Everton vs Brighton: Betting tips and analysis

It's almost time for Sean Dyche to dust off his lucky white shirt as Everton kick-off their campaign at home to Brighton on Saturday.

Odds Now's Brad Walker runs you through all the key details and best bets ahead of the Toffees' Goodison Park swansong.

Tale of the tape

Everton

Even as a Liverpool fan, I almost felt sorry for Everton (extra emphasis on the almost) following the two separate points deductions they were handed last season.

Sure, they were due to gross mishandlings at board level, but no one likes to see sides having points chalked off because some bloke in a suit couldn't get their spreadsheets in order.

Everyone associated with the club will be praying for a less eventful campaign this time around — at least off the pitch — as Dyche's side look to build on the positive signs which were present during the 2023-24 campaign.

The Toffees would have found themselves in 12th position if not for docked points and still managed to secure their survival by a comfortable margin, eventually finishing 14 points clear of the dreaded drop zone.

Dyche will be hoping to build on his side's efforts from last season. (Photo credit: Alamy Images)

Brighton

After a difficult ending to last season, Brighton also come into the new season with a sense of optimism.

Former manager Roberto De Zerbi has made way for Fabian Hurzeler who, at 31, will become the youngest permanent manager to oversee a game in Premier League history.

Pre-season has been a success under the German though, culminating in an impressive 4-0 home rout of Villarreal last weekend.

The Seagulls will likely see plenty of goal mouth action at both ends of the pitch, which should make them one of the more entertaining sides in the division during 2024-25.

Everton vs Brighton: Betting tips and analysis

The match result is a tough one to pick and it seems the bookmakers agree, with both sides currently hovering around the 17/10 mark for a win.

Everton dealt with off-field distractions well last season but still lost seven times on home turf, while Brighton won just four league matches on away soil.

Both have impressed in pre-season but have also given up plenty of chances, which makes me think siding with attacking players to excel could be a shrewd approach here.

One of the stars of Brighton's pre-season Ghana winger Yankuba Minteh, who was signed from Newcastle for £35 million this summer.

Minteh spent last season on loan at Feyenoord, where he registered 10 goals and six assists across 27 Eredivisie outings in Rotterdam and has hit the ground running on the South Coast, netting three times in pre-season.

He comes in at a lofty 4/1 to find the back of the net again in the season opener, which certainly looks worth chancing.

For the Toffees, Dominic Calvert-Lewin remains their chief goal threat and has had a tidy. injury-free summer. He can test Seagulls stopper Jason Steele a couple of times to land what looks a nice 9/4 poke.

Odds Now's best bets for Everton vs Brighton

Yankuba Minteh anytime goalscorer @ 4/1 (Sky Bet)

Dominic Calvert-Lewin 1.5+ shots on target @ 9/4 (Bet 365)

Watch Odds Now's Premier League betting show for matchday one