Everton 1-4 Brighton: Frank Lampard faces pressure as Toffees suffers humiliating defeat

By the end, the scene was tired and depressingly familiar: an emptying stadium, the soundtrack of mutiny, and the stench of failure.

Everton had ended 2022 with a point at Manchester City but 2023 began with a ritual embarrassment. This was the kind of night where a manager worried about his long-term future and fans sweated about their club’s status in the top flight.

First, Brighton must be given full credit for being a progressive club with a long-term vision and an outstanding plan. They scored four goals, might have scored a few more and carried a swagger that made Everton wish their own side could play with such zeal and resourcefulness.

Frank Lampard’s job is under serious pressure after his side’s humiliating defeat at Goodison Park

Kaoru Mitoma scored the only goal in an even first half between the two sides

However, Brighton scored three goals in six minutes of the second half as they ran to a convincing win

It was devastating for Everton, who were powerless to stop a reckless Brighton side in a crushing defeat

Roberto De Zerbi will enter the end of the season in business from a position of strength and why shouldn’t they dream of qualifying for Europe? They have all the tools to go the distance and play as well as anyone around the table.

But what about Everton, this once proud institution? They’ve played Russian roulette with relegation too many times in the last decade, and one day they’ll reach the point of no return. This performance was so bad, so depressing, it made you dread what was around the corner.

Frank Lampard looked haunted as the game came to an end. He will know how impatient and nervous owner Farhad Moshiri gets at moments like this and the next few days will no doubt be uncomfortable. After all, this was a night without redeeming qualities.

A result as unexpected as that at the Etihad could not help but inspire confidence and indeed Everton’s start was bright and enthusiastic. They were quick in front and within three minutes Brighton’s keeper Robert Sanchez was called into action to outplay Alex Iwobi.

It was a good save too as the Spaniard lunged left to turn Iwobi’s shot around the post. Lampard had wanted the atmosphere to be like a bear pit, one of those nights when Goodison hisses, and that was the kind of early skirmish that could easily cause it to catch fire.

They came again in the sixth minute, this time Tom Davies palming Sanchez with a 20-yard drive. It never took the direction of creating any fears but that was Everton explaining their intentions – could they build on that? The answer was certainly no for the remainder of the first period.

As soon as Sanchez put his foot on the ball, Brighton took a deep breath and started passing and moving around Everton. Their aluminum-colored orange jerseys blurred as they made the hosts’ midfield and defense look as mobile as mannequins at the training ground.

Brighton should have taken the lead in the 10th minute when the enthusiastic Solly March – what an excellent professional he’s been since he was an England Under-21 international – rushed to the touchline and Mitoma got out the back post, but he went over .

All the same. On the next attack, Moises Caicedo swept a long ball from right to left and Everton right-back Nathan Patterson misjudged it horribly, allowing Mitoma to collect, turn the Scot and then drift into Conor Coady to pass Jordan Pickford.

What a terrible goal conceded for Everton but Brighton certainly didn’t complain. After gaining a foothold in the competition, they spent the remainder of the opening period dominating possession and playing with the swagger of a side who know their roles inside and out.

A second goal should have come in the 20th minute but Evan Ferguson’s instinctive volley slammed the post after Mitoma wreaked havoc again when left-back Pervis Estupinan released him. Had Brighton doubled their lead at that point the game might have been as good as over.

The only time Everton have scored more than one goal at home this season was against Crystal Palace on October 22 and this inability to create good chances – let alone convert them – is proving crippling; Teams without a punch are KO’d.

And that’s exactly what happened. Bam-bam-bam, three times in six minutes, Brighton charged forward in the second half and launched the kind of attack that indicated some of those in blue were looking to throw in the towel. It was a shameful capitulation, an affront to those fans.

Ferguson, such a standout prospect, secured the points with a superb finish in the 51st minute before March sprung into action, rolling past Everton defenders who, funnily enough, fell over in a desperate attempt to make a tackle.

Screams of ‘Sack the board!’ erupted immediately and hundreds of fans rushed to the exits before Pascal Gross completed the humiliation and scored Brighton the biggest away win of the Premier League era.

It was time for one last addition to the goal line, an injury-time penalty from Demarai Gray, but after theatrical celebrations, those who stayed at the stadium began signing for the plaque to be removed. This is truly a winter of dissatisfaction.

Mitoma kneels in front of Brighton fans after scoring the first goal of the game

Lampard reacts with disappointment after scoring the first goal before attacking in the second half

Teenager Evan Ferguson doubled Brighton’s lead with his second Premier League goal

Just three minutes after Ferguson, Solly March fired into the bottom corner

Jordan Pickford watches as Pascal Gross scores home Brighton’s fourth goal of the game

Argentina’s world champion Alexis Mac Allister made his Brighton return off the bench

Roberto De Zerbi’s side from Brighton are eighth in the Premier League after their win

Lampard’s side are just one point above the relegation zone with 15 points in 18 games