Everton finally return back to action with Brighton & Hove Albion the visitors to Goodison Park

The Toffees welcome back their talisman Dominic Calvert-Lewin ahead of their first Premier League game in almost three weeks.

Having suffered from COVID-19 within the club, Everton’s games against Burnley and Leicester were postponed. They were then hit with another postponement as Newcastle were hit with a COVID-19 outbreak of their own and could not fulfil the Thursday night fixture.

Even though Everton haven’t played since December 16th, they come into the game off the back of arguably their best result of the season. A 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge with a depleted squad due to injuries and players isolating, the Toffees were able to leave the capital with a point against title challengers Chelsea.

A huge positive going into the game at Goodison Park is the return of their talisman Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Everton’s number nine scored three goals in the opening three games of the season, which included a goal at the Amex Stadium in Everton’s 2-0 away win against Brighton & Hove Albion back in August before he picked up an injury that has ruled him out ever since.

Over recent seasons, Calvert-Lewin’s prolific goalscoring record has proved crucial for the Toffees, no more than last season’s tally of 21 goals in 39 games in all competitions.

The way in which Everton have played under Rafa Benitez this season is to get the ball out to the wingers, Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend, who put crosses into the box for the striker to attack. This suits Calvert-Lewin’s aerial prowess to a tee allowing him to dominate the defenders both in the air and physically.

In his press conference leading up to the game, Everton boss Rafa Benitez admitted it is a massive boost having Calvert-Lewin back in the squad.

“I consider this a massive signing for us for the second half of the league season. You remember the top scorers of this team last year they were not playing this year. If we bring him back and in a couple of weeks we bring back Richarlison, we will have more options there with [Demarai] Gray and [Andros] Townsend.

“With all these players trying their best for the team, I think we can play the second half of the season completely different, and with the addition of new signings hopefully, we will see the difference.”

Unfortunately, Townsend is likely to miss this game due to cracking a bone in his foot in the 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park back in December but Benitez did admit he has been training this week.

Going into the fixture, Everton who currently sit in 15th face Graham Potter’s Brighton side who prop up the top half of the league in 10th. Due to the long period without a game for the Toffees, the two sides head into this clash with their previous result being a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

An injury-time Danny Welbeck header grabbed the Seagulls a point on Wednesday night. Brighton will need another good away performance if they are to leave with any points, having been beaten in all four of their previous Premier League meetings at Goodison Park.

Even though Brighton currently sit five places above Rafa Benitez’s side, it is the Toffees who are backed as the favourites. If the hosts can pick up a big three points, it will be their first win since Gray’s 92nd-minute winner against Arsenal at the start of December.

However, wins have been hard to come by for the side from the blue half of Merseyside with only five wins from 17 Premier League games.

A win for Everton could see them move to 13th, but if the visitors leave with the three points, they will move to eighth.

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