‘We were not’: Frank Lampard admits Everton failed in 2 areas vs Brighton

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Everton boss Frank Lampard admits his team ‘were not’ good enough in two areas during a 4-1 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion. The Seagulls took an emphatic result at Goodison Park.

The Toffees are now just one point above the Premier League relegation zone on 15 points after 18 games. But each of the four teams below them in the table have played one fewer match this season. Only goal difference would keep Everton off of the bottom of the table.

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Brighton are the first side to score four goals against Everton in a single top-flight fixture so far this term. A 3-0 loss at AFC Bournemouth in November had been Everton’s worst result of the season. They have also now only won one of their last 10 games with seven defeats.

Kaoru Mitoma took just 14 minutes to break the deadlock on Merseyside on Tuesday night from Moises Caicedo’s assist. Evan Ferguson then threatened to stretch the Seagulls’ lead as he struck the post before the Goodison faithful booed Everton off the pitch at half-time.

Ferguson would get his goal soon after the restart, though, and sparked a blitz by Brighton on Jordan Pickford’s goal. The teenager found the top corner after 51 minutes before Solly March (54’) drilled home and Pascal Gross (57’) capitalised on Lampard’s squad collapsing.

Demarai Gray would convert a penalty in the 92nd minute for a late consolation effort. But Brighton had long decided the result beforehand to hand Lampard and Everton a crushing defeat. Now, results on Wednesday night could see the Toffees slip into the bottom three.

Lampard accepts Everton were not good enough in their 4-1 loss to Brighton

Lampard points to Everton conceding three goals over six minutes as the moment Brighton secured their result at Goodison. But he also accepts the Toffees were not good enough in showing urgency in their approach and they also failed to win possession back with speed.

“The period where we conceded three goals in six minutes finished the game,” Lampard told BBC Sport. “The first half was pretty even.

“We made a mistake which gave them a goal which got their noses in front and made us more edgy. We were not urgent or quick enough with the ball. When they scored three goals, it killed the game.”