Anjishnu Roy 23/08/2025 27comments  |  Jump to last

A new era for the Toffees is set to get underway with Everton hosting their first Premier League fixture at their new waterfront stadium. 

The Blues will take on Brighton at Hill Dickinson Stadium on the banks of the river Mersey and there’s no better way to greet the expected capacity crowd of 52,769 than with a win to begin their Premier League 2025/26 journey.

David Moyes’ side languished in a 1-0 defeat to newly-promoted Leeds United at Elland Road and will be seeking an improved performance here. 

Changes have been aplenty at Finch Farm since the end of last season, with nearly two dozen players going out and coming in through the revolving door of the transfer window.

Evertonians will make the trip to Bramley-Moore Dock with the satisfaction of knowing that a deal for Southampton’s Tyler Dibling is close, bringing an end to the desperate summer-long search for a right winger.

They’ll naturally be expecting a more gutsy show from the players who looked off-colour and dispirited in the campaign opener against Leeds.

Everton vs Brighton - Team News and Predicted XI

Everton Team News

Everton’s defensive woes are set to continue as Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitalii Mykolenko will miss the clash against Brighton as well. Branthwaite picked up a hamstring injury in training following the final pre-season friendly against Roma, while Mykolenko was injured in that game.

Both of them missed the opening fixture against Leeds United, as did teenage left-back Adam Aznou, signed from Bayern Munich.

Aznou has returned to training this week, although it remains to be seen whether he receives the medical green light to be selected in the final squad. If he does get medical clearance, he’s expected to slot in at left-back, allowing James Garner to move to the middle to partner Idrissa Gueye.

Thierno Barry, who came on in the dying embers of the clash at Elland Road, is expected to lead the line ahead of Beto.

Everton predicted starting XI: Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Aznou; Gueye, Garner; Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Barry

When is Everton vs Brighton?

Everton will host Brighton in their first home game of the season at the newly-built waterfront stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock on August 24, Sunday. Kick-off is scheduled at 2:00 pm BST.

Where to Watch Everton vs Brighton?

The Premier League match between Leeds United and Everton will be available on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League for viewers in the UK. 

The match will also be available online on Sky Go, on the Sky Sports app and via Now TV’s Sports membership.

 

Reader Comments (27)

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Paul Kossoff
2 Posted 23/08/2025 at 15:32:33
Same team as against Leeds I bet, but surely different tactics for Brighton. With teams like B H A who are expert at a fast attacking style and quick breakaways, you have to have an organised defence. We can't have Gueye thinking he's a striker and loitering round the opposition's penalty area, he's a defensive midfielder, protecting the defence.. He should be barking out orders saying who should be covering who. Structure is the key, keep your shape. I've noticed that a lot of the teams are getting dragged out of position, with five or six players all on one side, and feet away from each other, like a game in the play ground. I remember Kevin Keegan saying, one reason he left Liverpool was because he was being told where to stand when the opposition had a throw in, but that was organisation to the max. Teams are wide open simply through lack of an organised team. Moyes should, of all people have his team's defensively structured. With the injuries we have, and players out of position, we need the mentality of stick to the plan, and no gung ho attitudes.
I think we will win this one, backed by the new stadium, and the fans, and a little luck, and an unbent referee, and var not sleeping at inappropriate times, and Jesus on our side, oh, and var on our side for a change, and fingers crossed, and news of hundreds of tins of blue paint due for BMD. I think I've got everything covered.
Everton 2 Brighton 1. Where's me rabbit's foot, and me lucky heather, and me four leave clover, and me horses shoe.
Christy Ring
3 Posted 23/08/2025 at 15:49:27
I'd like to see Garner back beside Gueye in midfield and either the new young player from Bayern or McNeill at left back.
Mike Powell
4 Posted 23/08/2025 at 15:58:18
Like to see McNeil at LB garner in CM Barry CF, drop Alacarz and Beto
Andrew Merrick
5 Posted 23/08/2025 at 16:01:08
Yes Christy, Garner at left back didn't work, although Tim was the real issue.
That leaves Aznou or Mcneil as the most likely fill in.
We still have some options up field, lets see Grealish and Ndiyae on the flanks and start Barry, Grealish probably wont track back so we need the mid to give some cover, cmon Moyes, better than the Leeds fiasco please.
Raymond Fox
6 Posted 23/08/2025 at 16:10:20
He will stick with Beto up front and Garner at left back.
I don't see Grealish starting either more like half time, it depends how the game is shaping up. Alcaraz in Garners place, maybe McNeil further forward.
Christy Ring
7 Posted 23/08/2025 at 16:15:59
I'd be mystified if he starts Beto, I know we had very few chances on Monday night, but I thought he offered absolutely nothing upfront.
Jake FitzGerald
8 Posted 23/08/2025 at 16:19:10
Dewsbury Hall anywhere?
Andrew Clare
9 Posted 23/08/2025 at 16:24:52
Beto is like any other striker we’ve had over recent years.

