Everton suffered a disappointing start to their Premier League campaign, losing 3-0 to Brighton & Hove Albion at Goodison Park on Saturday. The defeat marked a tough debut for Senegalese striker Iliman Ndiaye, who came off the bench but was unable to influence the outcome as the Seagulls dominated the match.
The Toffees, looking to avoid another relegation battle after narrowly escaping in the past two seasons, were outplayed in front of their home crowd.
Brighton took control early on, with Kaoru Mitoma opening the scoring in the 25th minute.
The Japanese winger, set up by Gambian forward Yankuba Minteh, finished with precision to give the visitors a well-deserved lead.
Despite playing at their iconic Goodison Park, which they will leave at the end of the season, Everton struggled to match Brighton’s pace and intensity.
The home side’s attempts to find an equalizer were consistently thwarted by the visitors’ well-organized defense and swift counter-attacks.
Brighton extended their lead early in the second half, capitalizing on a costly mistake by Idrissa Gueye.
The Everton midfielder lost possession deep in his own half, allowing Danny Welbeck to pounce and make it 2-0 in the 56th minute.
The goal further deflated the Toffees, who found themselves increasingly on the back foot.
In an effort to change the course of the game, Everton manager Sean Dyche introduced Iliman Ndiaye in the 63rd minute, replacing Abdoulaye Doucouré.
However, Ndiaye, making his Premier League debut, had little opportunity to make an impact.
The 24-year-old Senegalese striker saw few touches of the ball as Brighton continued to dominate possession and control the tempo of the match.
The Seagulls sealed their victory in the 86th minute when Simon Adingra added a third goal, putting the result beyond doubt.
Brighton’s clinical performance was a clear statement of their ambitions for the season, while Everton’s display raised concerns about their ability to compete in the league.
For Everton, the loss highlighted familiar weaknesses that have plagued the team in recent seasons.
Despite the arrival of new signings like Ndiaye, the Toffees struggled to create meaningful chances and were vulnerable to Brighton’s quick transitions.
Sean Dyche will need to address these issues quickly if Everton is to avoid another season of struggle.
As Brighton celebrated a convincing win, Everton was left to reflect on a missed opportunity to start the season on a positive note.
With much work to be done, the Toffees must regroup quickly as they prepare for the challenges ahead in what promises to be a demanding Premier League campaign.
FT. pic.twitter.com/cztcLAHFp9
— Everton (@Everton) August 17, 2024
