Rafael Benitez under pressure as Everton slip to Brighton defeat in five-goal thriller

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:00 am

Brighton & Hove Albion earned a hard-fought 3-2 victory at Everton in the Premier League on Sunday, with Alexis Mac Allister scoring twice and Dan Burn grabbing a third to ramp up the pressure on Everton boss Rafa Benitez.

Brighton took an early lead at Goodison Park after midfielder Mac Allister scored in the third minute, finishing off a brilliant team move with a first-time shot past Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

Burn netted the second goal in the 21st minute after the centre-back, unmarked at the back post, nodded in Enock Mwepu's flick-on from a free-kic

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Everton were awarded a lifeline four minutes later when a foul by Mwepu on Anthony Gordon led to a penalty, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin clipped the crossbar from the spot in his first appearance since August following an injury layoff.

Alexis Mac Allister scored twice as Everton slipped to another defeat.
PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images

Gordon finally pulled one back for the hosts in the 53rd minute after he cut inside from the right and fired a left-footed shot which took a huge deflection off Brighton's Adam Lallana.

Mac Allister scored his second goal in the 71st minute with a volley from outside the penalty area. Gordon added a second goal shortly afterwards but Everton could not turn the match around, with an eighth defeat in their last 12 league games.

And at the final whistle, Benitez was booed by a sizeable section of the Goodison Park crowd as the pressure grew on the former Liverpool manager.

"Brilliant. It has been a fantastic week for us," Brighton manager Graham Potter told the BBC.

"We took the lead, deservedly so. We had to dig in and defend and then scored some good goals. Delighted for the players.

"Mac Allister has had to be patient. He's had to support the team from the sides. I thought it was a fantastic performance from him."

"The way we conceded goals makes things very difficult for us," Benitez told the BBC. "Then the team missed a penalty and it became more difficult for the confidence. They reacted but it is difficult when you make mistakes like we did."