Everton vs Brighton Preview – Premier League 2025/26 | Form, Injuries, Lineups & Prediction | OneFootball

Everton vs Brighton Preview: Everton and Brighton meet at the Hill Dickinson Stadium this weekend, with both sides looking to bounce back from opening-day defeats. David Moyes’ men were left frustrated by newly promoted Leeds United and know the pressure is on to deliver a first home win of the season in front of their own fans. Brighton, meanwhile, looked flat in their curtain-raiser and will be desperate to find rhythm under Fabian Hürzeler, who is still trying to impose his fast-paced philosophy on the Seagulls. With both teams eager to prove a point early in the campaign, this clash promises intensity, tactical battles, and plenty of attacking quality.

Current Form

Everton, who alongside the three other Premier League Summer Series participants lost on the opening day, will be looking to put their loss to newly promoted Leeds United behind them and win a first home game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Iliman Ndiaye’s uncharacteristically poor performance should be no cause for worry, as David Moyes hopes to get Jack Grealish firing again.

Brighton will be hoping a Man United-linked Carlos Baleba can put an underwhelming opening day behind him. Bart Verbruggen could be dropped after a poor showing on opening day. They will be looking to keep her concentration this week against an Everton side desperate to prove a point.

Everton vs Brighton Preview: Head-to-Head Record

The fixture has been pretty balanced across the last six meetings; Everton have won two, Brighton have won two, with two draws. Two red cards across these fixtures and Everton’s one-nil win in late January helped their fight for Premier League survival. You can expect Brighton to dominate the match, with Everton looking to hit on the break.

Injury News

With no new injuries possible, returnees for Everton could influence tactical choices.

Everton

Brighton Hove Albion

Manager Quotes

TBA

Predicted Lineups

Brighton (probable 4-2-3-1):

Steele; Wieffer, Van Hecke, Dunk, De Cuyper; Ayari, Baleba; Rutter, O’Riley, Mitoma; Welbeck

Everton (4-2-3-1):

Pickford; Aznou, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, O’Brien; Gueye, Dewsbury-Hall; Ndiaye, Grealish, Alcaraz; Barry

Tactical Preview & Key Battles

Everton will seek to use the physicality of Barry against the Brighton CBs as he’ll look to hold up play and bring the likes of Dewsbury-Hall and Alcaraz into play better than Beto did. Ndiaye will also be a source of worry for Brighton, as he is usually a thorn in the side of opposition defenders; they will be hoping he has an off day similar to opening day.

Brighton are expected to start in Fabian Hurzeler’s high-tempo 4-2-3-1, looking to stretch Everton’s defensive shape with width and quick ball circulation.

If Jack Grealish is handed a start, his influence on Everton’s centre could become a decisive factor in the game. Moyes will expect him to link up with Dewsbury-Hall, drifting outside and inside to create overloads while also drawing fouls in dangerous areas. His ability to slow the tempo, hold the ball under pressure, and slip incisive passes into Barry or Alcaraz could unsettle Brighton’s defensive shape. Against a side that thrives on high tempo and pressing, Grealish’s composure and ball retention may be Everton’s best weapon to disrupt Fabian Hürzeler’s rhythm and turn defensive moments into attacking opportunities.

On the flanks, Kaoru Mitoma will operate from the left, looking to isolate Fulham’s right-back with direct dribbles and one-twos. On the right, Yankuba Minteh may lose his spot to Rutter, with Welbeck coming in to lead the attack.