Everton 2-3 Brighton
by James Nalton at Goodison Park

EVERTON have now won just one of their last 12 Premier League matches after losing their first game of 2022.

But they are already making moves in the January transfer window as the pressure mounts on manager Rafa Benitez.

It took Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister just three minutes to open the scoring at Goodison Park on Sunday, finding space in the box to get on the end of Neal Maupay’s knockdown.

He found this space despite Everton using a three-centre back formation, and those defenders were ineffective throughout the first half.

There was no aerial presence for the home side when Brighton made it two from a Mac Allister corner. Enock Mwepu won his header at the near post, flicking it on to Dan Burn who headed home at the far post.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin was back in the line-up for Benitez’s side and had a chance to pull a goal back from the penalty spot in the first half, but skied his shot over the bar.

Everton were deservedly booed off at half-time. It would not have been an enjoyable experience for new signing Vitaliy Mykolenko, the Ukrainian left-back who was watching from the stands having been introduced to the fans prior to kick-off.

The Toffees emerged in the same back three shape for the second half but with added vigour following their half-time team talk.

They came back into the game when Anthony Gordon’s shot from distance deflected in off Adam Lallana.

Gordon was one of few positives for Everton and netted a second later in the half, but by that time Brighton already had their third thanks to an impressive strike from Mac Allister.

The Everton players, especially Gordon and Demarai Gray, were applauded by the fans after the final whistle, but as Benitez followed the last of his players down the tunnel boos rang out.

The only thing the Spanish manager has going for him at the moment is the transfer window and the chance to bring in reinforcements.

Scottish right-back Nathan Patterson is likely to join from Rangers this week, becoming the second signing of the window after Mykolenko.

But the run of form speaks for itself, and the lack of defensive organisation in the first half was alarming. 

Things need to change and improve for Everton, and this goes beyond bringing in new players.