Everton's Season Starts With a Shocking Defeat: Brighton & Hove Albion Run Riot at Goodison Park

Everton began their final season at Goodison Park with a lively start against Brighton & Hove Albion but an early goal disallowed was just the beginning of a ridiculous descent into laughable farce with everything going wrong that could.

Despite Sean Dyche and his coaching team taking an ultra-cautious approach to the management of niggles that could develop into more serious problems during a particularly strenuous pre-season, his team selection has been knocked for six by the absence of Seamus Coleman, Nathan Patterson, Jarrad Branthwaite, James Garner and Youssef Chermiti — along with promising youngster Stan Mills — all sidelined by significant injuries.

Of the young and inexperienced newcomers incoming during thee transfer window, only Tim Iroegbunam makes it to the starting line-up, the others on the bench where U21 players Metcalfe and Armstong make up the numbers.

Everton got the final season underway in the hazy sunshine with a wonderful upfield punt from Pickford to give Brighton the ball. An excellent challenge by Iroegbunam stopped Mitoma in his tracks. A second punt from Pickford went straight into touch.

A Dismal First Half: Everton's Defensive Flaws on Full Display

Jack Harrison burst into the Brighton area and lashed a meaty shot that forced Steele into a good save at the expense of a corer that Harrison put into the net for Everton's first goal... but no, he was declared offside having stayed pretty close to Steele as the ball was played on to him.

Iroegbunam was keen on the midfield challenge but the other blue shirts failed to anticipate his liveliness. Everton escaped a penalty call on Tarkowski when Joao Pedro went down before Doucoure broke at pace with McNeil in support and fired onto the post before failing to net the rebound when he finally discovered the offside Flag was raised.

In some lively action, Joao Pedro fired a surprise shot past Pickford and onto the post! No shortage of excitement in the first 10 minutes! Calvert-Lewin did well to set up Jack Harrison but he was put off by a defender as he shaped to shoot feebly wide.

Wieffer fouled Iroegbunam in an advanced position, McNeil taking charge, Tarkowski heading over his free-kick off the top of his head at the far post. But Everton kept pushing forward in a fairly positive way until a poor pass allowed Brighton to break at pace until Tarkowski got in their way at the expense of Brighton's first corner, headed behind.

Mitoma got inside, easily past Young, but Tarkowski again blocked him. Some really lively challenges excited the crowd, with Everton winning on points but still awaiting the first goal, as more crosses from Harrison went astray.

Iroegbunam stole the ball off a poor Brighton clearance and strode forward but curled his shot wide when he really should have at least kept it on target. From Pickford, a good flick-on by Calvert-Lewin was followed by a dreadful return cross from Doucoure.

A Goal Against the Run of Play: Brighton Take the Lead

Brighton's attack looked to have some better shape and a Millner cross could have easily been converted. Keane played a great ball out to Harrison but he overran it and the turnover saw Brighton scamper upfield for Mitoma to score very easily off Minteh's cross to the far post.

Brighton realised they could slice through this Everton defence at will, Minteh spooning his shot over. At the other end, a cleared cross came out nicely for Gana to lash his customary shot off target over the bar.

Iroegbunam worked his way forward but Doucuore had strayed offside before his shot was blocked. Milner was booked for his very late studs-up challenge on Mykoenko.  Calvert-Lewin collected a dropping ball very well but then lost it immediately. Calvert-Lewin got another good flick-on but Doucoure lost it almost immediately.

Everton countered the lively Brighton press but again both Dooucoure and Calvert-Lewin were offside for the forward ball.  Iroegbunam again got forward but was deemed to have pushed a defender.

Pickford finally punted left rather than right before the ball was switched across to Harrison, Iroegbunam keeping the attack alive without creating a proper chance. Everton tried to build again and McNeil played in his first cross from the left – which perhaps showed why he had been denied the ball played down his side. Mykolenko was released only so he could reprise the shocking crossing skill that had been very much the theme of this half.

A Farcical Second Half: Everton's Defensive Meltdown Continues

Minteh came in hard into Mykolenko as he cleared a dropping ball in the Brighton area, and managed to hurt himself in the process, eventually withdrawn for concussion, with Mykolenko walking away unscathed.  McNeil got in a quick cross but again it only found a yellow shirt. Another forward ball over the top; another yellow flag for Docure again offside.

