Brighton vs Everton

The American Express Stadium hosts a mid-table battle this afternoon, Saturday, January 31, 2026, as Brighton & Hove Albion take on Everton. Both sides are desperate to arrest inconsistent form and solidify their positions in the top half of the table. Kick-off is scheduled for 15:00 GMT (10:00 ET).

Everton arrives in 10th place (33 points), holding a slim three-point lead over Brighton, who currently sit in 12th place (30 points). For the Seagulls, this is a chance to move level with the Toffees, while for David Moyes' men, it’s an opportunity to close the gap on the European qualification spots.

Match Information

Brighton: Searching for the Hürzeler Spark

Fabian Hürzeler’s side is enduring a difficult winter spell, having managed just one win in their last ten league outings. Despite dominating possession in most games, the Seagulls have been plagued by slow starts—trailing at half-time in 12 matches this season—and late defensive lapses, as seen in their 2–1 loss to Fulham last week.

Team News and Selection:

• Injury Woes: Brighton remains without Solly March, Adam Webster, Stefanos Tzimas, and Mats Wieffer.

• Late Calls: A late decision will be made on Diego Gomez following a minor training issue. Brajan Gruda is back in training and could feature.

• The "Toffee-Killer": Danny Welbeck spearheads the attack; he has 10 direct goal involvements in his career against Everton.

• Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu; Hinshelwood, Baleba; Minteh, Gross, Mitoma; Welbeck.

Everton: The Moyes "Road Warriors"

Since David Moyes returned to the Goodison dugout, Everton has become one of the most resilient away sides in the division. The Toffees have kept five clean sheets in their last six away trips, including a notable 1–0 win at Aston Villa recently. However, they arrive following a frustrating 1–1 draw with Leeds on Monday.

Team News and Selection:

• Major Blow: Star winger Jack Grealish is likely out for the remainder of the season with a stress fracture in his foot.

• Defensive Reinforcements: Michael Keane is available after a three-match suspension. Jarrad Branthwaite is also back in the squad but may be eased in from the bench.

• In-Form Striker: Thierno Barry has been a revelation, scoring five goals since December.

• Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; O'Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner; McNeil, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Barry.

 Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats

• Everton Dominance: Brighton has failed to beat Everton at the Amex since 2019 (D2, L3).

• Early Season Meeting: Everton won the reverse fixture 2–0 at Goodison Park in August 2025.

• Defensive Contrast: Everton ranks 2nd in the league for away goals conceded (0.91 per game), while Brighton has the highest percentage of first-half goals conceded in the division (55%).

• Stalemate Potential: Brighton has recorded 9 draws this season, the most in the bottom two-thirds of the table.

Tactical Analysis and Prediction

This match pits Brighton’s high-possession, territory-heavy style against Moyes’ "minimalist" and compact defensive block. Hürzeler will demand a fast start to avoid the first-half deficits that have haunted their season. However, Everton’s efficiency on the counter and their physical presence at set-pieces—anchored by Tarkowski and Keane—will be a major threat to a Brighton defense that looked shaky against Fulham.

Given Brighton's home resilience (only one defeat at the Amex since April) and Everton's disciplined away form, a closely fought contest is expected.

Final Score Prediction: Brighton 1–1 Everton