Everton are back in Premier League action this weekend, as they host Brighton and Hove Albion to kickstart the new campaign.
It promises to be a tricky affair, facing off against a side that finished 11th last season, but were it not for their two points deductions, Sean Dyche would have been level on points with them.
Given how lauded the Seagulls continued to be, it marked a source of frustration for Evertonians, who were only where they were due to PSR controversy.
Hopefully, this coming term will go without such ridiculousness, allowing the Toffees to finish in their true position, untouched by the Premier League and its various dubious commisions.
Starting off with a win on Saturday will surely prove crucial to this cause.
Jamie Carragher and Roy Keane make Everton predictions
However, they will be wary going into the clash, especially with how they started last season.
After all, despite forging plenty of chances against Fulham on the opening day and then against Wolverhampton Wanderers next, they would lose both matches by a narrow 1-0 scoreline.
A crushing start to the campaign, but one that showed promise. What it also exhibited was a profligacy problem that would haunt them throughout the year.
Dyche will be desperate to avoid a similar outcome, and he can take comfort in the fact that his opposite man in the dugout this weekend is a relative newcomer, with the Seagulls having taken a punt by replacing Roberto de Zerbi with the 31-year-old Fabian Hürzeler.
With that in mind, speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Jamie Carragher predicted: ‘Everton will win that 1-0. New manager at Brighton.’
Roy Keane would also chime in, but sat on the fence with his 1-1 prediction.
Everton face the unknown vs Brighton on Saturday
Seemingly always willing to try the new and ‘coolest’ trends in football, Brighton’s appointment of Hürzeler shocked many.
After all, when he takes charge this weekend, he will become the youngest-ever permanent manager in Premier League history.
Having earned the bulk of his acclaim through his association with German side FC St. Pauli, years as a coach saw him eventually handed the caretaker role in 2023, and his role in turning around a club battling relegation drew interest.
A winning run of ten straight games was particularly impressive, and having nearly taken them from close to the drop to the promotion spots, he won the 2. Bundesliga the following campaign before leaving for England.
So, with so little experience, Everton will go into this one without much to go off.
Brighton always have a certain way of playing, with adaptable structures that allow for quick passing moves, but if Dyche can get his new signings to click instantly, he could hand Hürzeler a rude welcome to the Premier League.
Tim Iroegbunam must start for Everton after the fine pre-season he has enjoyed, to give them the best possible chance of a fast start in the division.
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