TEAM NEWS
Centre-back Lewis Dunk returns from suspension and is expected to resume his partnership with Shane Duffy for the first time since 4 December. Brighton have no new injury concerns for the visit of Everton, but goalkeeper Mat Ryan is absent on international duty.
Everton forward Richarlison is set to return to the starting line-up after scoring as a substitute at Burnley. Ademola Lookman is in contention after missing two games with an ankle injury.
MOTD COMMENTATOR’S NOTES
Jonathan Pearce: Brighton should have beaten Arsenal after a timid opening. If they repeat their second-half form they can win this and make it a very creditable 33 home points from 2018.
A front three of Anthony Knockaert, Glenn Murray and Florin Andone would really trouble Everton. They rarely fail to score at home. Clean sheets are just as rare. But the first choice centre-backs Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy will be together again.
With keeper Mat Ryan now away with Australia they could do with a win here to put them probably within 10 points of safety already.
Everton haven’t won consecutive away league games in over two years. They’ll find this a lot tougher than they did at Burnley. It’s also five years since they triumphed in the last game of a calendar year. A draw wouldn’t be surprising.
VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT
Brighton and Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton on signing players in January: “I don’t see us being too busy next month in terms of incomings.
“But we could see a few of our younger players heading out on loan.”
Everton manager Marco Silva on the performances of Dominic Calvert-Lewin: “I am happy with him, but I want more because he has the quality to give more to us as a team and to improve more and more and more.
“He has some specific skills I like in a striker and he knows what I expect from him and the work we are doing with him.
“If he has started the last three matches, it is because he deserves it and I believe in him.”
LAWRO’S PREDICTION
The Seagulls have become very good at making sure they take something from their home games, but I have a sneaky feeling thing might be different this time.
Prediction: 1-2
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Brighton have won just two of their 14 meetings with Everton, with their last victory coming at home in the First Division in 1982.
- Everton have lost on only two of their seven visits to Brighton (W2, D3).
- The home side has scored in 13 of the 14 fixtures between these sides, with the only exception a goalless draw at Brighton in the First Division in 1980.
Brighton and Hove Albion
- Brighton have lost just two of their last 12 Premier League home games, winning five and drawing five.
- They have scored in all 12 of those matches at the Amex Stadium.
- The Seagulls ended a run of three consecutive defeats by drawing with Arsenal last time out. However, they have only won two of their last nine league outings (D2, L5).
- Brighton have failed to keep a clean sheet for a league-high nine matches since a run of three 1-0 wins in October.
Everton
- This is Everton’s 4,500th top-flight fixture. They are the first club to reach this landmark.
- Everton ended a five-match winless run by beating Burnley 5-1 in their most recent match (D2, L3).
- Against Burnley, Everton scored five goals in an away Premier League game for the first time since a 5-2 win at Sheffield Wednesday in April 1996.
- Everton are aiming to win consecutive Premier League away games for the first time since September 2016.
- The Toffees have not won their final match of a calendar year since 2013, when they recorded a 2-1 home victory over Southampton.
- Five of the last eight goals scored by Lucas Digne have come from outside the penalty box, including all three of his goals for the Toffees.
- Gylfi Sigurdsson has scored 12 Premier League goals for Everton since the start of last season, more than any other player.
- Richarlison has nine goals in 17 league appearances with Everton, four more than he scored in 38 games for Watford last season.
Source: BBC News
