Everton vs Brighton: The Opposition View | New Year, New Seagulls, New Toffees?

While Everton will be without Jarrad Branthwaite for the opening match of the 2024 Premier League season on Saturday, there are plenty of other players who will be ready to go when the new campaign kicks off at Goodison Park. With a new look Brighton & Hove Albion set to get things going under a new boss and lots of new signees, Sean Dyche and company will have to bring some toughness and guile to the match to take three points.

This Toffee team will likely have some new faces in it, whether that be Iliman Ndiaye, Jesper Lindstrom, Jake O’Brien or Tim Iroegbunam, and those players will have to step up across this match and greater season if Everton wish to finish better than they have the past several years.

Can Sean Dyche spoil Fabian Hurzeler’s Premier League debut? Can the Blues start out in good form against a team like the Seagulls? Will Sean Dyche still be wearing a tracksuit?

Only time will tell.

And, to learn more information on the opposition prior to Saturday’s opening day of the 2024 Premier League campaign, we spoke to Jeremy Smith, Brighton fan and football writer and podcaster at French Football Weekly:

RBM: Happy opening weekend of the Premier League! To open up the discussion with, tell us about how Brighton are feeling with a new season, a new boss, new players, and new ambitions? What about the supporters?

JS: We’re very excited at the moment. We’ve had a great pre-season, winning all our matches, for what it’s worth (two Japanese clubs, QPR and Villarreal), have invested hugely in the transfer market (as ever with us, some are investments for the future - but by the end of the window we may well have spent over £200 million) and, with most of the incoming being forward players, this season could be really fun to watch.

RBM: When Roberto De Zerbi left Brighton, did it perhaps feel like it was another chance to actually improve the club - like when Graham Potter left for Chelsea? Tell us about your 31-year-old boss Fabian Hurzeler; why was such a bold choice the proper fit once again?

JS: When de Zerbi left, and McKenna signed a new contract at Ipswich, the concern was that all the realistically available managers were pretty underwhelming - the most likely actually seemed to be a Potter return. So bringing in a 31yo who has only been head coach for 18 months - and even then only in the second tier - is a very bold choice as he is almost unproven.

But he fits the Brighton model (he seems to improve young players and get the best out of older ones), has talked a good, positive game so far, and actually, the style of play isn’t unlike de Zerbi’s, with the bonus that he seems to actually care about both the defensive side and the importance of set pieces.

RBM: What has the team improved upon over the summer transfer window? Talk to us about incoming and outgoing names to keep an eye out for.

JS: It’s hard to compare with the end of last season as we had so many injuries. But we have certainly potentially improved the offensive side just because we have brought in so many attack-minded players.

Judging by pre-season, the stand-out seems to be Minteh, who looks a real talent down the right wing and cutting inside. Outgoing - Pascal Gross stands out as the huge loss.

A club legend, so versatile he has played pretty much every position except goalkeeper, very experienced and a great example for the younger players, he will be a huge loss. But I’m also very worried about Billy Gilmour potentially leaving for Napoli. I think he is such an under-rated player, was so crucial to our passing game last year and losing Gross-Gilmour a year after losing Caicedo-MacAllister - especially as we have so far only brought in one central midfielder - would be a big worry.

RBM: What will be the strengths and weaknesses of this team as you see it going into a new campaign with a new boss?

JS: As alluded to above - fitness and form permitting, the strength will surely be going forward. With all the new additions to add to the likes of Pedro, Mitoma, Enciso, March, Ferguson etc. (as long as they can all get back to their best) it could be a frightening prospect.

Defensively and in midfield I think we have a very strong starting XI but I worry about strength in depth if we sustain injuries. At their best, I genuinely think Dunk-van Hecke can be ranked as among the best CB pairing in the Premier League.

RBM: What are the side’s ambitions for this season? What are the aims for the cups and league this year?

JS: The stated aim is always a top-10 finish. And when you consider that there is the traditional top 6 plus the riches (however dodgy) of Newcastle and Villa, that’s the top 8 in theory sealed so it doesn’t leave much room to play with and it’s brave to say out loud that you expect to qualify for Europe. But investing 200 million is a big statement of the club’s ambition, and the hope will be that if, like two seasons back, a couple of the bigger clubs are off their best, then maybe we can be in a position to capitalize.

Then a good run in the Cups would be lovely too - I think we’ll be capable of beating anyone on our day but it depends on the luck of the draw too.

RBM: How do you expect Brighton to set up on Saturday, and which players do you think might be able to cause Everton the most problem?

JS: Hurzeler’s preferred formation at St Pauli was 3-4-3, but I expect us to line up in a 4-2-3-1 on Saturday. At the risk of repeating myself, Minteh is the one I’m excited to see against a higher level of opposition. Pedro has also looked bright after also coming back from injury, and so could cause problems.

RBM: Finally, what’s your prediction for Saturday’s opening day affair?

JS: My worry is that your starting XI will probably be more settled and familiar with each other than ours, and we will also feel the pressure as we have a really tough opening set of fixtures, with 7 of last year’s top 8 in the next 10 matches. So I have a nagging feeling that we will push hard for a win and get picked off by you on the break. So I’m going to say 2-1 Everton.

Our thanks as always to Jeremy for his time.