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Everton's Champions League dream slips further away in Brighton draw as injury woes continue

Sam Dean
·12-min read
Adam Lallana (left) challenges Tom Davies - Brighton held by injury-hit Everton in dull goalless draw - GETTY IMAGES
Adam Lallana (left) challenges Tom Davies - Brighton held by injury-hit Everton in dull goalless draw - GETTY IMAGES

  • Brighton draw 0-0 for the fifth time this season as they fail to break down Everton

  • Everton's hopes of a top-four finish continue to stutter

Even in testing circumstances, with nine players absent through injury, this must still be regarded as an opportunity missed for Everton.

Their push for European football has dramatically slowed in recent weeks, and they could not rediscover their momentum against a typically composed Brighton side on the south coast. It is now five matches without a win in all competitions for Carlo Ancelotti’s team, who are losing ground as West Ham United, Chelsea and Liverpool are gaining it.

The Champions League dream is not yet dead but it is dying, and Everton were ultimately fortunate not to have left the Amex with another defeat to their name.

Brighton, as is so often the case, had the better chances. If their forwards had been more clinical, Graham Potter’s team would have taken a deserved three points which would have lifted them well clear of the bottom three.

They are so patient and progressive in their build-up play, but their lack of cutting edge has been one of the defining themes of the season.

“I thought we were the team that was attacking more and better,” said Potter. There was no arguing with that, which is rather damning of Everton.

Even with all their injuries, including top scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin, one would have expected so much more from Ancelotti’s attacking players.

A front three of Richarlison, Gylfi Sigurdsson and James Rodriguez should surely be able to muster more than this? Everton had one shot on target against a team that has spent most of the season worrying about relegation.

“We don’t want to be harping on about injuries, there’s plenty of other teams doing that,” Everton captain Seamus Coleman said, in what seemed to be a not-so-sly dig at rivals Liverpool. “It’s part and parcel of this season. Injuries do happen and unfortunately we missed a few. It’s about the players who are playing.” They face Tottenham Hotspur on Friday and Ancelotti hopes to have Calvert-Lewin, Andre Gomes and Allan available in time.

Leandro Trossard and Mason Holgate - Brighton held by injury-hit Everton in dull goalless draw - REUTERS
Leandro Trossard and Mason Holgate - Brighton held by injury-hit Everton in dull goalless draw - REUTERS

He will certainly be without Jean-Philippe Gbamin, though, after the midfielder picked up yet another injury in his desperately unfortunate Everton career.

“Of course it is more difficult now, the fight,” said Ancelotti of their hopes of reaching the top four. “But now in the next eight games that we have to play, there’s a lot to play against teams really close to us. We are still there.”

They will not be there for long if they continue to perform like this.

Brighton were the more dangerous side throughout, with Adam Lallana and Yves Bissouma dominating the midfield.

“We lacked a little in the final third in terms of decisions and execution,” said Potter in comments that could have applied at so many other points of this campaign.

Brighton so rarely look or play like a team that is fighting for their lives. It is progressive, advanced football of the sort that many top-half clubs would like to instill within their own teams.

As ever, it is finding the substance to go with the style that is Brighton’s problem, and their inability to finish chances remains their most pressing issue.

Brighton’s best opportunity fell to Neal Maupay, who stabbed the ball wide, and there were further openings for Danny Welbeck and Jakub Moder as Everton struggled to get out of their own half.

Only at the very end did Everton threaten, when substitute Alex Iwobi (on for the injured Yerry Mina) fired his shot a few yards over the bar from the edge of the box.

That was the best it got on a night for both teams, and Everton especially, to forget.

09:06 PM

FULL TIME: Brighton 0 Everton 0

It comes to nothing as Gross' shot hits the wall. And that the final whistle. A poor game in truth.

09:05 PM

90+1 mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

Holgate pulls back Gross 25 yards out. Free kick to Brighton.

