Sky Sports pundit and former footballer Charlie Nicholas has labelled Everton’s performance in last week’s FA Cup defeat as ‘embarrassing’ – but believes the need for a response will deliver three points when they take on Brighton and Hove Albion this weekend.
Everton crumbled as they fell to a Merseyside derby loss last time out and although Nicholas was critical of the display as well as the makeup of the current squad, he suggests that Carlo Ancelotti will demand a reaction – and the Toffees will oblige.
Making his predictions ahead of the Premier League’s resumption for Sky Sports, Nicholas backed the home side to grab a victory against the Seagulls, who were also dumped out of the cup last week.
Leading with his thoughts on their showing at Anfield last Sunday, Nicholas said: “They caved in, and Duncan Ferguson would have hounded them if he was still in charge.
“It was quite embarrassing to be beaten by the side that Liverpool put out. Carlo Ancelotti would have had stern words, but when you look at what Everton have got, the balance is not right.
“Is the balance at the back right? I don’t think it is. Brighton like to get on the ball, and again, as well as they have played, they are the same as Burnley, just four points above the drop.
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“They are one point behind Everton, but Ancelotti needs a reaction and that is the only reason I am going for them to win.”
In going for a 2-1 home win, it doesn’t appear as though Nicholas would be too surprised if this game went either way – especially as neither side come into the game off the back of a positive result.
So perhaps it is merely home advantage that could see Everton through, particularly as Brighton’s away form is pretty dire, with one win on their league travels since the opening day.
The fact that Nicholas moaned about the state of Everton and still backed them for victory perhaps encapsulates that feeling, while a fired-up reaction maybe wouldn’t be the most surprising thing after the week the Toffees have had.
Time will tell, but Nicholas looks to have played it safe, here.
Everton fans, do you think you’ll have enough to beat Brighton this weekend? Let us know below!
