Sabasports Match Preview
Premier League: Brighton vs Everton
Kickoff Time: 2025-01-25 23:00 (HKT)
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Source:REUTERS/Lee Smith
Brighton has been the surprise team of the Premier League this season, having only lost four matches so far. The team is currently just four points behind fifth-placed Manchester City, making them strong contenders for next season’s European competition qualifications. In terms of tactical style, Brighton plays an attacking brand of football that emphasizes ball control and efficient linking, with breakthroughs on the flanks and combinations between the wing and central areas being their primary scoring methods. Recently, the team’s wide players have regained their form, with Kaoru Mitoma contributing two goals and one assist in the last two matches, and Yankuba Minteh adding one goal and one assist in the most recent game. During the winter transfer window, Brighton strengthened their midfield by signing Paraguayan international Diego Gomez, who can not only organize attacks but also participate in scoring and assists. In the recent World Cup qualifiers, Gomez provided an assist against Argentina and scored against Brazil. His addition will enhance Brighton’s attacking options.
Everton’s overall strength isn’t too bad, but due to several consecutive seasons without quality signings and the departure of most key players, this once-powerful Premier League team has long since become a mid-lower table side. Currently, Everton is only four points clear of the relegation zone, facing significant relegation pressure. In light of this, the club’s higher-ups have brought back former successful manager David Moyes to take charge. In the last league match, Moyes implemented a focused marking strategy that successfully neutralized Tottenham Hotpusr’s attacking threats, and despite having only 36% possession, Everton managed to pull off an upset victory against Spurs. The team’s resurgence can be attributed to the fact that last week, the Premier League officially ended its investigation into Everton regarding sustainable profitability rules (PSR) for the latter half of the 2023 fiscal year, and concluded that Everton complied with PSR regulations in the 2024 fiscal year. However, it should be noted that such externally driven rebounds are often short-lived. Furthermore, Everton has a history of inconsistent performances; they have yet to achieve back-to-back victories this season and have had drastically different performances at home and away. Statistics show that Everton has scored only six away goals this season, making them the least effective attacking team in away matches in the Premier League.
Moyes has only been back for half a month, making it difficult for him to implement tactical changes at Everton. It is expected that he will continue to adopt a defensive counter-attacking strategy, which may further increase Brighton’s advantages as they excel in possession-based play. As long as Brighton maintains their tactical focus on wing breakthroughs and combinations between the flanks and the center, it is believed that they will ultimately convert their advantages into goals and secure all three points against Everton.
Brighton’s Last 5 Games: WWWDD
25-01-19 Manchester United 1-3 Brighton
25-01-17 Ipswich Town 0-2 Brighton
25-01-11 Norwich CIty 0-4 Brighton
25-01-05 Brighton 1-1 Arsenal
24-12-31 Aston Villa 2-2 Brighton
Everton’s Last 5 Games: WLWLL
25-01-19 Everton 3-2 Tottenham Hotspur
25-01-16 Everton 0-1 Aston Villa
25-01-10 Everton 2-0 Peterborough United
25-01-04 Bournemouth 1-0 Everton
24-12-29 Everton 0-2 Nottingham Forest
Head To Head Record:
24-08-17 Everton 0-3 Brighton
24-02-24 Brighton 1-1 Everton
23-11-04 Everton 1-1 Brighton
23-05-09 Brighton 1-5 Everton
23-01-04 Everton 1-4 Brighton
Prediction: Brighton to win