Everton vs Brighton preview, team news and predicted lineup

History will be made on Sunday as Everton step onto the pitch at Hill Dickinson Stadium for their first-ever competitive match at the venue, hosting Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League . Both sides enter the contest eager to bounce back from disappointing results on the opening weekend, setting the stage for a fiercely contested encounter as each team looks to claim all three points.

Everton’s supporters are feeling deflated after a dismal 1-0 defeat away to Leeds United on Monday night. David Moyes’s side struggled to create any clear-cut chances and ultimately succumbed to a late, controversial penalty, allowing the newly-promoted hosts to secure a deserved victory. Persistent injury problems and a lack of significant transfer activity have only added to the sense of concern among the Everton faithful ahead of what should be a landmark occasion for the club.

Brighton, meanwhile, finished last season with back-to-back away wins and will be aiming to make it three in a row for the first time since early 2023—a run that included a commanding 4-1 victory at Everton. For the second consecutive season, Fabian Hurzeler’s team will play their first away fixture against Everton, albeit at a new venue. They will be hoping to replicate last August’s 3-0 triumph at Goodison Park, having now netted 13 goals in their last five visits to the blue half of Merseyside.

Everton's defensive issues look set to continue with James Garner may still need to start at left-back with Vitaliy Mykolenko and Adam Aznou both nursing injuries while Jarrad Branthwaite (hamstring) remains unavailable despite Michael Keane's efforts on Monday night.

For the Albion, the main issue remains on Jack Hinshelwood after picking up a knock before the Fulham match but it seems he will not be rushed back so we could expect an unchanged midfield for Fabian Hurzeler's side. Solly March is still not back in full training after a lengthy spell away and Adam Webster is ruled out for the rest of the season after his knee ligament surgery.

Everton: Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Tarkowski, Aznou; Gueye, Garner; Alcaraz, Dewsbury-Hill, Ndiaye; Barry

Brighton: Verbruggen; Wieffer, Van Hecke, Dunk, De Cuyper; Baleba, Ayari; Minteh, O'Riley, Mitoma; Rutter

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