Everton 0-1 Brighton: Baleba tops otherwise terrible player ratings
There have been some pretty poor Albion performances in the 2024-25 season. Yet even when the team are awful, Carlos Baleba still always seems to stand out as looking decent. That trend continued during Brighton 0-1 Everton, with Baleba finishing top of the player ratings.
Just three players scored higher than a six as the Seagulls’ wait to beat a team in the bottom half of the table at the Amex under Fabian Hurzeler continued.
Baleba, Jan Paul van Hecke and Tariq Lamptey scraped respectable marks, although Van Hecke and Lamptey only just made it into the sixes.
Everyone else earned scores reflective of Brighton managing just one shot on target against opponents who arrived in Sussex 17th in the Premier League.
Read them if you dare – here are your Brighton 0-1 Everton player ratings.
Bart Verbruggen – 5.78
Nothing to do other than concede the only goal of the game scored by Iliman Ndiaye from the penalty spot.
Joel Veltman – 4.67
The penalty decision is split opinion pretty much 50-50. Yes, Veltman got pushed by Beto. But the Dutchman takes a calculated risk in trying to grab the ball with his hands as he goes to ground, hoping it will help convince referee Tim Robinson to award a foul in his favour. When Mr Robinson decides no foul, Veltman has handled and the only outcome is therefore a penalty. It was a gamble with the dark arts too far.
Jan Paul van Hecke – 6.11
A couple of important interventions on the rare occasions Everton looked to counter in the second half. He also attempted a couple of forward passes to unlock the Toffees defence, which made a nice change from those Albion players in front of him stroking the ball from side to side.
Lewis Dunk – 5.89
Raking pass forward sent Tariq Lamptey clear down the right in the first half. Brighton needed more of that to try and get their wide players in behind the deep-sitting Everton defence.
Tariq Lamptey – 6.00
The best Albion player going forward in the first half as his raids from left back caused the visitors problems. Despite this, Fabian Hurzeler opted to switch him and Veltman around for the second half. Nowhere near as effective on the right following what seemed a pretty pointless tactical change.
CARLOS BALEBA – 6.44
Came closer than anyone to scoring for Brighton. One shot fired wide and another deflected over. Lots of good work in front of the defence too before Hurzeler made him part of a back three in the closing stages. Another decision which again made little sense.
Yasin Ayari – 5.56
Inconsistency continues to be a problem for the Swedish midfielder. Brilliant in the 3-1 win at Manchester United six days earlier and totally anonymous here.
Brajan Gruda – 3.89
Being the lowest scoring player in the Brighton 0-1 Everton ratings is quite the achievement. Offered nothing down the right and was hauled at half time in favour of Georginio Rutter, who most Albion supporters would have picked to start.
Joao Pedro – 4.56
The only part of Pedro’s display anyone was talking about afterwards was him once again waving his arms in the air at the crowd demanding more support. Five minutes later and he miss-controlled the ball on the edge of the Everton box, surrendering possession to the Toffees. Cue hundreds of people in the West Upper jumping to their feet, waving their arms in the air and demanding Pedro contribute something to the game.
Kaoru Mitoma – 5.00
David Moyes had done his homework and double marked Mitoma. The Japanese Bullet Train managed to escape the attentions of the two Toffees keeping a careful eye on him early in the second half but it was otherwise a frustrating afternoon for him. Not helped by the fact Brighton had no threat down the opposite flank in the opening 45 minutes.
Danny Welbeck – 4.56
Barely remember him touching the ball other than when bending a second half free kick wide.
Georginio Rutter – 5.78
His half time introduction led to Brighton enjoying a half-decent 10 minutes in which they looked like they might trouble Jordan Pickford. At least showed some energy and enthusiasm otherwise lacking from most of his teammates.
Yankubu Minteh – 5.44
It was revealed after the game that Minteh was dropped following his electric performance at United because he arrived late at the Amex. Cannot fault Hurzeler for taking that course of action.
Jack Hinshelwood – 5.00
Two months after only being a doubt to face Bournemouth, Hinshelwood returned from a knee injury. Introduced in midfield as Brighton switched to a back three in a change which made little difference.
Matt O’Riley – 4.78
No impact from the bench after he came on in support of Welbeck. Still none the wiser as to whether he is good enough to provide an attacking threat as a number 10 at Premier League level
Adam Webster – 4.22
Momentarily thought I had accidentally taken an acid tablet and was hallucinating about Webster coming on up front for the final five minutes. But no. Hurzeler really did put on his fourth choice centre back as a striker in the same season Brighton have spent over £200 million on new players.
The WAB Player Ratings are formulated using marks out of 10 given by Brighton fans via social media. To have your scores included, follow We Are Brighton on Twitter or We Are Brighton on Bluesky and look out for the player rating thread after each game.
