Brighton
Everton
Match Statistics
Confirmed Lineups
- 1 Verbruggen B.
- 2 Kadioglu F.
- 3 van Hecke J. P.
- 4 Dunk L.
- 5 De Cuyper M.
- 6 Ayari Y.
- 7 Baleba C.
- 8 Gross P.
- 9 Rutter G.
- 10 Welbeck D.
- 11 Mitoma K.
Substitutes
Boscagli O., Gruda B., Howell H., Igor, Kostoulas C., Milner J., Minteh Y., Steele J., Veltman J.
- 1 Pickford J.
- 2 O'Brien J.
- 3 Tarkowski J.
- 4 Keane M.
- 5 Branthwaite J.
- 6 Gueye I.
- 7 Garner J.
- 8 Armstrong H.
- 9 Dewsbury-Hall K.
- 10 Ndiaye I.
- 11 Barry T.
Substitutes
Alcaraz C., Beto, Coleman S., Dibling T., Iroegbunam T., McNeil D., Patterson N., Rohl M., Travers M., X
Brighton vs Everton Match Commentary
Brighton vs Everton Match Overview: 1-1 Premier League
In a night that swung from frustration to disbelief, the Brighton vs Everton Result finished 1-1 after a breathless finale on 31 January 2026. Brighton thought they had finally found the moment to lift the roof when Pascal Gross struck in the second half, only for Everton to tear it back down in stoppage time as Beto smashed home a rebound to rescue a point. The Brighton vs Everton Score will read as a draw, but the emotional arc was anything but even: Brighton’s control, Everton’s resilience, and a VAR twist that made the stadium hold its breath.
- Mitoma’s early miss: Kaoru Mitoma raced in and somehow nudged wide with the goal gaping, setting the tone for Brighton’s “nearly” moments.
- Gross breaks through: Yasin Ayari’s laser-guided long pass released Pascal Gross, who finished low for 1-0.
- VAR heartbreak: Mitoma thought he’d doubled the lead late on, but the Brighton goal was ruled out for offside after review.
- Verbruggen’s big stop: Bart Verbruggen denied Michael Keane from point-blank range as Everton threw everything forward.
- Beto’s 90+7 punchline: With seconds left, Everton’s substitute reacted first to a loose ball and drilled in the equaliser.
First Half: Brighton’s chances, Everton’s composure
This Brighton vs Everton Match Overview starts with Brighton asking questions immediately, forcing corners and scrambling Everton’s back line inside the opening minutes. Danny Welbeck came within inches of an early breakthrough, first with a header that needed a goal-line intervention, then with another unmarked chance that drifted wide. Mitoma’s miss on 20 minutes felt like the defining snapshot of the half: a clean look at goal, a split-second of hesitation, and the ball sliding past the post.
Everton, though, never looked panicked. David Moyes’ side settled into long spells of possession, moving the ball patiently through Idrissa Gueye and James Garner, waiting for Iliman Ndiaye to find a seam. Brighton’s structure held firm, but the rhythm of the half belonged to Everton for a stretch, even if the clear openings were mostly Brighton’s. By the break, it was goalless, but the match had the feel of one that wouldn’t forgive waste.
Second Half: Gross strikes, VAR intervenes, Beto rescues Everton
Brighton emerged with sharper intent, and the game began to open. Everton threatened too, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall forcing a save and then dragging another effort wide, a reminder that Brighton’s lead was never going to arrive without a fight. Fabian Hurzeler rolled the dice with changes, and the home side’s energy surged, particularly down the left where Mitoma kept stretching the pitch.
The breakthrough arrived on 73 minutes and it was beautifully Brighton: Ayari spotted Gross’s run early, clipped a long pass into the space, and Gross finished with the calm of a player who has seen every type of Premier League moment. The Brighton vs Everton Goals story should have ended there, but football’s cruelty had other plans.
When Mitoma thought he’d made it 2-0 late on, the Amex erupted, then froze. A VAR review followed and the goal was chalked off for offside, turning relief into dread. Everton took that lifeline and sprinted through it. Moyes emptied the bench, the deliveries started flying in, and Verbruggen was forced into a sharp save from Keane as the clock bled into added time.
Then came the sting: in the 90+7th minute, the ball broke loose in the Brighton area and Beto, introduced late, attacked it like it was the only thing that mattered. His rebound finish into the bottom corner completed the Brighton vs Everton Highlights package and ensured the Brighton vs Everton Score ended 1-1, leaving the home crowd with the uneasy feeling of two points slipping away.
Brighton vs Everton Stats Breakdown
The Brighton vs Everton Stats underline why this felt so finely balanced. Brighton had more of the ball (54% possession) and generated the higher expected goals total (1.44 xG to Everton’s 1.20), but Everton produced more shots on target (4 to 2) and carried a real late threat once the game became stretched.
