Everton 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion Player Ratings: Late Drama Secures a Fascinating Draw

A pulsating Premier League encounter at the American Express Community Stadium saw Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton play out a dramatic 1-1 draw. The Seagulls dominated possession, controlled large spells of the contest, and created a catalogue of chances, yet their wastefulness in front of goal ultimately proved costly.

The first half told the story of Brighton’s night. Danny Welbeck, Georginio Rutter, and Kaoru Mitoma all passed up golden opportunities that should have put the hosts comfortably ahead. Everton, meanwhile, were disciplined and compact, setting up in a low block and focusing almost entirely on damage limitation.

It made for a tense, tactical opening period that somehow remained goalless.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 73rd minute, when Pascal Groß finished confidently to reward Brighton’s relentless pressure. It looked like the decisive moment. However, Everton showed real character in the closing stages, pushing forward late on and snatching an unlikely equaliser in stoppage time. It was a classic smash-and-grab point for the Toffees, while Brighton were left to rue a night where dominance didn’t translate into victory.

Let’s take a look at Sportsdunia’s Brighton vs Everton Player Ratings from this Premier League clash below.

Key Takeaways

• The Seagulls dominated possession, dictated the tempo, and created a host of chances, especially in the first half, but failed to convert their superiority into goals.
• Clear opportunities for Welbeck, Rutter, and Mitoma went begging, allowing Everton to stay in the contest despite offering very little going forward for long periods.
• After Groß finally broke the deadlock, Everton showed late fight and resilience, grabbing a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser and leaving Brighton frustrated.

Everton Player Ratings vs Brighton & Hove Albion

Here's a look at the Everton Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Jordan Pickford - 6.5: Made a crucial save early on to deny Welbeck, which kept his team in the game. He was largely a spectator for periods but couldn't do much about the well-taken goal from Groß. His distribution was decent, though he was put under pressure. A standard performance from England's number one.

Defenders

Michael Keane - 7.0: A really solid outing for the centre-back. He won the majority of his duels and made some vital clearances. What stood out to us was his late surge forward, forcing a good save from the keeper. He looked determined and composed throughout the match.

James Tarkowski - 7.5: A true captain's performance. He was an absolute rock at the back, winning all of his duels and leading by example. Had a header saved and was a constant threat from set-pieces. We're crediting him with the vital late equalizer, a goal that his sheer willpower seemed to summon. He refused to let his team lose.

Jake O'Brien - 6.5: A mixed bag of a performance. He was dominant in the air, winning five aerial duels which was impressive. However, he was sometimes careless in possession, which put his team on the back foot. Created a chance, showing his ability on the ball, but needs more consistency.

Jarrad Branthwaite - 5.5: Not his finest day. He picked up a silly yellow card and looked a bit off the pace. From our perspective, he struggled with Brighton's fluid attack and was eventually substituted. He lost possession far too many times for a player of his quality.

Midfielders

Iliman Ndiaye - 6.0: A hard-working performance without much end product. He put in a shift defensively, winning tackles and recovering the ball. Going forward, however, he was largely anonymous. A functional but ultimately forgettable display.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - 6.0: We expected more from him. He had a big chance in the second half that he really should have buried. He was busy and involved but his final ball and decision-making let him down. Was substituted after failing to make a decisive impact.

Idrissa Gueye - 5.5: A very quiet game for the experienced midfielder. He was a passenger for large parts of the match, failing to impose himself on the Brighton midfield. His substitution was not a surprise as he offered little protection or creativity.

James Garner - 7.0: The engine room of the team. He was everywhere, making tackles, recovering the ball, and trying to drive his team forward. His energy was infectious. We're giving him the assist for the late goal, a brilliant delivery that caused chaos. A tireless performance.

Harrison Armstrong - 6.5: A real pest. He won a number of fouls and was a constant nuisance for the Brighton defence. His work rate was commendable, but like many of his teammates, the quality in the final third was missing. A spirited effort.

