Brighton vs Everton Prediction, Match Preview and Betting Tips, Saturday, 31 January

Brighton will host Everton at the American Express Community Stadium on Saturday, 31 January, in what promises to be an intriguing Premier League clash. This match is crucial for both teams as they look to secure valuable points in the league standings. Brighton, known for their solid home performances, will be eager to capitalise on their home advantage against an Everton side that has shown resilience on the road.

The Premier League encounter between Brighton and Everton is significant as both teams aim to improve their positions in the league table. Playing at the American Express Community Stadium, Brighton will be looking to leverage their home crowd support, while Everton will be keen to disrupt their hosts’ plans with a strong away performance. This match offers an excellent opportunity for betting enthusiasts to explore various markets, with both teams having the potential to deliver an exciting contest.

Brighton vs Everton Prediction & Betting Tip

Betting Tip	Odds
Everton to win	4.1

Considering the statistics and recent form of both teams, betting on under 2.5 goals seems a prudent choice. Brighton’s cautious approach at home and Everton’s limited attacking output away suggest a low-scoring affair.

• Brighton have seen under 2.5 goals in three of their last four home games, indicating a trend for low-scoring matches.
• Everton’s last six away games have mostly featured fewer than 2.5 goals, showing their struggle to find the net.
• The previous head-to-head match at Brighton ended 0-1, further reinforcing the likelihood of another low-scoring game.

Betting Odds

Brighton enter this Premier League clash as favourites, with betting odds of 1.86 reflecting their strong home form. Everton, on the other hand, are priced at 4.1, suggesting the bookmakers see them as underdogs, but there is potential value for those backing an upset.

Betting Tip	Odds
Brighton to win	1.86
Draw	3.64
Everton to win	4.1

The draw is priced at 3.64, which could be tempting given the competitive nature of these encounters. Punters might also want to explore the over 2.5 goals market, considering both teams’ attacking capabilities.

Brighton Analysis & Past Performance

Brighton have demonstrated mixed form recently, securing two wins, two draws, and one loss in their last five fixtures. Notably, Brighton achieved a commendable 2-1 victory against Manchester United in the FA Cup, but their Premier League form has been less consistent, including a recent 1-2 defeat to Fulham.

Home Side	Away Side	Result	Competition	Date
Fulham	Brighton	2 – 1 (Loss)	Premier League	24 Jan 2026
Brighton	Bournemouth	1 – 1 (Draw)	Premier League	19 Jan 2026
Manchester United	Brighton	1 – 2 (Win)	FA Cup	11 Jan 2026
Manchester City	Brighton	1 – 1 (Draw)	Premier League	7 Jan 2026
Brighton	Burnley	2 – 0 (Win)	Premier League	3 Jan 2026

Recent Form:
The Seagulls have averaged 1.40 goals per game in their last five matches while conceding 1.20 goals, reflecting modest attacking output and a slightly fragile defence. Their ability to find the net in all of their recent matches, except against Sunderland, underscores their offensive capabilities, led by top scorer Danny Welbeck, who has netted eight goals this season.

Brighton’s home performances have been relatively stable, with a win ratio of 0.20 at the Amex Stadium over the last five home games. Defensively, they have managed one clean sheet in their recent outings, indicating room for improvement in maintaining defensive solidity. Currently positioned 12th in the league, Brighton’s mid-table standing highlights their capacity for competitive play, albeit with a need to enhance consistency to climb higher in the standings.

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Brighton Suspensions & Injuries

Brighton face the challenge of navigating injuries to key players, which could significantly impact their tactical setup against Everton. Joel Veltman is out with a virus, though expected back in a few days, reducing defensive flexibility. Adam Webster’s knee injury sidelines him until early April, necessitating reliance on Jan Paul van Hecke and Lewis Dunk to marshal the central defence. Meanwhile, Solly March and Mats Wieffer are out until early February, limiting options in the wide and midfield areas.

The absence of March, in particular, might force Brighton to adjust their attacking plans. His ability to stretch defences with his pace and creativity on the flanks will be missed. Kaoru Mitoma and Danny Welbeck will need to compensate by providing width and penetration from the forward positions.

