Everton 2-3 Brighton: Double Mac scores highest ratings of the season
They say that patience is a virtue and Alexis Mac Allister has had to have plenty of it this season. His long wait for regular starting opportunities appears to have been worth it if your Everton 2-3 Brighton player ratings are anything to go by.
Mac Allister netted two brilliant goals on his way to scoring 9.25 – the highest rating any Albion player has recorded so far in the 2021-22 season.
The only other man to achieve a nine or more is Yves Bissouma, who did so in the midweek draw at Chelsea and when Watford were beaten 2-0 at the Amex in the first home game of the campaign.
Unlike Bissouma who has become the first name on Graham Potter’s team sheet, Mac Allister was making only his fifth start of the season in the win at Everton.
Based on what we saw, he should be playing every week from now on as a midfielder capable to contributing goals to ease the burden on the Albion’s under-pressure forwards.
Mac Allister aside, fellow scorer Dan Burn put up good numbers for his contribution at both ends of the pitch. Neal Maupay also impressed and Joel Veltman’s part in a dominant first half display did not go unnoticed.
Here are your player ratings from Everton 2-3 Brighton as the Seagulls won at Goodison Park for the first time in their history.
Robert Sanchez – 7.50
Nothing he could do about either of the Everton goals. Made several routine stops with one spectacular save thrown in when turning an Allan piledriver from 30 yards over the bar at full stretch.
Joel Veltman – 7.58
Demarai Gray had torn the Albion apart when Everton won 2-0 at the Amex back in August. On this occasion, Veltman marked the Toffees wide man out of the game in the first half. He also delivered the perfect whipped cross onto Maupay’s head which led to Mac Allister opening the scoring.
Adam Webster – 7.08
His lack of minutes recently showed in something of a rusty display. Ended the game limping again. Potter will be hoping the problem does not throw up more disruption in a season which has been heavily impacted by injuries.
Dan Burn – 8.25
Romelu Lukaku and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are probably the two best target men in the Premier League. In the space of four days, Burn has kept both eerily quiet. Attacking wise, he scored Brighton’s second after Enock Mwepu flicked on a Mac Allister corner and won back possession in the Everton half to start the move leading to the Albion’s third.
Marc Cucurella – 7.33
Restored to a more natural left back role having spent the 1-1 draw with Chelsea operating in a back three. He was a busy presence up and down the flank, doing some important bits defensively and looking to offer width going forward.
Adam Lallana – 6.58
Not his best game against the club he supported as a boy. Tested Jordan Pickford with a first half effort which the England number one had to scramble around the post and kept possession ticking over, but his afternoon will probably be best remembered for sticking out his leg and deflecting Anthony Gordon’s strike into the opposite corner to gift Everton their first.
Yves Bissouma – 7.17
His seven tackles were the most of any other player on the pitch. Earned the corner from which the second Brighton goal arrived when winning back possession, meandering forward past a couple of Everton players and letting loose a 30 yard drive saved by Pickford.
Enock Mwepu – 7.50
The Computer is a fascinating player who mixes moments of madness with sublimity. Needlessly conceded a first half penalty – thankfully missed by Calvert-Lewin – with a pointless foul on Gordon. He also gave the ball away in dangerous positions a couple of times. Yet there was the flick on from Mac Allister’s corner to assist Burn followed by the blind back heel of Leandro Trossard’s cross straight into the path of Mac Allister to strike home Brighton’s third.
ALEXIS MAC ALLISTER – 9.25
We are not ones for getting carried away here at WAB, but he is the heir to Lionel Messi. Found Veltman out wide with a clever pass in the build up to the opener before continuing his run into the box to deftly volley past Pickford. That was a good goal but even better was to come with the second, a thunderbastard which no keeper in the world could have kept out.
Leandro Trossard – 6.83
A little quiet on his return from injury. His most important contribution came when teasing the Everton back line before delivering the cross which led to player ratings leader Mac Allister making it Everton 2-3 Brighton.
Neal Maupay – 7.67
His awareness and intelligence helped create the opener with a clever header into the path of Mac Allister. Linked the player brilliantly throughout, again showcasing his worth as a second striker. Did not have many sights of goal himself, other than striking over after doing well to escape Michael Keane.
Tariq Lamptey – 6.25
As Gray became an increasing influence down the Everton left in the second half, Potter wisely introduced Lamptey to try and neutralise the threat. It meant that Lamptey could not be his normal attacking self and that is perhaps why he scored so lowly. A different job from the right back but nonetheless a very important one.
Shane Duffy – 6.50
Brought on alongside Lamptey as Potter switched to a back three for the final 25 minutes. Made some important interventions as Everton finished on top and he found himself having to cover for Webster as his fellow centre back finished the game injured.
Jakub Moder – 5.50
Little time for the Polish international to make an impression as he was introduced for the final nine minutes in an attempt to exert some control on possession for the Albion.
The WAB Player Ratings are formulated using marks out of 10 given by Brighton fans via Twitter. To have your scores included, follow We Are Brighton on Twitter and look out for the player rating thread after each game.