Forwards

Thierno Barry - 6.0: It was a tough and lonely job for him up front. He was isolated for long periods and struggled to get into the game. He did create one big chance, showing a glimpse of his ability, but he was starved of service before being subbed.

Substitutes

Charly Alcaraz - N/A: Came on late with little time to influence the game.
Tim Iroegbunam - N/A: Brought on for fresh legs and picked up a booking.
Tyler Dibling - N/A: Introduced in the final ten minutes.
Nathan Patterson - N/A: A late defensive change.
Beto - N/A: Added a physical presence up front in the closing stages.

Manager

D. Moyes - 7.0: His team was outplayed for most of the game, but his game plan to stay compact and frustrate Brighton worked. He'll be delighted with the fighting spirit his team showed to grab a point from the jaws of defeat. The substitutions showed a desire to change the game, and it paid off.

Brighton & Hove Albion Player Ratings vs Everton

Let's take a look at the Brighton & Hove Albion Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Bart Verbruggen - 7.0: He was a spectator for much of the game but made three important saves when called upon. The saves from Tarkowski and Keane were top class. We felt he couldn't do anything about the late goal, which was a scramble. Looked very composed.

Defenders

Lewis Dunk - 7.0: The captain was a picture of calm at the back. He commanded the defence well and was excellent in possession, starting many of Brighton's attacks. Won his duels and made several key clearances. Will be devastated not to keep a clean sheet.

Jan Paul van Hecke - 6.5: A solid partner for Dunk, but a little more erratic. He made a number of important clearances and interceptions. However, his high number of possession losses put his team under unnecessary pressure at times. A decent but not flawless performance.

Ferdi Kadioglu - 6.5: A good performance from the full-back. He was defensively sound and also provided an attacking outlet, creating two chances for his teammates. He balanced his duties well and looked comfortable on the ball.

Maxim De Cuyper - 6.0: He created a big chance but looked vulnerable defensively. Everton seemed to target his side at times. His substitution after 70 minutes felt like a tactical move to shore things up. An average display.

Midfielders

Carlos Baleba - 6.5: A powerhouse in midfield. He recovered the ball eight times and was a strong physical presence, breaking up Everton's rare attacks. His passing was sometimes inconsistent, but his defensive contribution was significant.

Yasin Ayari - 7.5: Provided the assist for Groß's goal. He was incredibly tidy in possession, with a pass accuracy of over 90%. What stood out was his composure under pressure. He dictated the tempo of the game for Brighton.

Pascal Groß - 8.0: The clear Man of the Match. He was at the heart of everything good for Brighton and scored a superb goal. His work rate was phenomenal, making tackles and driving his team forward. A complete midfield performance, and our highest-rated player.

Forwards

Georginio Rutter - 5.5: So frustrating to watch. His movement was excellent, getting him into great scoring positions, but his finishing was abysmal. He missed two clear chances that could have put the game to bed. Substituted after a wasteful hour.

Danny Welbeck - 5.5: Another attacker who left his shooting boots at home. He had a big chance missed and another shot saved. His link-up play was fine, but a striker of his experience needs to be more clinical. A disappointing outing.

Kaoru Mitoma - 5.0: The worst performer on the pitch for us. He looked a shadow of his usual self. He missed a huge chance and was dispossessed multiple times. His final product was non-existent, which was a real surprise. A day to forget for the Japanese winger.

Substitutes

Yankuba Minteh - 6.0: Came on and looked lively, but couldn't provide the finishing touch.
Charalampos Kostoulas - N/A: A late sub with little time to get involved.
Joël Veltman - N/A: Brought on to help see out the win but was on the pitch when the team conceded.

Manager

F. Hürzeler - 6.5: He'll be pulling his hair out. His team played fantastic football and created enough chances to win two games. His tactics were spot on, but he was let down by his forwards. The failure to secure the three points falls squarely on the players' inability to finish.

Man of the Match

Pascal Groß was Sportsdunia's man of the match.

Worst Performer

Kaoru Mitoma had a difficult game, missing a big chance and struggling to make a positive impact.