Player	Injury	Expected Return
Joel Veltman	Virus	Few days
Adam Webster	Knee injury	Early April 2026
Solly March	Knee injury	Early February 2026
Stefanos Tzimas	Cruciate ligament injury	Early August 2026
Mats Wieffer	Toe injury	Early February 2026
Brajan Gruda	Knock injury	Doubtful

Brajan Gruda is doubtful due to a knock, and Stefanos Tzimas remains a long-term absentee with a cruciate ligament injury. While Tzimas’s absence is less immediate in its impact, Gruda’s situation leaves Brighton thin in attacking depth. The current squad will need to be tactically astute to cover these gaps, potentially impacting their fluidity and depth in the game against Everton.

Brighton Key Players

Brighton’s key players will undoubtedly shape their performance against Everton. Leading the line is Danny Welbeck, the team’s top scorer with eight goals this season. Welbeck’s ability to find space and his clinical finishing make him a pivotal figure in Brighton’s attack, offering a constant threat to Everton’s defence. Alongside him, Kaoru Mitoma brings creativity and flair on the wing, capable of unlocking defences with his dribbling skills and incisive passes.

In midfield, Pascal Groß is the playmaker who orchestrates the team’s movements, providing both defensive stability and attacking impetus. His vision and passing range can dictate the tempo of the game, making him an essential cog in Brighton’s tactical setup. Defensively, Lewis Dunk anchors the backline, using his leadership and aerial prowess to organise and command the defence effectively.

Expected lineup for Brighton

• Goalkeeper: Bart Verbruggen
• Defence: Ferdi Kadioglu, Jan Paul van Hecke, Lewis Dunk, Olivier Boscagli
• Midfield: Yasin Ayari, Pascal Groß, Carlos Baleba
• Forward: Kaoru Mitoma, Diego Gómez, Danny Welbeck

Brighton Tactics and Formation

Brighton Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 4-3-3
• Key Forward: Danny Welbeck
• Midfield Trio: Yasin Ayari, Pascal Groß, Carlos Baleba
• Defensive Strength: Lewis Dunk’s leadership
• Notable Strategy: High pressing and wide play.

Brighton operate with a 4-3-3 formation under coach Fabian Hürzeler, which emphasises high pressing and dynamic wing play. The midfield trio of Yasin Ayari, Pascal Groß, and Carlos Baleba is crucial, offering a mix of creativity and defensive cover. Pascal Groß, in particular, plays a pivotal role in orchestrating play from deep, with his passing range and vision.

Defensively, the presence of Lewis Dunk is vital for maintaining composure and organising the backline. Alongside Jan Paul van Hecke, Dunk provides aerial dominance and leadership, which is crucial given their recent defensive record of only one clean sheet in five games.

Offensively, Brighton’s strategy revolves around the pace of wingers Kaoru Mitoma and Diego Gómez, who exploit spaces on the flanks. Danny Welbeck, the team’s top scorer, is expected to spearhead the attack, leveraging his experience and goal-scoring instincts to capitalise on chances created from wide areas.

Everton Analysis & Past Performance

Everton’s recent form has been inconsistent, with only one victory in their last five encounters across all competitions. Their recent fixtures include a 1-1 draw at home against Leeds and a narrow 1-0 away victory over Aston Villa. These results have highlighted both their resilience and their struggles in closing out matches.

Home Team	Away Team	Result	Competition	Date
Everton	Leeds	1 – 1 (Draw)	Premier League	26 Jan, 2026
Aston Villa	Everton	0 – 1 (Win)	Premier League	18 Jan, 2026
Everton	Sunderland	N/A	FA Cup	10 Jan, 2026
Everton	Wolverhampton	1 – 1 (Draw)	Premier League	7 Jan, 2026
Everton	Brentford	2 – 4 (Loss)	Premier League	4 Jan, 2026

Recent Form:
In the last five games, Everton have averaged 1.20 goals per game while conceding an average of 2.00 goals, indicating defensive vulnerabilities that have been their downfall. They’ve managed to score in all five matches but have only secured one clean sheet, reflecting a defensive frailty that opponents have exploited.

Everton’s away performance has been relatively stronger, with a win ratio of 0.60 in their last five away games. This suggests a more robust approach in away fixtures, potentially due to tactical adjustments or the psychological edge of playing away from the pressure of home expectations. Overall, their position in the league standing at 10th with 33 points reflects the mid-table dynamics, where they balance between potential European contention and mid-table obscurity.

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Everton Suspensions & Injuries

Everton face the challenge of missing Tim Iroegbunam due to a knock injury, with his return expected in about a week. While not a regular starter, his absence could affect depth options in midfield, particularly in providing fresh legs late in the game. The starting lineup remains strong with Idrissa Gana Gueye and James Garner anchoring the midfield, but the lack of additional options might limit Everton’s flexibility.

