Everton’s trip to the South Coast on Saturday, January 31, 2026, was always going to be a test of resilience, tactical nous, and—let’s be honest—a bit of nerve. The Toffees, led by the ever-cautious David Moyes, arrived at the Amex Stadium sitting 10th in the Premier League table, three points clear of their hosts Brighton & Hove Albion, who themselves were eager to claw their way up from 12th. With both teams eyeing a late-season surge, the stakes felt just a little higher than your average Matchweek 24 fixture.
On paper, Moyes’ team sheet raised eyebrows. Four center halves lined up across the back—yes, four!—as if Everton were bracing for a samba onslaught from 1970s Brazil rather than a Brighton side missing several key players. It’s classic Moyes: pragmatic, perhaps a touch conservative, but always calculated. The return of Jarrad Branthwaite and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from injury provided a timely boost, while the AFCON-winning duo of Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye added much-needed steel and flair in midfield. The Toffees’ depth, bolstered not by January signings but by returning stars, looked promising as kickoff approached.
Brighton, meanwhile, had their own headaches. Stefanos Tzimas, Adam Webster, Solly March, Mats Wieffer, and Diego Coppola were all ruled out, and a handful of others—Yankuba Minteh, Brajan Gruda, Igor, and Diego Gomez—were racing the clock for fitness. Manager Fabian Hurzeler opted for a more conventional lineup, hoping that home advantage and the fervor of nearly 32,000 fans could tip the balance in their favor, despite the light rain and brisk 47°F weather sweeping across the Amex.
The first half was, in a word, tense. Brighton dominated possession and carved out the better chances, with Kaoru Mitoma and Danny Welbeck both coming agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock. Mitoma, after a slip from Dewsbury-Hall, found himself through on goal but dragged his shot wide, while Welbeck’s header from a corner drew a frustrated cry as it sailed past the post. Everton, for their part, seemed content to absorb pressure, their defensive wall of center backs repelling wave after wave of Seagulls’ attacks. The Toffees’ xG in the first half? Practically nonexistent. But as halftime arrived with the score still 0-0, Moyes must have been quietly satisfied.
“The Seagulls will be kicking themselves after that first half. They had some huge chances but couldn’t take them and Everton will be delighted it’s still level,” observed Joe Prince-Wright, capturing the mood perfectly.
The game’s complexion changed after the break. Everton emerged with renewed purpose, driven forward by the hold-up play of Thierno Barry and the industry of Dewsbury-Hall. Barry, fresh from scoring a vital equalizer against Leeds earlier in the week, again proved invaluable—his physicality unsettling Brighton’s back line and creating space for his teammates. Dewsbury-Hall, too, nearly found the net, his low shot skimming inches wide of the far post after a slick counterattack orchestrated by Barry.
But it was Brighton who struck first. With just under 20 minutes to play, Yasin Ayari slipped a clever pass to Pascal Groß, who made no mistake from the center of the box, firing a right-footed shot past Jordan Pickford to send the home fans into raptures. Groß, a model of consistency since his return from injury, had given the Seagulls a precious lead and, for a moment, it looked like Brighton might finally snap their winless streak against Everton at the Amex—a run stretching back to 2019.
Everton, though, refused to fold. Moyes shuffled his pack, introducing Beto for Thierno Barry and making a series of tactical tweaks. The Toffees pressed higher, sensing that Brighton’s nerves might just get the better of them. Bart Verbruggen, Brighton’s keeper, was called into action repeatedly, making smart saves from Jake O’Brien and Dewsbury-Hall to keep the hosts in front.
The match grew increasingly scrappy as time ticked away. Yellow cards flew—Tim Iroegbunam and Jarrad Branthwaite for Everton, Groß for Brighton—as both sides battled for every inch. The fourth official signaled six minutes of added time, and the tension in the stadium was palpable. Could Everton find a way back?
Then, in the 97th minute—deep, deep into stoppage time—came the moment Toffees fans will remember for years. A scramble in the Brighton box, a loose ball falling to Beto, and the substitute made no mistake, lashing a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner. Pandemonium in the away end! “Beto equalizes right at the end! What a moment! The sub pounces on a loose ball and finishes to surely grab Everton a point deep into stoppage time. Scenes!” wrote Prince-Wright, capturing the wild celebrations.
It was a point snatched from the jaws of defeat, and for Brighton, a bitter pill to swallow. The draw left the Seagulls on 31 points, losing more ground in their chase for European qualification, while Everton moved up to 34 points, their hopes of a top-seven finish still flickering. For Moyes, the contributions of Barry and Beto—often criticized for their lack of goals—were vindication. As the manager himself has often said, “Both provide a lot of value to this Everton team given the way I like to play.”
Looking ahead, Brighton will need to regroup quickly as they prepare to host archrivals Crystal Palace on February 8. Everton, meanwhile, travel to Fulham on February 7, buoyed by their newfound resilience and the return of key players. With the midfield now healthy and the strikers finding form, the Toffees have every reason to believe they can keep climbing.
The Amex remains a happy hunting ground for Everton, who have not lost there since 2019. And while Moyes’ defensive tactics may not win style points, they certainly delivered when it mattered most. For Brighton, the search for consistency continues, but on this evidence, they’ll be a tough nut to crack for anyone.
As the rain cleared and fans filtered out into the Sussex night, both sets of supporters could reflect on a match that had everything: drama, controversy, and a finish that nobody saw coming. Sometimes, football really does save its best for last.