09:04 PM

90mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

Two minutes of stoppage time. Space opens up for Iwobi but he shoots over. Sums up the game really.

09:02 PM

88mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

Lallana fires over after being well found by Gross. Time running out for a goal.

09:00 PM

86mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

Double sub by Brighton. Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Dan Burn replace Maupay and Moder.

Davies comes off for Everton with Broadhead coming on.

08:57 PM

83mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

Trossard's shot is deflected wide for a corner. After scramble in the box, Everton clear it.

08:56 PM

82mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

A lunging tackle by Keane on Welbeck. A bit out of control from the Everton man. It is a good position for Brighton...

08:51 PM

77mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

Another corner for Brighton after Trossard's shot is blocked. Olsen then tips over Dunk's header.

08:50 PM

75mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

Brilliant block by Godfrey to deny Welbeck's goalbound shot. Then Maupay fires wide. Best chance of the night so far.

08:44 PM

70mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

Brighton are getting closer and closer. First Coleman blocks Lallana's effort after the midfielder was picked out perfectly by Trossard. Then Moder then fires over at the back post from the corner.

Into the final 20 minutes. Will we get a goal?...

08:41 PM

66mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

The corner is well worked. Gross pulls the ball back and Moder is waiting to hit a shot which flies just over the bar.

08:39 PM

64mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

Great cross by Moder to the back post but Holgate does well to head the ball away from Welbeck. Corner to Brighton.

08:30 PM

57mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

A roll of the dice by Everton coming with Iwobi getting ready to come on. Mina is getting treatment for an ankle injury. It is Mina who comes off in fact.

08:29 PM

55mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

Good defending by Godfrey to get goalside and in front of Welbeck as Brighton threatened.

08:25 PM

51mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

Yellow card for Dunk after taking out Richarlison.

08:24 PM

49mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

Maupay turns and shoots on the edge of the box but his shot is deflected wide.

Everton get the ball clear again.

08:20 PM

Second half: Brighton 0 Everton 0

No changes at the break by either side.

08:03 PM

HALF TIME: Brighton 0 Everton 0

Another 45mins with Brighton not scoring in the first half. Everton need to do more in the second half.

08:02 PM

45mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

One minute of stoppage time.

08:02 PM

43mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

Suddenly the match has gone end to end. Maupay runs forward then gives the ball away. Everton burst forward and Coleman finds Sigurdsson, who is tackled on the edge of the box. Brighton come forward again but can't make the most of the it.

07:59 PM

41mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

Another nice move by Brighton sees Lallana find space 25 yards out. But his through ball to Welbeck is just too far ahead of the striker.

07:55 PM

37mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

All the fluidity and intricute play is coming from Brighton but no way through at the moment.

07:51 PM

33mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

Outrageous effort by Bissouma, who tries a bicyle-kick from the angle which lands on the roof of the net.

07:49 PM

31mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

Chance for Brighton as Trossard runs down the right. He crosses into the box and the ball falls to Maupay, who's shot is deflected narrowly wide. From the resulting corner, Everton clear the ball.

07:47 PM

30mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

30 minutes played. Still goalless. Not the highest quality match so far.

07:42 PM

25mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

Corner to Everton. Taken by Sigurdsson but Brighton clear the ball.

07:41 PM

23mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

Happy Anniversary Carlo! It is the Italian's 50th match in charge of the Toffees.

07:36 PM

19mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

A heavy touch from Sánchez almost presents Richarlison with an opening but Brighton keeper just manages to clear the ball. Sanchez is left limping.

07:34 PM

17mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

Lovely play by Brighton to keep the ball and move Everton around. Coleman heads a cross out but only to the feet of Moder, who volleys wide.

07:31 PM

15mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

Rodriguez takes it but shoots over. He stays on six league goals for the season.

07:31 PM

14mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

Free kick for Everton about 25 yards out after Moder fouls Coleman. Everton have scored 12 set piece goals this sesaon. Stand by...

