Everton 3-1 Brighton & Hove Albion: Marco Silva praises 'fantastic' Richarlison
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Richarlison has already scored more goals this season than he did in the entirety of 2017-18
Everton boss Marco Silva said Richarlison is a "fantastic football player" after the Brazilian put in a match-winning display against Brighton.
The 21-year-old Brazilian scored in both halves to take his tally to six for the season as Everton secured their fourth win in five Premier League matches and brought the Seagulls' three-game winning run to an end.
Lewis Dunk equalised for Brighton after Everton had taken the lead, but Seamus Coleman scored his first goal for 22 months soon after the restart before Richarlison sealed the win.
"Richarlison is a fantastic football player and he gives everything for us," said Silva. "He fights and enjoys the game. But it is not just him. For us to play well and score goals we need to do big work."
It was a deserved win for Everton, although it took a spirited second-half performance to finally overcome a well-organised Brighton.
The Seagulls were content to let Everton dominate possession in the opening stages, but were perhaps fortunate not to fall behind when Gylfi Sigurdsson spurned two early opportunities.
Everton did eventually take the lead from a Brighton corner, with Sigurdsson leading the counter-attack from inside his own half before teeing up Richarlison, who finished first time beyond goalkeeper Mat Ryan.
Brighton showed spirit to hit back almost straight away with a clever short corner routine, with Solly March's cross headed home by Dunk for his first goal since March.
But Everton were dominant after the break. Idrissa Gueye had already hit the post before Coleman drove Everton in front five minutes into the second half.
It was a lead Everton never looked like losing, and Richarlison put the game beyond doubt late on by capitalising on a loose pass by Dunk before rounding Ryan to score.
Richarlison shines again
Almost exactly 12 months ago, Richarlison scored for Watford at Goodison Park in a 3-2 win for Everton that lifted the struggling Toffees out of the relegation zone.
The 21-year-old would score just once more that season, mirroring a dramatic dip in form for the Hornets that saw manager Marco Silva sacked in January.
Silva and Richarlison were reunited at Goodison Park this summer and the Brazilian once again seems to be thriving under the Portuguese's stewardship.
After beginning the season out wide, he has been deployed as a central striker in recent weeks and his two goals against Brighton mean he has now scored more goals this season than he did in the whole of the last campaign.
Sigurdsson is another player whose influence is growing after a difficult 2017-18. The £45m signing from Swansea was pushed out to the left for much of last season but looks far more comfortable playing in a central position.
The 29-year-old had a 100% pass completion rate during the first half, which included running half the length of the field to tee up Richarlison for a fine opening goal.
This win was further evidence that Everton are starting to settle under Silva as they look to improve on last season's eighth-place finish.
The former Hull boss was even able bring on summer signing Yerry Mina in stoppage time for his Everton debut, with the Colombian defender finally fit again after suffering a foot injury at the World Cup.
Glenn Murray has scored six of Brighton's 12 Premier League goals so far this season
Lack of cutting edge costs Seagulls
Brighton went into this game full of confidence after three successive victories without conceding a goal.
They had less possession than their opponents in each of those three wins, so it was no surprise that they were content to sit back here.
Even after falling behind, the Seagulls remained patient, willing to wait for their chance to counter-attack and threaten from set pieces.
But aside from Dunk's equaliser, which came from a quickly taken short corner, the visitors failed to truly test Jordan Pickford in the Toffees' goal.
Brighton only managed three efforts on target all game, with Alireza Jahanbakhsh's late shot coming when the result was already beyond them.
Glenn Murray has scored half of Brighton's Premier League goals this season and the 35-year-old needs more support if they are to maintain their position in mid-table.
Man of the match - Richarlison (Everton)
The Brazilian put in a match-winning display that demonstrated why Marco Silva was so keen to sign him from Watford over the summer.
'Our best performance of the season'
Everton 3-1 Brighton: Best home performance of season - Marco Silva
Everton boss Marco Silva: "It was our best performance at home this season. First 30 minutes, we played really well. The only thing I didn't like was that corner when they scored. We worked for and prepared for - you need to react faster. What I liked was the second half. We kept doing what we did in the first half. We had chances to score more and it was a good and deserved win.
"For us it is important to do better than last season. We want to give the fans something to enjoy and feel a connection with what we are doing."
Everton are one of the top teams - Chris Hughton
Brighton manager Chris Hughton: "We weren't in the game long enough in the second half. They got the goal and their tails were up. We then played two up front but were up against a quality team.
"You kick on by accepting you are Brighton, playing a second season in the Premier league. There will be ups and downs. We were playing a team who will push for the top six. You always have to look as a whole. We have had three really good results and then a bad result. We have to accept that and be better next time. Come out fighting in the next game."
Everton win again - the stats
Everton have enjoyed four wins in their past five Premier League games (L1), as many victories as they managed in their previous 14 in the competition.
Brighton have never won away at Everton in any competition, drawing two and losing five of their seven visits.
Brighton have managed just one win in their past 19 Premier League away games, drawing five and losing 13.
All 11 of Everton forward Richarlison's Premier League goals have come under manager Marco Silva (11 in 33 apps under Silva, 0 in 14 apps under Javi Gracia).
Gylfi Sigurdsson has been directly involved in six goals in his past seven Premier League appearances for Everton (five goals, one assist), as many as he managed in his previous 19 games in the competition.
10 of Lewis Dunk's 12 league goals for Brighton have been headers.
Everton's Seamus Coleman found the back of the net for the first time in 26 Premier League appearances, since scoring against Crystal Palace on 21 January 2017.
What's next?
Everton face a trip to Stamford Bridge to play Chelsea on Sunday, November 11 at 14:15 GMT. Brighton are away from home against Cardiff the previous day at 12:30 GMT.