Will 2023 follow 2022 and start with a Brighton win at Everton?

Apparently, the day is Tuesday. And apparently, Brighton are headed to Everton with a quick opportunity to bounce back from New Year’s Eve defeat against Arsenal.

Keeping up with time around Christmas is a harder task than keeping Aaron Connolly out of Shooshh. So don’t worry if you forgot that the Albion are in action at Goodison Park, a venue where they have only ever won once in their history.

That of course came last season, almost a year to the day. Brighton kicked off 2022 with a 3-2 victory over the Toffees, starting what would prove to be an historic 12 months in which the Seagulls soared to heights never previously chartered.

A young Argentine midfield who was yet to really become an established first team regular scored twice that day.

Who would have predicted then that Alexis Mac Allister would be one of the stars of the World Cup, helping Lionel Messi to cement his place as the greatest player of all time by finally leading Argentina to that famous gold trophy?

Mac Allister arrived back in England at the weekend after his exploits in Qatar and subsequent two week party in Argentina.

He has declared himself ready to return to the Albion XI at Goodison Park if selected by Roberto De Zerbi.

The Albion boss may wish to give him more time off, which would mean a return against Liverpool in 12 days time presuming Mac Allister is not subjected to going from World Cup final in Doha to FA Cup third round in Middlesbrough.

That would be quite the comedown, unless of course Mac Allister loves a chicken parmo in which case he will beg to be on the bus to Teesside.

Whilst Mac Allister and Brighton enjoyed one of their best ever calendar years in 2022, the same cannot be said for Everton.

Rafa the Gaffer was sacked shortly after the Albion’s victory at Goodison with his place taken by Frank Lampard.

Results did not greatly improve under the former England midfielder and Everton survived relegation by the skin of their teeth.

Things have not been much better this time around. The Toffees have an unbalanced squad with even less centre forward options than the Albion.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin seems to have become a semi-permanent sicknote over the past two seasons. Everton meanwhile signed a certain Neal Maupay in the summer and La Petite Shithouse Francaise has remained the frustrating striker he was at the Albion; capable of scoring some important and quality goals but also of missing the easiest of opportunities.

Whilst that may have been acceptable to the vast majority of Brighton supporters, it is not to Everton fans who believe their side should be challenging for the top four.

That may suggest they have ideas above their stations. But when a club the size of Everton with their history and support see #TeamsLikeBrighton (there it is, that dreaded phrase), Brentford and Fulham punching well above their weight, then it is little surprise there is animosity towards the Toffees’ owners.

And Brighton can put that to their advantage. The atmosphere can turn poisonous at Goodison very quickly these days; Everton were booed relentlessly during the Albion’s previous visit to the Blue half of Merseyside.

Everton supporters are planning a sit-in protest against their owners after the upcoming home game against Arsenal.

Brighton fans of a certain vintage no only too well how despising a board can impact on performances on the pitch.

That is reflected in the fact that Everton have won just twice at home all season. Compared that to on the road, where they have picked up decent points against Brentford, Fulham and Manchester City on New Year’s Eve.

Not-so-long ago, Brighton would have gone to Everton expecting the worst. The Toffees were a team on the periphery of European football and Goodison was a venue no Albion side had won in 121 years.

It says much about the 2022 Brighton had that now the Seagulls head to somewhere like Everton with a very realistic hope of taking all three points.

2023 could be an even more special year with De Zerbi at the helm of this exciting young squad whose performances and style of play have already improved just three months into his tenure.

Where better to kick start it than with another win at Everton?