17 AUGUST 2024 - EVERTON 0 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 3
( Kaoru Mitoma 1 - Danny Welbeck 1 - Simon Adingra 1 - ) -
PREMIER LEAGUE - at GOODISON PARK, MERSEYSIDE.
Embarking on their eighth consecutive season in the Premier League, the Albion opened their 2024-2025 campaign with a trip to Merseyside to meet Everton at Goodison Park, the match being broadcast over the airwaves on BBC Radio Sussex Sport. It would also be the Seagulls last visit to Goodison Park, unless the teams meet in the cup competitions this season, before the Toffees move to their new ground at Bramley-Moore Dock next season.
Close-season 2024 transfer business activity at the Amex has so far been considerable, with the departures including Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi (44) and seven coaches, midfielder Adam Lallana (36) to Southampton, goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen (24) to Sturm Graz (Austria) - on a season-long loan, midfielder Kacper Kozlowski (20) to Gaziantep FK (Turkey), midfielder Pascal Gross (33) to Borussia Dortmund, forward Deniz Undav (28) to VfB Stuttgart, midfielder Facundo Buonanotte (19) - signed a 4-year extension to his contract with the club - then joins Leicester City - on a season-long loan, forward Ibrahim Osman (19) to Feyenoord (Holland) - on a season-long loan and midfielder Andrew Moran (20) - signed a new 4-year contract with the club - then joined Stoke City -on a season-long loan.
Forward Danny Welbeck (33) - signed a new 2-year contract with the club and midfielder James Milner (38) - signed a 1-year extension to his existing contract with the club, Incomings included, new Head Coach Fabian Hurzeler (31), forward Yankuba Minteh (19) from Newcastle United, three Backroom Staff -Jonas Scheuermann (Assistant Head Coach), Marco Knoop (Goalkeeping Coach) and Max Lesser (Tactical Analyst), midfielder Mats Wieffer (24) from Feyenoord, midfielder Amario Cozier-Duberry (19) from Arsenal, new Albion Women's Head Coach Dario Vidosic (37), forward Ibrahim Osman (19) from FC Nordsjaelland (Denmark), midfielder Malick Yalcouye (18) from IFK Gothenburg (Sweden), former Albion player Tomer Hemed (37) - as a mentor in the club's academy, midfielder Brajan Gruda (20) from FSV Mainz (Germany) and forward Georginio Rutter (22) from Leeds United for a club record fee of £40 million.
Last season the teams played out two draws in the Premier. It was 1-1 at Goodison on the 4 November 2023, with the Toffees scoring through Vitaliy Mykolenko (7m) and Seagulls goal coming from an Ashley Young own goal (84m). It was also 1-1 at the Amex on the 24 February 2024, Jarrod Branthwaite (73m) netting for Everton and Lewis Dunk (90+5m) equalising late on for the Albion.
In his first Premier League games as Albion Head Coach, Fabian Hurzeler gave debuts to new signings Mats Wieffer and Yantuba Minteh. In a frantic start Everton's Jack Harrison had a goal ruled out for offside on four minutes and within seconds at the other end Joao Pedro had a penalty appeal waved aside.
On the counter, Dwight McNeil hit the post with a low shot and Abdoulaye Doucoure failed to convert the rebound. The Albion gradually settled and on 25 minutes took the lead with a peach of a goal. Kaoru Mitoma collected the ball on the edge of Albion's penalty area and sent Yantuba Minteh away on the right, the former Newcastle man left Vitaliy Mykolenko in his slip-stream before crossing the ball across goal where Mitoma was on hand to tap the ball home from close-in. A superbly worked goal and a statement by the Seagulls. 1-0.
Just prior to the break the Albion lost the services of the lively Minteh due to a concussion injury, Simon Adingra substituting.
Half-time 1-0.
Minutes into the second-half Referee Simon Hooper awarded Everton a penalty when striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin appeared to have been felled but upon reference to the pitch-side monitor reversed his decision because previously Calvert-Lewin had trod on Lewis Dunk's foot.