The long-term injury to Jack Grealish, who is out with a fractured foot until mid-April 2026, further narrows Everton’s creative options. Although he hasn’t been a key figure this season, his experience and flair could have been valuable assets. Without Grealish, the onus will be on Dwight McNeil and Iliman Ndiaye to provide offensive creativity and unlock Brighton’s defence.

Player	Injury	Expected Return
Tim Iroegbunam	Knock	About a week
Jack Grealish	Fractured foot	Mid-April 2026

David Moyes might need to rely on tactical consistency to mitigate these absences. The 4-2-3-1 formation could remain unchanged, focusing on a solid defensive setup and quick transitions. This stability could be crucial in maintaining Everton’s competitive edge, especially in the absence of squad rotation options.

From a betting perspective, the absence of additional creative midfield options might see Everton adopt a more conservative approach, potentially impacting the overall goal count of the match. Bettors might consider this when assessing the likelihood of a high-scoring encounter against Brighton.

Everton Key Players

Thierno Barry, Everton’s top scorer with five goals this season, will be pivotal in their attacking strategy. His ability to find space and finish clinically makes him a constant threat to Brighton’s defence. Barry’s presence up front is complemented by the creativity of Iliman Ndiaye in midfield, who can unlock defences with his vision and passing accuracy.

Defensively, James Tarkowski will be essential for Everton’s stability. His leadership and aerial prowess are key assets in the backline, particularly against Brighton’s set-piece threats. Meanwhile, Jordan Pickford in goal provides a reliable last line of defence, known for his shot-stopping abilities and command of the penalty area.

Expected lineup for Everton

• Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford
• Defence: Nathan Patterson, James Tarkowski, Jake O’Brien, Vitaliy Mykolenko
• Midfield: Idrissa Gana Gueye, James Garner, Dwight McNeil, Harrison Armstrong, Iliman Ndiaye
• Forward: Thierno Barry

Everton’s tactical approach will likely focus on solid defensive organisation, with quick transitions to exploit Barry’s pace and finishing. The blend of experience in defence and dynamism in attack provides a balanced setup, aiming to challenge Brighton’s home advantage.

Everton Tactics and Formation

Everton Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 4-2-3-1
• Key Forward: Thierno Barry
• Midfield Pivot: Idrissa Gana Gueye and James Garner
• Defensive Strength: One clean sheet in the last five games
• Notable Strategy: Emphasis on midfield control and counter-attacking play.

Everton continue to deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation under David Moyes, which provides a balanced approach between defence and attack. Idrissa Gana Gueye and James Garner form the midfield pivot, crucial for both defensive coverage and initiating attacks. This pairing is essential for breaking up opposition play and distributing the ball to creative outlets.

Defensively, the back four of Nathan Patterson, James Tarkowski, Jake O’Brien, and Vitaliy Mykolenko aim to provide solidity, although they have managed only one clean sheet in their last five outings. Jordan Pickford’s role as the goalkeeper remains pivotal, particularly given Everton’s vulnerability to conceding goals.

Offensively, Thierno Barry leads the line as the primary goal threat, supported by Dwight McNeil and Iliman Ndiaye on the flanks. Everton’s strategy often involves quick transitions from defence to attack, capitalising on the pace and dribbling ability of their wingers to create opportunities.

Brighton vs Everton Head-to-Head Record

Brighton and Everton have faced off 17 times in total, with Everton leading the head-to-head record with eight wins to Brighton’s five, alongside four draws. In their most recent encounter, Everton secured a 2-0 victory at Goodison Park in the Premier League back in August 2025.

The last time Brighton hosted Everton at the Amex Stadium, it ended in a narrow 0-1 defeat for the home side in January 2025. Historically, Brighton have struggled to consistently get the better of Everton at home, but they did manage a memorable 3-0 away win in August 2024.

Home Team	Away Team	Result	Competition	Date
Everton	Brighton & Hove Albion	2 – 0	Premier League	2025-08-24
Brighton & Hove Albion	Everton	0 – 1	Premier League	2025-01-25
Everton	Brighton & Hove Albion	0 – 3	Premier League	2024-08-17
Brighton & Hove Albion	Everton	1 – 1	Premier League	2024-02-24
Everton	Brighton & Hove Albion	1 – 1	Premier League	2023-11-04