Fabian Hürzeler makes his Premier League bow as Brighton manager, with the Seagulls away to Everton at Goodison Park.
Sean Dyche’s Toffees will seek a much stronger campaign after having dealt with two separate points deductions last season, which ultimately left them 15th in the table.
Brighton meanwhile begin life under Fabian Hürzeler following Roberto De Zerbi’s exit in May.
Team News
Michael Keane could feature for Everton after he missed their final pre-season friendly against AS Roma with a knee injury.
Nathan Patterson (hamstring), Seamus Coleman (knock), James Garner (unspecified), Jarrad Branthwaite (groin) and Youssef Chermiti (foot) are ruled out.
Tim Iroegbunam, Iliman Ndiaye, Jesper Lindstrom and Jake O’Brien could make their debuts.
Brighton will be without Tariq Lamptey and Julio Enciso due to minor injuries.
Bart Verbruggen is sidelined with an unspecified injury, whilst Solly March (knee), Pervis Estupinan and Evan Ferguson (both ankle) remain absent.
Yankuba Minteh, Mats Wieffer and Brajan Gruda could make their competitive debuts for the Seagulls.
Amario Cozier-Duberry could also be in contention after impressing in pre-season, despite being signed for the Under-21s.
When is Kick-Off?
Everton host Brighton at Goodison Park on Saturday 17 August at 3pm BST, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Everton have won one of their last five meetings against Brighton (W1, D2, L2).
- Brighton have claimed seven points from three of seven Premier League trips to Everton (W2, D1, L4).
- This is Everton’s first home match against Brighton in all competitions to be played in August.
- O’Brien scored in two of three pre-season appearances for Everton.
- Brighton kept three clean sheets in an unbeaten pre-season (W5).
Prediction
In a summer where they dug deep to hold onto Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Everton have done well to bring in some decent reinforcement so I am hopeful that they can build upon their late form of last season.
Brighton meanwhile might be under a new manager in Hürzeler but to his credit, he seems to have done a solid job in blending his and Brighton’s playing styles so this will be their first proper test after an unbeaten pre-season.
Everton though do look more solid at the back with O’Brien’s arrival who will add a threat at set-pieces, but Brighton do look like they have the momentum and firepower to get a win but this should be pretty close.
Prediction: Everton 1-2 Brighton
Result: Everton 0-3 Brighton