Brighton’s chance creation was reflected in their 0.97 expected assists, built around early and sustained pressure, while Everton’s 0.58 xA tells the story of a side that relied more on persistence, second balls, and late momentum than intricate final-third combinations. The xG on target numbers leaned Everton’s way (1.55 xGOT to 1.00), a clue that when Moyes’ men did hit the target, they did it from positions that demanded serious goalkeeping. In full-time analysis terms, Brighton’s control deserved more, but Everton’s ability to keep the contest alive made the final punch possible.
Brighton vs Everton Lineups
Brighton XI (4-3-3): Bart Verbruggen; Ferdi Kadioglu, Jan Paul van Hecke, Lewis Dunk, Maxim De Cuyper; Yasin Ayari, Carlos Baleba, Pascal Gross; Georginio Rutter, Danny Welbeck, Kaoru Mitoma.
Everton XI (4-2-3-1): Jordan Pickford; Jake O’Brien, James Tarkowski, Michael Keane, Jarrad Branthwaite; Idrissa Gueye, James Garner; Harrison Armstrong, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Iliman Ndiaye; Thierno Barry.
Substitutes used: Brighton introduced Yankuba Minteh, Joel Veltman, Charalampos Kostoulas and James Milner. Everton turned to Carlos Alcaraz, Tim Iroegbunam, Tyler Dibling, Nathan Patterson and Beto, whose late intervention defined the post-match reaction.
Player of the Match
Pascal Gross (Brighton) gets the nod for dictating Brighton’s tempo and delivering the decisive moment that nearly settled the contest. His finish was clinical, his positioning intelligent, and even as the game turned frantic, he remained the reference point for Brighton’s composure. In a match where Everton’s late equaliser will dominate the headlines, Gross was still the player who shaped the story for the longest stretch.
What the Result Means
This Brighton vs Everton Match Report ends with both sides taking something, but feeling different things. Brighton will see it as a missed opportunity after leading late and having a second goal ruled out; Everton will treat it as a statement of resilience, a Team B match today that refused to accept defeat. The Brighton vs Everton Analysis is simple: Brighton created enough to win, Everton stayed close enough to steal a point, and the margins—VAR lines and a loose ball in the box—decided the final chapter.
That's the end of the match.
90+7'
1 - 1
Goal! Beto (Everton) fires the rebound into the bottom right corner after the ball breaks to him in the box. The score is 1:1.
90+6'
Substitution. James Milner (Brighton) replaces Pascal Gross.
90+5'
Nathan Patterson (Everton) is unable to feed an accurate cross into the box.
90+2'
Tim Iroegbunam (Everton) is awarded a yellow card for his tackle. He doesn't seem to agree with the decision, but Chris Kavanagh ignores the protests.
90+2'
The referee blows his whistle for a foul after Beto (Everton) overruns the ball during an attack and makes an aggressive challenge on his opponent. Brighton will take a free kick.
90'
We will have 6 min. of added time.
90'
Michael Keane (Everton) pounces on the cross and fires in a shot on goal from close range, but Bart Verbruggen is alert and makes a decent save.
89'
David Moyes has decided to introduce fresh legs, with Beto (Everton) replacing Thierno Barry.
89'
The game has come to an end for Jarrad Branthwaite. He has contributed as much as he could today. He will be replaced by the fresh legs of Nathan Patterson (Everton).
89'
A player from Brighton commits a rough challenge. Chris Kavanagh blows for a foul and keeps the game under control. Everton are given an advantage. They have a free kick.
87'
Brighton concede a free kick following a bad challenge. Everton have a free kick.
84'
The referee looks satisfied after his VAR review and duly disallows the goal for offside. The Brighton players look gutted.
84'
Wait! Referee Chris Kavanagh has indicated he is going to review the Brighton goal using VAR. It’s probably to see if there was an offside in the build-up.
83'
Goaal - Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton)!
82'
James Garner (Everton) makes a rough challenge and Chris Kavanagh blows his whistle for a foul. It's a free kick to Brighton in a dangerous position.
80'
The substitution has been made. Tyler Dibling (Everton) has replaced Harrison Armstrong.
80'
David Moyes has decided to make a change. Tim Iroegbunam (Everton) replaces Idrissa Gueye.
79'
The manager has decided to make a substitution and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall walks off the pitch to be replaced by Carlos Alcaraz (Everton).
79'
James Garner (Everton) commits a rough foul. Chris Kavanagh stops the game and makes a call. A free kick is awarded to Brighton.
79'
Yankuba Minteh (Brighton) takes a shot from the edge of the box, but it's not a big threat for the goalkeeper as his effort is blocked by a defender.
