Brighton kicked off the 2024-25 season with an impressive 3-0 victory over Everton, marking Fabian Hurzeler’s debut as the Seagulls’ head coach in style. Despite facing early pressure from Everton, Brighton stayed resilient before Kaoru Mitoma opened the scoring in the 26th minute. Danny Welbeck and Simon Adringra added to the tally, securing all three points for Brighton as Ashley Young saw a red card for Everton.

Hurzeler, at 31 the youngest Premier League boss in history, praised his team’s performance, highlighting their defensive strength and clinical finishing. He emphasized the importance of a clean sheet in the Premier League and remained grounded despite the promising start.

While Everton felt aggrieved by a VAR decision overturning their penalty claim, Hurzeler defended the call, citing a clear error in the initial decision. Yankuba Minteh, making his Brighton debut, made a significant impact before being substituted due to concussion protocol, showcasing his quality in attack and defensive work rate.

Hurzeler expressed confidence in Minteh’s abilities, noting that hard work pays off, as evidenced by the winger’s performance both in preseason and during his brief debut. The victory set a positive tone for Brighton’s season, but Hurzeler maintained a humble outlook, focusing on continued hard work and improvement moving forward.