The 2025/26 Premier League season resumes this weekend with Gameweek 24. The action on Saturday will start with three simultaneous matches, including Brighton & Hove Albion vs Everton at the Amex Stadium.
Brighton & Hove Albion have been on a frustrating run in the Premier League. While the 2-1 loss to Fulham last weekend ended a five-game unbeaten run across all competitions, they have won only one of their ten most recent top-flight matches (D5 L4). Since the start of December, only Burnley (five) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (six) have earned fewer points than the Seagulls (eight). So, Fabian Hurzeler will be eager to see his team turn things around in the coming weeks.
On the other hand, Everton’s recent run is somewhat similar to Brighton’s, as they have been on a topsy-turvy ride. The Toffees have won only two of their last eight games (D3 L3). However, that has not adversely affected the Merseyside outfit, as they are only five points behind fourth-placed Manchester United. A positive result this weekend can lift them as high as sixth on the table.
The reverse fixture ended in a 2-0 win for Everton, with Iliman Ndiaye and James Garner finding the back of the net. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Fabian Hurzeler has received positive updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Brighton & Hove Albion manager will be bereft of the services of only four first-team players vs Everton on Saturday.
Adam Webster, Solomon March, and Stefanos Tzimas remain long-term absentees due to their knee injuries. Additionally, Mats Wieffer is recovering from an ankle complaint. However, Brajan Gruda and Diego Gomez are fit and available to return from minor issues.
Bart Verbruggen is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Brighton & Hove Albion lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Everton on Saturday. The backline will feature Ferdi Kadioglu, Jan Paul van Hecke, Lewis Dunk, and Maxim De Cuyper.
As for the midfield unit, Yasin Ayari and Pascal Gross should pair up in the double pivot, with Carlos Baleba missing out. Georginio Rutter will reprise the no. 10 role, with Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh being the two wide attackers. Finally, Danny Welbeck will lead the line for Brighton against Everton on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Kadioglu, van Hecke, Dunk, De Cuyper; Ayari, Gross; Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma; Welbeck
Unlike his counterpart in the Brighton & Hove Albion dugout, David Moyes has received a mixed bag of updates on the team news front ahead of the trip to the Amex Stadium. However, the Everton manager may be without only one first-team player on Saturday.
Moyes has confirmed that Grealish may miss the remainder of the 2025/26 season due to a foot injury, which will require surgery. However, Michael Keane has served a suspension, while Lazio-linked Tim Iroegbunam should be fit and available to return from a groin issue.
Jordan Pickford is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Everton lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. The backline will feature Jake O’Brien, James Tarkowski, Michael Keane, and Vitaliy Mykolenko.
As for the midfield unit, Idrissa Gueye and James Garner will pair up in the double pivot, with Iroegbunam missing out. Harrison Armstrong will reprise the no. 10 role, with Dwight McNeil and Ilinam Ndiaye being the two wide attackers. Finally, Thierno Barry will spearhead the Everton attack against Brighton on Saturday. So, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall will be a backup option on the bench.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner; Ndiaye, Armstrong, McNeil; Barry
While Danny Welbeck, Georginio Rutter, and Iliman Ndiaye were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Thierno Barry as the Player to Watch for Saturday’s Premier League clash between Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton at the Amex Stadium.
Since December 6 (when he scored his first Premier League goal), Barry has scored five goals from just ten shots in the Premier League, the best conversion rate of any player to have more than five shots in that time (50%). The summer arrival has scored in his last two Premier League away games.
The last Everton player to score in three successive Premier League matches was Dominic Calvert-Lewin in December 2020, while the most recent player to do that in their debut campaign with the Toffees was Romelu Lukaku in October 2013. So, the in-form Barry will be the go-to player for David Moyes this weekend.
Matches between Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton tend to produce a winner, as only three of the last 16 top-flight meetings have ended as a draw. However, the Seagulls have not been at their best when they have hosted Everton at the Amex Stadium in recent years.
Additionally, with Thierno Barry in excellent form, a narrow victory may be on the cards for the away side. While Brighton will not allow Everton to clinch a straightforward victory, they will fall short and extend their frustrating run in the Premier League. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for David Moyes and his charges.