78'
Yasin Ayari (Brighton) gives away a foul for a clumsy challenge. Referee Chris Kavanagh saw the whole situation. Everton are awarded a free kick. Let's see what they create from this.
77'
Half-chance! Yankuba Minteh (Brighton) plays a pass into the box, but Jordan Pickford reacts well to snuff out the attack.
73'
1 - 0
Goal! A terrific long pass from Yasin Ayari picks out an unmarked Pascal Gross (Brighton) inside the box. He has time and space to pick his spot and slams the ball into the bottom left corner. 1:0.
73'
Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton) receives a neat pass inside the box and instantly thumps the ball goalward, but a defender makes a last ditch block to deny him.
73'
James Tarkowski (Everton) rose high to meet a perfectly taken corner kick and attempted to steer a fine header from inside the box towards the left side of the goal. Nobody knows what would have happened if one of the defending players hadn’t pulled off a brilliant intervention to block the effort.
72'
James Garner (Everton) will deliver the ball into the penalty box from a corner kick.
70'
Fabian Hurzeler has decided to substitute Maxim De Cuyper and he is replaced by Joel Veltman (Brighton).
70'
The referee signals that it is time for a substitution and Charalampos Kostoulas (Brighton) comes onto the pitch so that Danny Welbeck can be given a rest.
70'
Iliman Ndiaye (Everton) once again attempts to send a defence-splitting pass, but the opposition's defence is alert and intercepts the ball.
68'
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Everton) takes a great touch after receiving a pass inside the box. He immediately unleashes a low shot to the middle of the goal, but the keeper pulls off a decent save!
68'
A player from Brighton commits a rough challenge. Chris Kavanagh blows for a foul and keeps the game under control. Everton win a free kick and will be able to apply some pressure on the opposition goal.
68'
Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton) nearly creates a chance, but his attempt to pick out a teammate with a through ball does not come off.
67'
Harrison Armstrong (Everton) deprives his opponent of the ball, but the referee blows his whistle for a foul. He's not happy with the decision! Brighton are awarded a free kick.
65'
A good clearance by a defender means the corner comes to nothing for Everton.
65'
Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton) wastes a good opportunity as his pass into the box is blocked by the defence. The ball goes behind for a corner. Everton will have an opportunity to threaten the opposition's goal.
64'
Maxim De Cuyper (Brighton) takes the corner, but the opposition's defence is ready and clears the ball to safety.
63'
Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton) sends a quick through ball into space for his teammate who is lurking close to the offside line, but one of the defenders intercepts and clears the danger. Brighton win a corner.
62'
Idrissa Gueye (Everton) sends a pass into the box, but the opposition's defence is alert to the danger and makes a clearance.
61'
Yasin Ayari (Brighton) hasn't suffered any serious injury which would see him leave the pitch. He's back in the game now.
60'
Substitution. Yankuba Minteh (Brighton) on for Georginio Rutter.
59'
The game is interrupted now, Yasin Ayari (Brighton) picks up a knock and the physio has to come on.
57'
Chris Kavanagh shows the yellow card to Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton) for a heavy challenge.
55'
A poorly executed mid-range free kick by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Everton) as he fails to deliver a decent cross. The ball goes out of play and Brighton will have a goal kick.
53'
A yellow card for a tackle by Pascal Gross (Brighton). Chris Kavanagh doesn't hesitate at all to make this decision.
53'
Chris Kavanagh blows the whistle, Pascal Gross (Brighton) is penalised for a foul. A free kick has been awarded to Everton.
53'
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Everton) is first to react to a loose pass inside the box, but slices his shot just wide of the right post. The ball goes out of play and Brighton will have a goal kick.
50'
Maxim De Cuyper (Brighton) attempts to find his teammate with a pass from outside the box, but the opposition's defence is quick to react and thwarts the attack.
48'
Danny Welbeck (Brighton) times his run too early and the linesman raises his flag for offside.
47'
Chris Kavanagh blows for a foul after Harrison Armstrong (Everton) was too aggressive in the battle for the ball. Brighton will take a free kick near the side line.
46'
The second half has just started.
45+2'
Chris Kavanagh has ended the first half by blowing the whistle.
45'
1 min. of stoppage-time to be played.
44'
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Everton) passes the ball from the edge of the box in order to find his teammate, who is in a good scoring position, but the defender blocks the pass and spanks the ball to safety.
43'
Maxim De Cuyper (Brighton) prepares to take a corner kick.
42'
Maxim De Cuyper (Brighton) delivers a fine lofted cross into the penalty area, but it's cleared by an opposing player. Brighton force a corner. They send men into the box.
42'
Harrison Armstrong (Everton) slides a pass forward, but one of the defenders cuts it out.
39'
Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton) looks to break free, but an opposing player clears the ball away. The ball is off of the pitch and it's a goal kick for Everton.