The visitors increased their lead on 56 minutes when the impressive Mats Wieffer intercepted the ball and sent Danny Welbeck away and the striker raced away unhindered before slotting the ball home for another excellent goal. 2-0.
The turning point of the game occurred on 66 minutes when the nimble Mitoma eluded last defender Ashley Young who cynically brought the winger down as he dashed for goal and correctly received a red card for his troubles and the Toffees were down to 10-men.
The Seagulls capped an excellent day on Merseyside on 86 minutes when Adingra's fine individual run ended with a superb left-foot shot past Jordan Pickford in the Everton goal. 3-0.
There was still time for substitute Yasin Ayari to score a fourth but the goal was chalked off for offside. An excellent win for the Albion and a memorable start for new Head Coach Fabian Hurzeler.
Final-score 3-0.
Match stats: Albion had 15 attempts at goal, with 5 on target and won 5 corners, free-kicks conceded - 8.
Everton had 10 attempts at goal, with 1 on target and won 1 corner, free-kicks conceded - 8.
VERDICT - An excellent opening-day win for the Albion and delight for new Head Coach Fabian Hurzeler. Debutants Mats Wieffer and Yantuba Minteh (until he was injured) blended well into the squad. If this win is anything to go by the Seagulls and their fans are in for an exciting season.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Jason STEELE; Joel VELTMAN, Jan Paul VAN HECKE, Lewis DUNK (Capt) (Adam WEBSTER 76), Jack HINSHELWOOD; James MILNER (Billy GILMOUR 82), Mats WIEFFER; Yantuba MINTEH (Simon ADINGRA 44), Joao PEDRO (Jeremy SARMIENTO 82), Kaoru MITOMA (Yasin AYARI 89); Danny WELBECK.
Subs not used: Carl RUSHWORTH (G/K), Valentin BARCO, Carlos BALEBA, Mark O'MAHONY.
Everton line-up (4-2-3-1):- Jordan PICKFORD; Ashley YOUNG, Michael KEANE, James TARKOWSKI (Capt), Vitaliy MYKOLENKO; Idrissa GUEYE, Tim IROEGBUNAM; Jack HARRISON (Mason HOLGATE 85), Abdoulaye DOUCOURE (Iliman NDIAYE 63), Dwight McNEIL; Dominic CALVERT-LEWIN (BETO 76).
Subs not used: Joao VIRGINIA (G/K), Harrison ARMSTRONG, Jesper LINDSTROM, Neal MAUPAY, Jenson METCALFE, Jake O'BRIEN.
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire).
VAR Official: Darren England.
Red Card: Everton: 1 - Ashley Young.
Yellow Cards: Albion: 1 - James Milner. Everton: 1 - James Tarkowski.
Possession: Albion - 62%. Everton - 38%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Kaoru Mitoma (Albion).
RECENT TRANSFER ACTIVITY AT THE AMEX:
14 AUGUST - BRAJAN GRUDA - (20) - Midfielder - signed from FSV MAINZ (GERMANY) - on a 4-year contract - effective until June 2028 - for a fee of £25 million;
15 AUGUST - IBRAHIM OSMAN - (19) - Forward - joins FEYENOORD - on s season-long loan;
16 AUGUST - ANDREW MORAN - (20) - Midfielder - signs new 4-year contract with the club - effective until June 2028 - then joins STOKE CITY - on a season-long loan;
19 AUGUST - GEORGINIO RUTTER - (22) - Forward - signed from LEEDS UNITED - on a 5-contract - effective until June 2029 - for a club record fee of £40 million.
ALBION'S AUGUST 2024 FIXTURES:
24 AUGUST - MANCHESTER UNITED - home - Premier League - kick-off 12.30. "Live" on TNT Sports;
27 AUGUST - CRAWLEY TOWN - home - Carabao Cup, Second Round - kick-off 19.45;
31 AUGUST - ARSENAL - away - Premier League - kick-off 12.30. "Live" on TNT
Sports.
Jack Kaye.