Everton team news: Gruda set to return, Gomez to be assessed

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Here's the latest news ahead of Saturday's game.

2026-01-30T10:00+00:00

Brajan Gruda and Diego Gomez. 📸 by James Boardman.

Albion will look to continue their terrific home record as they take on Everton at the Amex on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.

Albion have suffered just one defeat in 11 Premier League matches at the Amex this campaign, although they face a Toffees side who have won five of their 11 away games this season.

Team news

Fabian Hurzeler is expecting Brajan Gruda to be available again, while a decision about Diego Gomez will be made on Friday. The head coach also confirmed in his press conference on Friday that Joel Veltman is available to start, while Igor Julio is eligible to be involved.

"There's no new injury news," the German said. "We have the same squad available. Diego Gomez had a small issue in training, but let's see if he can train fully today or not. That's the only concern we have. But beside that, I think we have the same squad available – Diego Coppola has gone out on loan but that's the only significant change.

"Brajan Gruda is better, he's back in training and will be an option."

For Everton, Jack Grealish is ruled out with a stress fracture in his foot, while Michael Keane is available after serving a suspension.

Their last line-up

Tonight's Toffees to face @LUFC! 🔵#EVELEE pic.twitter.com/B5yoURoIY6
— Everton (@Everton) January 26, 2026

The Toffees drew 1-1 with Leeds United on Monday night. James Justin opened the scoring for Daniel Farke's team, but Everton responded through Thierno Barry. Since December 6 (when he scored his first Premier League goal), Barry has scored five goals from just 10 shots in the Premier League, the best conversion rate of any player to have more than five shots in that time (50%).

Match facts

Brighton are winless in their last five home league games against Everton (D2 L3), since a 3-2 victory in October 2019.

Following their 2-0 win in August’s reverse fixture, Everton are looking to complete the league double over Brighton for just the second time after the 1980-81 campaign.

Since the start of December, only bottom two sides Burnley (5) and Wolves (6) have earned fewer points in the Premier League than Brighton (8), who have just one win in 10 league games in this time (D5 L4).

Brighton have conceded 55% of their Premier League goals this season in the first half of games (17/31), the highest share in the division. Indeed, the Seagulls have been behind at half-time more often than any other side this term (12).

Everton have kept five clean sheets in their last six Premier League away games (W4 D1 L1), including the last three in a row (winning the last two). They last kept four consecutive shutouts on the road in April/May 2021, while they last won three in a row without conceding in December 2008.

Only Sunderland’s Premier League games have seen fewer goals (50) than Everton’s this season (51 – F25 A26), with the Toffees’ 25 goals scored the lowest of any team currently in the top half of the table.

Only the bottom two sides Burnley (68) and Wolves (70) have had fewer shots on target than Everton (72) in the Premier League this season. The Toffees’ average of 3.1 shots on target per game is the lowest on record (since 1997-98) across a league campaign.

Danny Welbeck has been involved in ten goals against Everton in his Premier League career. 📸 by James Boardman.

Against no side has Brighton’s Danny Welbeck been involved in more Premier League goals than he has against Everton (10 – 5 goals, 5 assists). His first brace in the competition came against the Toffees (with Sunderland in November 2010), while two of the three times he’s provided multiple assists in a match have come against them (April 2012 and May 2017).

Thierno Barry has scored in his last two Premier League away games. The last Everton player to score in three in a row was Dominic Calvert-Lewin in December 2020, while the last to do so in their debut campaign with the Toffees was Romelu Lukaku in October 2013.

Match officials