Everton Host Brighton In Start Of Final Season At Goodison
- Spirit of The News
- Aug 16, 2024
- 2 min read
Everton host Brighton in the first Premier League game of the final season at Goodison Park.
Last season was another tough one for the Toffees, following points deductions due to a stack of financial issues, but Sean Dyche’s side was able to finish 15th. Brighton, on the other hand, had an extremely comfortable season, finishing 11th under the management of Roberto De Zerbi, who has now left the club and is in charge at Marseille. The replacement is the youngest Premier League’s permanent coach, and his name is Fabian Hurzeler.
The Toffees have been active in this transfer window, bringing in many significant signings for the present and future:
Everton Incomings 24/25:
Jake O’Brien - Defender
Iliman Ndiaye - Attacker
Tim Iroegbunam - Midfielder
Jesper Lindstrøm - Attacker
It is clear that it may be difficult for Director of Football Kevin Thelwell to make any more signings this summer transfer window, as Sean Dyche backed up in his press conference during the lead up to this fixture, stating that any transfers will be "unlikely."
Brighton’s transfer window has been a busy one too. 19-year-old Newcastle winger Yankuba Minteh signed for the Seagulls for a whopping €35 million, a man whom Everton were after. A package deal including Minteh and Calvert-Lewin was on the cards, with Everton set to replace the striker, who has lost a run of form over the past couple of years due to injury reasons. However, as it got to the stage of personal terms, it seemed Calvert-Lewin’s wage demand was unjustified for the Toons, therefore the deal collapsed.
Brighton Incomings 24/25:
Yankuba Minteh - Attacker
Mats Wieffer - Midfielder
Brajan Gruda - Attacker
Ibrahim Osman - Attacker
Malick Junior Yalcouyé - Midfielder
Amario Cozier-Duberry - Attacker
The business Brighton and Hove Albion have committed to, at the moment, is looking extremely positive, departing older and slower players and bringing in younger and more talented prospects. It seemed to have paid off in pre-season too, with them winning all five of their friendlies, most notable by smashing La Liga side Villarreal 4-0 on August 10th.
On the other hand, Everton’s lead up to the season has gradually improved, from starting off with 3 games without a win against Irish team Sligo Rovers and English sides Salford and Coventry City to a 3-0 win over Preston North End, a 6-0 bartering in a behind closed doors friendly at Goodison against Motherwell, and a draw against Italian giants AS Roma with a goal from Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
With the new season just beginning, it is hard to predict how this game will play out, but as always, Evertonians will be hopeful of a comfortable season to end their time at the Grand Old Lady before moving to Bramley Moore Dock next season.
Gameweek 1:
Friday 16th August:
Manchester United 1-0 Fulham
Saturday 17th August:
Ipswich 12:30 Liverpool
Arsenal 15:00 Wolves
Everton 15:00 Brighton
Newcastle 15:00 Southampton
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Bournemouth
West Ham 17:30 Burnley
Sunday 18th August:
Brentford 14:00 Crystal Palace
Chelsea 16:30 Manchester City
Monday 19th August:
Leicester 20:00 Spurs
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