It looked like a lively and entertaining half but any meaningful critical analysis would surely show that Everton's play was riddled with technical mistakes which Dyche should have been doing a lot more to counter and rectify in pre-season.

No changes, of course, as Brighton restarted. Iroegbunam again stopped a poor attempt to play out and eventually the ball fell to Calvert-Lewin who was clattered by Dunk and Simon Hopper gave a penalty. But then of course VAR had to get involved and, in the slo-mo, contact did look very limited as Calvert-Lewin went down in overly dramatic fashion. No penalty.

Harrison's was headed by Doucoure but deflected off Veltman and it grazed off Dunk's arm but VAR again said No Penalty. Meanwhile, Veltman needed treatment but was not withdrawn for concussion. Gueye then simply gifted the ball away and Welbeck strolled forward to slot far too easily past Pickford.  Shocking defensive play by Everton.

Everton laboured to create anything, Harrison getting a millsecond to shoot before two defenders blocked him out. Pickford out quickly to nulify a good ball out that would not have been offside. Harrison again got forward but again the cross was easily snuffed out.

It had of course taken Sean Dyche over an hour and two goals concede before he would concede this probably wasn't working. But the only change was 

Iroegbunam was next to give the ball away and Mitoma came so close to beating Pickford. Everton cleared the corner but Calvert-Lewin, who had been offside for Pickford's previous punt, was now way too far back in defence to profit from it.

A Red Card and a Third Goal: Everton's Day Goes From Bad to Worse

Another ridiculous moment made this shitshow go immediately from seriously bad to absolutely shocking — Young getting done by Mitoma, grabbing his arm to stop him escaping, and getting an obvious red card. Somehow the ragged Blues defense prevented Mitoma from scoring Brighton's third off the free-kick.

Tarkowski was lucky not to see a yellow card for his clumsy tackle on Joao Pedro.  Tarkowski was called upon for another superb stop on the other side of the field to stop Adingra. Beto replaced Calvert-Lewin with 15 minutes left. Iroegbunam's first attempt to feed him wasn't accurate enough.

The yellow card that Tarkowski had been working hard for finally came when Joao Pedro spun him and needed stopping illegally. Another Brighton attack sliced through the beleaguered Blue shirts and Pickford had to make a crucial interception. Everton managed to clear the following corner but again, no-one forward and Brighton free to build their attack again.

Harrison's replacement by Holgate 5 minutes from the end signalled that resistance was futile; Adingra found it very, very easy to scamper forward and slot past Pickford again.

The Final Nail in the Coffin: Brighton Secure a Crushing Victory

What was meant to be a wonderful start to the final season at Goodson Park had begun brightly with Everton getting forward but crucially with nothing gained before the game descended into a dismal farce before a rapidly emptying Goodison Park as a ridiculous 9 minutes were added as Brighton scored their fourth goal – clearly offside.

Everton: Pickford, Young [R:65'], Tarkowski [Y:78'], Keane, Mykolenko, Gana, Iroegbunam, Harrison (85' Holgate), Doucoure (63' Ndiaye), McNeil, Calvert-Lewin (76' Beto).

Subs: Virginia, O'Brien, Maupay, Lindstrøm, Metcalfe, Armstrong.

Brighton & Hove Albion: Stelle, Dunk (75' Webster), Milner [Y:31'] (82' Gilmour), Joao Pedro (82' Sarmiento), Minteh (45+1' Adingra), Welbeck, Mitoma (89' Ayari), Wieffer, Van Hecke, Veltman, Hinshelwood.

Subs not Used: Rushworth, Barco, Baleba, O'Mahony.

Referee: Simon HooperVAR: Darren England

A Disappointing Start to the Final Season at Goodison Park

The final whistle brought an end to a disastrous start to Everton's final season at Goodison Park. The 4-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion showcased a multitude of issues, from defensive frailties to tactical shortcomings. With a long season ahead, Everton manager Sean Dyche faces a monumental task in turning things around and ensuring a more positive send-off for the club from their historic home ground.

This performance served as a stark reminder that Everton's journey back to the top flight is far from over. The Toffees will need a significant improvement in all aspects of their game if they are to avoid another season battling for survival.