Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler on his team's identity: "I think sometimes you have to know what are your roots and what makes you strong. Sometimes I think you need to put this back in the minds of the players.

"We won't try to over-complicate it and we will make the easy things right, do the pressure and the right intensity. All these things that make the clubs strong, that makes the players strong, and how they win the games and the Premier League.

"I think the players are very open to that and they are just trying to improve. They are very open to trying to keep moving forward in this journey and process. We have another chance on Saturday to prove it to ourselves."

Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler on staying positive: "We also tried to stay positive and remind them of the positives of the game because not everything was bad.

"The second half we created a lot of chances and had a good reaction. So, I think it needs to be a good balance between being negative and seeing the positive."

Brighton & Hove Albion

As we said earlier, Fabian Hurzeler was holding his news conference this morning, and here's what the Brighton boss had to say on his team's reaction to losing 3-1 to Crystal Palace: "The first day [we were] disappointed after such a bad game and bad experience, but I think it was just an honest reflection and honest analysis of the game.

"I think what went wrong was the basic things in football. You need to defend with everything you have, you need to do the basic things right, you need to play intense, you need to play in possession and in good structures."

Everton

A letter was sent to Everton shareholders on Wednesday detailing the make-up of the proposed deal, which would lead to Roundhouse Capital Holdings Limited - an affiliate of the Friedkin Group - owning 99.5% of the club's total shares.

It included details of a plan to complete a "debt-for-equity conversion" - a process known as capitalisation.

The outcome of this, the letter states, would ensure that "the club does not negatively impact its Profit and Sustainability rules (PSR) position" and would "strengthen the club’s balance sheet and ensure a significant debt is settled immediately prior to completion".

Everton

Image source, Getty Images

Dan Friedkin, chairman and chief executive of the Friedkin Group, is proposed to be chairman of Everton's new board.

He has appointed Marc Watts to serve as executive chairman, who will be responsible in this role for the management of the club.

Ana Dunkel, the Group’s chief financial officer, and Colin Chong, the club’s interim chief executive, will also serve on the board.

Additional appointments will be made in the coming weeks.

What do you make of that then Everton fans? Glad it's finally a done deal?

What are the main challenges for the Friedkin Group? And how much faith do you have in them being able to restore the club to its former glories?

Let us know your thoughts via the usual channels listed above.

Everton

Image source, Getty Images

The Friedkin Group is based in the United States and is led by chairman Dan Friedkin, who also owns Roma. He has a net worth of £5.7bn, according to Forbes., external

His takeover of Everton means that 10 Premier League clubs are now under majority American ownership - exactly 50% of clubs in England's top flight.

Everton

The Friedkin Group had agreed a deal in principle to purchase Farhad Moshiri's 94% stake in Everton in June.

But talks were called off a month later after the two parties failed to finalise an agreement. That followed Miami-based 777 Partners being unable to a complete a deal earlier this year.

In a complex saga surrounding the takeover, American businessman and Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor then jumped in for talks but could not complete a deal because Premier League rules prohibit individuals from owning more than one team.

The Friedkin Group was already a lender to the club after injecting £200m.

Everton

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Outgoing club owner Farhad Moshiri has written to the Everton fans for a final time. A letter on the club website, external reads: "I write with mixed emotions, with a sense of optimism for what the future may hold but also some sorrow when reflecting on the past.

"The last couple of years have been challenging to say the least for the football club, financially, boardroom change and results on the pitch and of course the loss of our chairman Bill Kenwright.

"I am proud of the way the club has overcome these challenges both internally and with the tremendous support you the fans have given us all.

"There is of course passion in football, but I really believe that there is nothing to match the passion of Evertonians, and there is nothing like Goodison [Park] in full voice, such as inspiring the team, as you did in the second half against [Crystal] Palace."

Premier League

Premier League statement: "The Premier League board has approved the Friedkin Group’s 98.8% acquisition of Everton football club, following the completion of the league’s owners’ and directors’ test.

"Having been agreed by the board, the takeover has now been ratified by an independent oversight panel.

"The club’s new owners and directors have also signed the Premier League’s owners’ charter."

Everton

Image source, Getty Images

American businessman and film producer Dan Friedkin has written a message directly to the Everton fans, on the club website:, external"Following the completion of the takeover of Everton football club, I want to express my gratitude for your continued support and introduce the incoming executive chairman of Everton, Marc Watts.

"I take immense pride in welcoming one of England’s most historic football clubs to our global family, the Friedkin Group. Everton represents a proud legacy, and we are honoured to become custodians of this great institution.

"The Friedkin Group is a diverse family of companies with a global footprint spanning industries such as sports, automotive, entertainment, hospitality, and adventure. Across all our endeavours, we strive to deliver extraordinary experiences that ignite people’s passions. We are thrilled to bring this ethos to Everton and the Liverpool city region.

"Whilst we are new to the club, we fully understand the vital role Everton plays in local culture, history, and the lives of Evertonians here and around the world. We are deeply committed to honouring this legacy while contributing positively to the community, economy, and people of this remarkable city.

"Once again, thank you for your continued support."

Everton

Marc Watts, incoming executive chairman of Everton Football Club, said: "Today marks a momentous and proud occasion for the Friedkin Group as we become custodians of this iconic football club.

"We are committed to leading Everton into an exciting new era both on and off the pitch. Providing immediate financial stability to the club has been a key priority, and we are delighted to have achieved this.

"While restoring Everton to its rightful place in the Premier League table will take time, today is the first step in that journey."

Everton

Now we have some breaking news to bring you.

The Friedkin Group have completed its protracted takeover of Premier League club Everton.

It has bought the club from owner Farhad Moshiri, who became Everton's majority shareholder in February 2016 before gradually increasing his stake.

More to follow.

The Carabao Cup semi-finals will take place over two legs, on the weeks commencing 6 January and 3 February.

Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle United are already through to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup after winning their quarter-final ties on Wednesday.

Tottenham host Manchester United later (20:00 GMT) to decide which team completes the last four.

The semi-final draw for the Carabao Cup will take place later today, after the conclusion of Tottenham's quarter-final tie with Manchester United (20:00 GMT).

Rob from sunny Bournemouth: In response to Chris message at 9:23: Are you mad, as a Spurs fan who have been on a drought for what feels like eternity, we are desperate to get our hands on it! As I'm sure Newcastle fans would feel the same. Desperate times call for desperate measures....

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Manchester United will be without Mason Mount at Tottenham tonight after he suffered another injury during Sunday's Premier League victory at Manchester City.

Mount was starting only his fourth Premier League game of the season at City but lasted just 14 minutes before coming off with yet another muscular problem.

The 25-year-old was visibly distressed as he left the field and United are still to confirm the length of his absence.

"In the dressing room he was really, really sad so we need to help him," said Amorim.

"When the player is in this moment, with a lot of injuries and with this schedule, and we have to maintain the load and we have to travel and with travelling you cannot train, it’s really hard for them.

"We will try to find a better way to recover these kind of guys like Mount and Luke Shaw because after a few weeks and a few months they will be ready to cope with a lot of things."

Image source, PA Media