Everton team news: Dunk and O'Riley to be assessed

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Charlie Hanson

2025-01-23T15:30+00:00

Matt O'Riley could miss Saturday's game with a knee injury. 📷 by James Boardman.

Albion face Everton on Saturday as they look to make it three consecutive Premier League wins for the first time this season.

Team news

Lewis Dunk has a muscle issue according to Fabian Hurzeler. 📷 by James Boardman.

On the current state of his squad, "We have some players who are doubtful. We don't have a new big injury, but players like Matt O'Riley and Lewis Dunk are not 100 per cent so we have to wait and see in the next days. But in general I think we will have a strong squad on the pitch.

On O’Riley, "He has a small knee issue. He got a hit on his knee and it's painful. It's just a time thing - if he's able to overcome the pain."

On Lewis Dunk, "He has a small muscle problem. It's nothing big or structural, but we also have to wait."

On Jack Hinshelwood and Brajan Gruda, "Jack will be an option. Also Brajan has trained in the last two days. I think they will be both options for the weekend."

Fabian's thoughts

On new Everton boss David Moyes, "I have respect for him, especially now I've been managing in the Premier League for seven months. It's so intense, every day you have to try to improve, every day you have to adapt and it's really challenging.

"Therefore all the coaches who worked for such a long time in the Premier League and were able to work for different clubs I have a huge respect for. What he's done in his career is impressive and I can say he’s also a role model.

"The last memories I have of him is when he was a coach of West Ham. I watched some games of his team. They were very compact, very difficult to play against, good in transition and always know what to do to win Premier League games. It was impressive."

Match facts

Albion are looking to complete the league double over Everton for the first time, with this the 12th different campaign in which they’ve met.

Having been winless in their first four Premier League away games against Brighton (D2 L2), Everton have won two of their last three visits to the Amex Stadium (D1).

After an eight-game winless run in the Premier League, Albion have now won both of their last two; they last won three in a row in the competition in September 2023. However, the Seagulls are winless in their last four at home in the league (D3 L1).

Everton have won just one of their last 21 Premier League away games (D8 L12), beating Ipswich 2-0 in October. Since that victory at Portman Road, the Toffees have scored just one goal in their six league games on the road (D3 L3).

No team have scored fewer second half goals than Everton (7) in the Premier League this season, while the Toffees have also shipped a league-high 68% of their goals after half-time this term (19/28). Indeed, in a Premier League table based on second half results this season would see Everton bottom.

Only Nottingham Forest (39.2%) have a lower average possession figure than Everton (39.8%) in the Premier League this season. It’s the Toffees’ second-lowest possession on record in the competition (since 2003-04) after 2021-22 (39.1%).

Everton manager David Moyes has won just one of his ten Premier League meetings with Brighton (D5 L4), though this did come in his last visit to the Amex Stadium in August 2023 with West Ham. It’s the Scotsman’s lowest win rate against any side in the competition (10%).

Brighton forward Danny Welbeck has been involved in more Premier League goals against Everton than he has against any other opponent (10 – 5 goals, 5 assists), scoring and assisting against the Toffees in the reverse fixture in August. His next game will be his 350th appearance in the competition.

Kaoru Mitoma has been directly involved in three goals in his last two Premier League games for Brighton (2 goals, 1 assist), as many as in his previous 18. With a goal here, he would become the first Japanese player to score in three consecutive Premier League appearances.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin opened the scoring for Everton in their 3-2 win against Spurs last time out, ending a run of 16 Premier League games without a goal. He also had six shots against Spurs, as many as he had in his previous six league appearances combined.

Match officials