38'
An attempted cross from Ferdi Kadioglu (Brighton) is cleared.
37'
James Garner (Everton) clearly handles the ball, but he is surprised when the referee blows his whistle. That's a free kick to Brighton.
36'
Idrissa Gueye (Everton) sends a lofted cross into the penalty area. Unfortunately for him, the opponent's defence deals with his cross comfortably and intercepts it.
34'
Danny Welbeck (Brighton) is penalised for a foul. Chris Kavanagh had a clear view and blows his whistle. Everton win a free kick.
34'
The resulting corner comes to nothing as Maxim De Cuyper (Brighton) sends it out of play.
33'
Georginio Rutter (Brighton) slaloms his way past challenges, but an opposing player does well to get the ball away. The ball goes out of play. Brighton are awarded a corner kick.
33'
Iliman Ndiaye (Everton) slides a pass forward, but one of the defenders cuts it out.
32'
Lewis Dunk (Brighton) sends a long crossfield pass searching out one of his teammates, but his effort comes to nothing and they lose possession.
31'
Idrissa Gueye (Everton) makes a bad challenge and the referee blows his whistle for a foul. Brighton have a free kick.
30'
James Garner (Everton) serves up a nice cross, but Bart Verbruggen punches the ball away.
29'
Iliman Ndiaye (Everton) tries to send a pass but it's blocked.
29'
Georginio Rutter (Brighton) delivers a lovely cross into the penalty area. Nevertheless, an opposition defender is alert and averts the danger with a brilliant clearance.
25'
Iliman Ndiaye (Everton) goes on a solo run, but he fails to create a chance as an opposition player blocks him. The ball goes out of play and Brighton will have a goal kick.
23'
Everton are playing possession football and controlling the game at present. They are exchanging inch-perfect passes from player to player, making it difficult for the opposition to win the ball.
21'
Danny Welbeck (Brighton) is obviously not following the Golden Rule: "Treat others as you want to be treated.“ He makes a bad challenge and leaves Chris Kavanagh with no other option than to blow for a foul. A free kick to Everton.
20'
What a miss! Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton) is left standing right in front of goal with only the keeper to beat after a clever pass, but he somehow contrives to toe poke the ball just past the right post. The ball is off of the pitch and it's a goal kick for Everton.
17'
What a miss! The corner finds Danny Welbeck (Brighton) unmarked in the box with the goal at his mercy, but somehow he mistimes his header and sends it just wide of the left post. The ball goes out of play and Everton will have a goal kick.
16'
Maxim De Cuyper (Brighton) steps up to send the ball in.
16'
Maxim De Cuyper (Brighton) sends a cross into the box, but the opposition's defence quickly intercepts the ball. The referee and his assistant both point at the corner flag. Brighton will have an opportunity to threaten the opposition's goal.
13'
Georginio Rutter (Brighton) controls a cross inside the six-yard box, but sends his shot slightly wide of the left post. The ball is off of the pitch and it's a goal kick for Everton.
12'
Chris Kavanagh interrupts the game. One of the players from Everton won the ball, but his effort is adjudged unfair. Brighton are awarded the free kick.
12'
Iliman Ndiaye (Everton) attempts to find some of his teammates with a dangerous pass from the edge of the box. The opponent's defence, however, intercepts the effort and clears the ball to safety.
11'
Harrison Armstrong (Everton) shows too much aggression while trying to break free from his opponent and the referee blows his whistle for a foul. It's a free kick to Brighton, but it's in no position for a direct shot on goal.
11'
Everton are showcasing great team work by exchanging some short passes and one-two passes, waiting to open the opposition's defence and hit them swiftly on the break.
9'
The linesman raises his flag as one of the players from Brighton was in an offside position.
7'
Carlos Baleba (Brighton) attempts to find one of his teammates inside the box with a chip pass, but one of the defending players reacts superbly and intercepts the ball.
6'
Iliman Ndiaye (Everton) races towards goal but the defender gets back well to make a challenge. The ball goes out of play and Brighton will have a goal kick.
4'
Danny Welbeck (Brighton) latched on to a cross inside the six-yard box and headed at goal. If it wasn't for one of the defenders making a save on the goal line, he would have been celebrating a goal now.
4'
The corner is swung in but Brighton can’t take advantage as a defender sweeps the ball away.
3'
Ferdi Kadioglu (Brighton) attempts to scoop the ball into the box over the defence, but one of the defending players makes a timely intervention. The linesman makes the right call and Brighton will have a corner.
1'
Another attempt to send the ball beyond the defence by Georginio Rutter (Brighton) is thwarted and cleared to safety.
1'
The first half has started.
Everton will kick-off.
Today's referee will be Chris Kavanagh.
Show lineups
The starting lineups of both teams are already revealed and you can check them out in the details of this match.
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