Brighton & Hove Albion vs Everton

Backed by a 2-1 road win over Huddersfield in the Carabao Cup midweek, Everton head to the Amex Stadium in pursuit of their maiden Premier League victory away to Brighton & Hove Albion.

The ‘Seagulls’ are on course of starting a new top-flight campaign with three consecutive victories for the first time in the club’s history after beating Burnley and Watford by an aggregate score of 4-1 in the first two rounds. Brighton’s start to the season is a statement of intent following an underwhelming 16th-place finish in 2020/21 as they seek their first perfect three-game start in English football since the 2011/12 Championship season. That scenario seems to be well within the realm of possibility, as the hosts have avoided defeat in all four top-flight H2Hs at the AMEX (W2, D2), keeping a clean sheet twice in the process. What’s more, Brighton’s notable upturn in form has seen them win three of their last four Premier League matches (L1), as many victories as they had in their previous 14 outings in the competition (W3, D5, L6).

Meanwhile, Everton’s decision to hire opinion-splitting manager Rafael Benitez has paid dividends early in the season, with the ‘Toffees’ going unbeaten in all three competitive fixtures (W2, D1). Having overseen his side score 2+ goals in each of those three matches, Benitez will be confident of becoming the club’s fifth consecutive permanent boss to start a reign with 5+ points from the first nine available. Yet, the Spaniard must be frustrated after his team dropped two points against Leeds United last weekend, despite leading twice in that game (2-2). That draw at Elland Road has extended Everton’s winless streak in away August-held Premier League fixtures to seven matches (D5, L2). Moreover, the visitors have conceded seven goals across their last two top-flight trips, as many as in their previous 12 such contests combined.