07:29 PM

12mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

With no natural defensive midfielders available, Mason Holgate is tasked with protecting the back four. He's kept it nice and simple so far.

07:26 PM

8mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

Moder bursts through after combining with Maupay but shoots wide. Everton are yet to get going in the early stages.

07:24 PM

7mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

Energetic start by the home side. They are pressing Everton all over the pitch.

07:21 PM

3mins: Brighton 0 Everton 0

First shot at goal comes from Lallana and it is deflected wide. Keane clears the corner away for another one to be taken by Gross. Goalkeeper punches away the second.

07:16 PM

Kick Off: Brighton 0 Everton 0

The final game of this Premier League gameweek is underway

07:15 PM

Two minutes silence

The players are out and lining up in the centre circle as they pay their respects to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

07:10 PM

A reminder of the teams...

Brighton: Sanchez, White, Dunk, Veltman, Gross, Lallana, Bissouma, Moder, Trossard, Maupay, Welbeck.

Subs: Webster, Mac Allister, Jahanbakhsh, Alzate, Izquierdo, Steele, Propper, Zeqiri, Burn.

Everton: Olsen, Coleman, Keane, Mina, Holgate, Godfrey, Rodriguez, Sigurdsson, Davies, Digne, Richarlison.

Subs: Iwobi, Nkounkou, Virginia, Broadhead, John, Tyrer, Price, Welch.

07:05 PM

Pre-match stats

  • Brighton are unbeaten in all three home Premier League matches against Everton (W2 D1), last losing at home to the Toffees in the top-flight in 1982-83.

  • Everton have scored a league-high 12 headed goals in the Premier League this season, while Brighton have conceded the highest proportion of headed goals in the competition this term (24 per cent - 9/38).

  • Brighton’s Danny Welbeck has scored in his last two Premier League games, last finding the net in three straight appearances back in January 2014 with Manchester United.

06:49 PM

Everton injury update

06:38 PM

Team news

Brighton are unchanged from the team which lost 2-1 to Manchester United last weekend. It means another start for Danny Welbeck in attack.

For Everton, they are without a host of players. Top scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin is missing for an unknown reason. The injured Andre Gomes and Allan also miss out. Ben Godfrey and Gylfi Sigurdsson come into the team while 17-year-old Isaac Price is on the bench.

06:25 PM

Everton starting Xi

06:24 PM

Brighton starting XI

06:15 PM

Good evening

Hello and welcome to coverage from the Amex Stadium as Brighton host Everton.

Brighton boss Graham Potter regards Carlo Ancelotti as one of football's great coaches and expects Everton to become stronger and stronger under his leadership.

The experienced Italian has the Toffees in contention for European qualification but will be seeking a reaction to a three-game winless run.

Potter, who needs points to ease the Seagulls' Premier League relegation concerns, is full of admiration for his rival manager and feels he has the Merseyside club moving in the right direction.

"He's worked at the very, very highest level and done everything you can in the game," said Potter.

"He's followed some big coaches into some big clubs.

"He does it all in his own way, he has a quiet leadership but just a really, really impressive character who's had a huge influence on modern football and will go down as one of the great coaches. Everton have invested well because they have big ambition.

"That doesn't mean to say it's a straightforward job for Carlo because he's still got to organise things but I think he's done it well since he's been there and I think they'll get stronger and stronger as long as he's there."

Everton will be without Jean-Philippe Gbamin for tonight's clash after sustaining a knee injury in training.

The Ivorian has played only three games and made one start since joining Everton in 2019 from Bundesliga side Mainz 05 for 25 million euros.

After missing most of his first season with a hamstring injury sustained in his second game for the club, he ruptured his Achilles tendon last May and was out for a further 11 months.

He finally returned to the pitch as a late substitute in last week's 1-1 draw at home to Crystal Palace.

But his comeback was shortlived, with coach Carlo Ancelotti revealing the 25-year-old had sustained a contact injury in training over the weekend and would undergo a scan on Tuesday.