Everton begin their long goodbye to Goodison Park on Saturday when they host Brighton & Hove Albion in Gameweek 1 of the 2024/25 Premier League season.

The Toffees endured a rough time off the pitch during the 2023/24 campaign but still managed to avoid relegation despite being hit with a total of eight penalty points, finishing strongly to end up comfortably above the bottom three.

It’s a new dawn at Brighton following the departure of Roberto De Zerbi, with young boss Fabian Hurzeler taking the reins. The 31-year-old is green at the highest level but still has talented players like Lewis Dunk, Kaoru Mitoma and Joao Pedro to guide him through his first season in England.

Here’s 90min’s preview for Saturday’s clash between Everton and Brighton.

Everton vs Brighton H2H Record (Last Five Games)

Current form (all competitions)

Everton have so far managed to retain star centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite after rejecting two bids from Manchester United, but the 22-year-old is set to miss the start of the season due to a groin problem.

That should mean summer signing Jake O’Brien is handed a first start under Sean Dyche alongside James Tarkowski, but Nathan Patterson, Youssef Chermiti, James Garner Seamus Coleman are all absent.

Everton predicted lineup vs Brighton (4-4-1-1): Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, O’Brien, Mykolenko; Harrison, Iroegnunam, Gueye, McNeil; Ndiaye; Calvert-Lewin.

New Seagulls manager Hurzeler isn’t free of injury worries, either. The 31-year-old has welcomed Tariq Lamptey, Pervis Estupinan and Evan Ferguson back into training but admitted he was unsure if they would be able to feature at Goodison Park.

Julio Enciso had a packed summer schedule playing for Paraguay in the Copa America and the Olympics and may need more time off, while Solly March is still recovering from a ruptured cruciate ligament and Bart Verbruggen is unavailable.

Brighton predicted lineup vs Everton (4-2-3-1): Steele; Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Barco; Wieffer, Milner; Minteh, Pedro, Mitoma; Welbeck.

Everton would have finished in 12th place last season had their off-field mismanagement not led to a points deduction and manager Dyche will be keen to drag his side higher up the table having implemented some of his trademark characteristics.

Only Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool conceded fewer Premier League goals than Everton in 2023/24 but their wastefulness in front of goal cost the Toffees points.

Brighton looked sharp under their new setup during pre-season and will hope their aggressive pressing approach can reap some rewards on Merseyside. However, this opening weekend encounter could end all square.

Prediction: Everton 1-1 Brighton

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