The beginning of the end for Everton, as they step into their last ever season at Goodison Park – after over 130 years at the beautiful, old ground. An emotional 10 months await and Everton will want to get off to the best possible start. Under Sean Dyche, and the 5 signings made, there is a cautious sense of optimism ahead of the new season. Brighton, due to the recent appointment of Fabian Hurzeler remain a relative unknown.
The expected absence of Jarrad Branthwaite is a tremendous blow for Everton, and it provides a very good test of newbie Jake O’Brien’s defensive capabilities. The kid is HUGE! Other new additions include versatile attackers Iliman Ndiaye from Marseille and Napoli’s Jesper Lindstrom on loan. Both impressed greatly – including a superb free kick from Lindstrom at Deepdale – in pre season and Evertonians are hoping they both get the nod against Brighton, centrally and out wide respectively.
With the pressure and traumas of the points deductions now gone, Everton can hopefully play with freedom, the way they want to. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is finally fully fit, and has scored 3 in preseason – with 1 year remaining on his contract now is the time to step up once again.
What threat do Brighton pose? Well, there’s a lot that we don’t know about Brighton. But what we do know is all very exciting. They have a (still) young squad with heaps of potential, new signings Yankuba Minteh and Ibrahim Osman further emphasise this. Fabian Hurzeler is known for exciting, attacking football which worked very well last season; in 23/24 he got St Pauli promoted to the Bundesliga in very impressive style. Brighton must not be underestimated, despite the current optimism at Goodison Park.