Hürzeler ready for Premier League debut as Everton host Brighton in season opener
Everton and Brighton kick off their 2024/25 Premier League season on Saturday, 17 August at 15:00 (GMT+1) at Goodison Park. For Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler, it is an immediate baptism of fire: the 31-year-old German makes his competitive debut as head coach of the Seagulls, while Everton under Sean Dyche hope for a fresh start after years of relegation battles.
Everton seek a positive turn after difficult years
Everton will be eager to set the tone on home soil. After a string of difficult seasons marked by annual relegation worries, a new beginning beckons for the Toffees. The club strengthened this summer with centre-back Jake O'Brien and forward Iliman Ndiaye, following the departures of Amadou Onana to Aston Villa and Ben Godfrey to Atalanta. Manager Sean Dyche hopes his new signings will make an immediate impression in the opening fixture. 'With your own fans behind you, you want to show what you're capable of as a team, and that always starts with winning,' Dyche said in an interview on Thursday. The statistics offer some encouragement: Everton won five of their last eight Premier League matches of the previous season, having endured a wretched run of thirteen games without a win beforehand. However, their home record against Brighton gives cause for concern — the Toffees have neither kept a clean sheet nor won in their last three home meetings with the Seagulls, picking up one draw and suffering two defeats. For the opening match, Seamus Coleman, Jarrad Branthwaite, James Garner and Youssef Chermiti are all sidelined through injury. Dyche is expected to opt for a familiar 4-4-1-1 system with Dominic Calvert-Lewin leading the attack.
Hürzeler arrives with confidence after successful pre-season
On the other side of the dugout stands a man on the verge of his big Premier League moment. Fabian Hürzeler, who succeeded Roberto De Zerbi on 1 July, takes charge of Brighton in a competitive fixture for the very first time. The 31-year-old German made his name at FC St. Pauli, guiding the club to the Bundesliga after winning the 2. Bundesliga title. Four wins from four pre-season friendlies have given the young coach plenty of confidence heading into Goodison Park. 'It is always something special when the season begins. But when three points are at stake, a tough challenge awaits us at Everton in Goodison Park. We are looking forward to it and we feel ready,' Hürzeler said at the pre-match press conference. He added ambitiously: 'We can make this a season to never forget.' Brighton have won each of their last three Premier League opening-day fixtures and can claim a fourth consecutive first-matchday victory on Saturday. Hürzeler is expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Danny Welbeck as striker. The Seagulls will have to make do without five players, including Pervis Estupiñán and Solly March.
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Source: Sportmonks
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