31 JANUARY 2026
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1 EVERTON 1
PREMIER LEAGUE -
at the AMERICAN EXPRESS STADIUM, FALMER.
On a run of one win in eleven games, the Albion welcomed Everton to the Amex for a Premier League encounter, the match being covered by BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
In their previous outing the Seagulls lost 1-2 at Fulham on the 24 January and for Everton's visit the Albion made two changes to their starting line-up from the Fulham game, with Maxim De Cuyper and Georginio Rutter coming in for Olivier Boscagli and Diego Gomez.
Last time out Everton had drawn 1-1 at home to Leeds United on the 26 January and for their visit to the Amex Manager David Moyes made three changes to his starting line-up from the Leeds game, with Michael Keane, Jarrad Branthwaite and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall replacing Nathan Patterson, Vitalii Mykolenko and Dwight McNeil.
Last season in the Premier, it was honours even, as the Albion won 3-0 at Goodison Park on the 17 August 2024, with the goals coming from Kaoru Mitoma (28m), Danny Welbeck (56m) and Simon Adingra (86m). In the return game at the Amex on the 25 January 2025 it finished 1-0 to the Toffees, with the winning goal being a penalty by Iliman Ndiaye (42m).
Earlier this season at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on the 24 August 2025 it finished 2-0 to Everton, with their goals being scored by Iliman Ndiaye (23m) and James Garner (52m).
This was a game of two halves. First-half saw the Albion in control of the contest, whilst Everton were in charge of the second-half. On 3 minutes Kaoru Mitoma's pass from the left fell to Danny Welbeck whose back-heel effort was kept out by Everton keeper Jordan Pickford.
Welbeck then set-up Mitoma but the latter's shot flashed inches wide of the target. Despite the combined efforts of Idrissa Gueye, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Iliman Ndiaye the Toffees failed to conjure a single shot at goal during the opening-half.
Half-time 0-0.
It was a different story second-half as Everton came out with attacking intent as Dewsbury-Hall fired a shot narrowly wide, Jarrad Branthwaite flicked a shot just wide from Jake O'Brien's cross and on 67 minutes Dewsbury-Hall saw his shot from close-in saved by the leg of Albion keeper Bart Verbruggen.
Against the run of play on 73 minutes the Albion took the lead when Yasin Ayari's cross from the right found the lurking Pascal Gross who calmly fired a low shot past Pickford for the Seagulls opener. 1-0.
Substitute Nathan Patterson's cross from the right was met by MIchael Keane whose powerful volley was well-saved by Verbruggen. Just as it seemed the Albion would hold on to the three points things changed dramatically on 90+7 minutes when O'Brien's shot on goal was parried by Verbruggen into the path of substitute Beto who tapped the ball into the Albion net for Everton's last-gasp equaliser. 1-1. The Referee's final whistle then sounded.
Final-score 1-1.
Match stats:
Albion had 11 attempts at goal, with 2 on target and won 5 corners, free-kicks conceded - 13.
Everton had 7 attempts at goal, with 4 on target and won 2 corners, free-kicks conceded - 14.
VERDICT - A low-key affair at the Amex with Albion being undone by the last kick of the game. With all the wise heads in the team it's astonishing that the Albion lost points in the time added on stage of the game for the second week running. Albion's aspiration of European football next season is fast disappearing.
Albion line-up (4-3-3):- Bart VERBRUGGEN; Ferdi KADIOGLU, Jan Paul VAN HECKE, Lewis DUNK (Capt), Maxim DE CUYPER (Joel VELTMAN 70); Yasin AYARI, Carlos BALEBA, Pascal GROSS (James MILNER 90+6); Georginio RUTTER (Yankuba MINTEH 60), Danny WELBECK (Charalampos KOSTOULAS 70), Kaoru MITOMA.
Subs not used: Jason STEELE (G/K), Olivier BOSCAGLI, Igor JULIO, Brajan GRUDA, Harry HOWELL.
Everton line-up (4-2-3-1):- Jordan PICKFORD; Jake O'BRIEN, James TARKOWSKI (Capt), MIchael KEANE, Jarrad BRANTHWAITE (Nathan PATTERSON 89); James GARNER, Idrissa GUEYE (Tim IROEGBUNAM 80); Harrison ARMSTRONG (Tyler DIBLING 80), Kiernan DEWSBURY-HALL (Charly ALCAREZ 79), Iliman NDIAYE; Thierno BARRY (BETO 89).
Subs not used: Mark TRAVERS (G/K), Seamus COLEMAN, Merlin ROHL, Dwight McNEIL.
Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Leicestershire).
Fourth Official: Tim Robinson.
VAR Official: Neil Davies.
Yellow Cards: Albion: 1 - Pascal Gross. Everton: 2 - Jarrad Branthwaite, Tim Iroegbunam.
Possession: Albion - 54%. Everton - 46%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Beto (Everton).
Attendance: 31419.
NEXT GAME:
8 FEBRUARY 2026 - CRYSTAL PALACE - HOME - PREMIER LEAGUE - KICK-OFF 14.00.
"LIVE" ON SKY SPORTS.
Jack Kaye.
5 February 2026.