Brighton thump 10-man Everton on Hürzeler's league debut

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Recapping the first days of Premier League action

Take a look at the key results from the opening few games of the 2024/25 Premier League season.

Updated: Aug 17, 2024, 06:45 pm

Danny Welbeck scored one goal and set up another as Brighton & Hove Albion eased to a 3-0 victory over Everton on Saturday, in a perfect start for the Premier League's youngest ever permanent manager.

Manager Fabian Hürzeler, 31, will be delighted with a performance in which his side took their chances, in contrast to their hosts who were wasteful in front of goal.

 

James Milner started for Brighton, and began his record 23rd season in the Premier League. Milner, 38, is seven years older than manager Hürzeler.

Right back Ashley Young was sent off midway through the second half as Everton's final season at Goodison Park before they end their 132-year stay and move to a new stadium on the banks of the river Mersey got off to the worst possible start.

"I thought it was a great performance, from the new manager, the fans and then onto the pitch," Welbeck said. "We had to go through a rocky period but once we got the first goal we were ruthless and that put us into a great position.

"We've had to adapt to the new manager's ideas but we've had an open mind and taken it forward. It's not massively different to what we were used to and there's a lot to be positive about going forward into the rest of the season."

The visitors took the lead against the run of play when Yankuba Minteh's low cross was finished by Mitoma.

The home side were awarded a penalty by referee Simon Hooper minutes into the second period when Lewis Dunk slid in on Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the box.

James Milner began his record-breaking 23rd Premier League season with a win against Everton.
Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images

But the decision was overturned after an intervention by Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Darren England, who felt Calvert-Lewin had stood on the foot of the defender.

Brighton doubled their advantage shortly afterwards as Idrissa Gueye gave the ball away in midfield and Welbeck was released to score from the edge of the box.

The home side were reduced to 10 men midway through the second half when Mitoma got in behind 39-year-old Young, who held onto him, leaving Hooper with no option but to show the red card.

Adingra took advantage of the extra space to score a third, while Yasin Ayari had the ball in the back of the net on his Brighton debut but was judged to be marginally offside.

"I thought the way we performed in the first half was decent," Everton manager Sean Dyche said. "The second half was a big decision on the penalty. We were told there was a high bar [for overturning decisions] but obviously there isn't."