Playing alone upfront with no service and not a decent pass for the whole game.

Okay some of his play is limited but give him chances and he will score.

He’s played under Moyes and Dyke two of the most negative managers in the game.We don’t create enough chances per game.

Mike Gaynes
10 Posted 23/08/2025 at 16:27:55
Of course Beto will start. It’s not like he missed any chances last week.
Billy Shears
11 Posted 23/08/2025 at 16:32:03
Very tough one to call but whatever teams Moyes puts out our performance needs to vastly improve over the Leeds fiasco!

We need our lads to start fast,get the crowd going,get in their faces... intensity needed & some skill too, please!

Joe McMahon
12 Posted 23/08/2025 at 16:34:43
Andrew@9 some very good points, and like a few of us I never wanted Dyche in the first place or Moyes back.

On the subject of past managers, yes it didn't work with Lampard (PL possibly too soon for him). But Cov now scored 7, and the news about them buying the stadium is brilliant news.

Ajay Gopal
13 Posted 23/08/2025 at 17:02:27
The crowd is going to play a huge part tomorrow. I hope they get warmed up quickly and are loud and behind the team all through the game.

My main hopes for this game:

1. Everton score the 1st goal
2. The goal is one to remember - not an own goal or a scrambled goal or a penalty or spoilt by a VAR wait

It would be a bold decision for Moyes to play Aznou - I don’t think he will start with him. In my opinion, a 3-4-3 would best suit the available personnel:

Pickford
O’Brien Tarkowski Keane
Garner Gueye Dewsbury-Hall McNeil
Grealish Beto Ndiaye

Subs: Travers, Aznou, Armstrong, Iroegbunam, Alcaraz, Barry, Chermiti

I pick Ndiaye to score the 1st goal at H-D.

Kieran Kinsella
14 Posted 23/08/2025 at 17:05:11
Based on what we have available I’d go with:

Pickford King Travers
O’Brien Tarks
Gueye Garner Grealish McNeil N’Dyiae, DH

Andrew Bentley
15 Posted 23/08/2025 at 17:21:23
If he does play Aznou then I’d expect McNeil in front of him to help defend more with Grealish on the bench
Raymond Fox
16 Posted 23/08/2025 at 17:22:59
Brighton are favs 7/5 we are 2/1 & 11/5 the draw approx.
Thats the neutral view.
Lee Courtliff
17 Posted 23/08/2025 at 17:23:08
Surely McNeil must play LB to provide some left sided balance? Even though he may be more suspect defensively than Garner, the overall balance of the team will improve greatly and that, to me, is more important than the extra cover we have in playing a R footer like Garner in that position.

I remember Dwight filled in LB/LWB against City a couple of years ago and, whilst not brilliant, did a steady job against top opposition.

We cannot be as lopsided as we were against Leeds on Monday.

Alan McGuffog
18 Posted 23/08/2025 at 17:25:54
Chris Sutton has us down for a defeat. Not content with that he has to have a little dig about last season.
Can't recall him ever being positive about us. Did someone spill his ale ?
Ged Simpson
19 Posted 23/08/2025 at 17:31:50
Does anyone really care what Sutton allegedly "thinks"? May improve our odds?
Derek Knox
20 Posted 23/08/2025 at 18:15:47
These so called pundits/experts are mostly like Kopites = Gobshites !

They get paid for it too, unbelievable !

Jay Harris
21 Posted 23/08/2025 at 18:19:16
Ajay
I don’t think Keane has ever played well in a three. Let’s hope Anjou is fit and up to par.
We need a strong MF against these
I would go with three of Gueye Garner and Dewsbury Hall with either Anjou or McNeill at LB and Mdiaye Beto and Grealish up front.
Mike Gaynes
22 Posted 23/08/2025 at 18:20:50
Lee, that might even make us better defensively, because it would allow Garner to move up into his normal position next to Gana.
George Cumiskey
23 Posted 23/08/2025 at 18:25:03
Sutton said the penalty given against us last week was a disgrace, so he doesn't seem to have it in for us as some people think.
George Cumiskey
24 Posted 23/08/2025 at 18:31:16
Why are some people on here naming Beto in their starting eleven when he was shocking on Monday, he should be giving Barry a run out.
Colin Glassar
26 Posted 23/08/2025 at 18:41:48
I think Sutton quite likes us, George.
Bobby Mallon
27 Posted 23/08/2025 at 18:49:23
Jack grealish is not a winger and never was. He's a maverick who should be allowed to do what he likes across the front line and midfield. When did players stop being midfielders whats with DM AM etc. When I played I was a centre mid who attacked and defended same as all the midfield and did the work for yhe creative types
Bobby Mallon
28 Posted 23/08/2025 at 18:52:53
I would play 433
Pickford
Seamus
Tarks
Obrien
Aznou
Hall
Garner
Gana
Ndia
Grealish
Barry
Derek Knox
29 Posted 23/08/2025 at 18:52:57
Bobby @ 27, still got your boots mate ? :-)

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