Hurzeler on his Premier League debut.

   

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