Following a significant victory over Tottenham, Everton made their way to the vibrant south coast to face Brighton at the Amex Stadium. Historically, Everton has been relatively successful in this venue, winning two of their last three visits. This is a notable improvement considering they struggled in their initial four encounters, where they failed to secure any victories.

In a strategic move, David Moyes opted for an unchanged lineup from the impressive win against Tottenham. A significant highlight was the return of James Garner to the bench, marking his first appearance in the squad since recovering from an injury sustained in October, which adds depth and options for the team.

Brighton’s manager, Fabian Hurzeler, made two tactical adjustments to the squad that triumphed over Manchester United. Tariq Lamptey and Brajan Gruda replaced Pervis Estupinan and Yankuba Minteh, who has frequently been linked to a move to Everton, with the latter now positioned on the bench.

Tim Robinson officiated the match, getting things underway amidst high expectations. Everton donned their dark grey away kit as Brighton swiftly took control of the game. A long ball from Dunk aimed for the speedy Lamptey was executed but unfortunately, no one was present to capitalize on the opportunity as the ball was flashed across the box.

Just ten minutes into the match, a concerning moment unfolded when Dominic Calvert-Lewin went down after a head challenge, visibly in distress as he clutched his hamstring. After a delay, he was forced to leave the pitch, making way for Beto to step in, which added pressure but also an opportunity for change.