The title held by Brighton’s Yves Bissouma that Everton’s midfield duo should bid to claim after 2-0 win

There was so much pre-match talk among the home fans at the Amex about whether Brighton could keep hold of their prized asset before the transfer window shuts.

Trepidation a club would come in with a late bid to prise Yves Bissouma away from the Seagulls to hamper their encouraging early-season progress was palpable.

Unlike Rafa Benitez, who has insisted Everton were not considering selling prized-asset Richarlison amid interest from PSG, Brighton boss Graham Potter can’t guarantee Bissouma will remain on the south coast beyond Tuesday's deadline.

Many believe the Mali international is the best midfielder outside the top four and it's only a matter of time before he joins a club regularly competing in the Champions League - whether that’s in England or abroad.

Bissouma displayed his prowess against Everton and it is fathomable why there’s so much clamour surrounding him.

A blossoming partnership

But Blues supporters should - and will - feel emboldened by the blossoming partnership in the midfield engine room that was at the heart of the 2-0 victory on the south coast.

Everton’s midfield duo of Abdoulaye Doucoure and Allan ran the middle of the park to help continue Benitez's impressive start as Goodison Park boss.

In the opening three games of the season, they've displayed the right balance of silk and steel, drive and discipline, craft and control to help deliver seven points from a possible nine.

There was always encouragement about the partnership the duo could strike up this season.

There were signs Doucoure and Allan could thrive together last season after £25 million and £22 million arrivals from Watford and Napoli respectively.

Injuries restricted them to playing alongside each other regularly, however, with the duo starting just 15 games together.

When paired, though, Everton were stronger.

The Blues picked up 24 points - seven wins in those games at an average of 1.6 points per match.

That figure dropped to 1.52 points per game without one of the two featuring in the middle of the park.

It might not be a huge difference, but football’s about fine margins.

Key roles

From the outset of his Goodison Park tenure, Benitez’s intentions were clear when it came to Doucoure.

He wanted to see the Frenchman driving at defences again - as he did so well for Watford - rather than playing with restrictions under former boss Carlo Ancelotti.

When told about his responsibilities, Doucoure met the news with relish. Being let off the leash is what he craved.

Giving him the freedom to break forward is his best attribute, while he has the athleticism to track back.

So far this term, he's scored one and created one. In truth, he should have been on the scoresheet at Brighton when he burst forward with menace but saw his effort denied,

Allan, on the other hand, is happy to act as the pivot, policing the back four should his partner in crime foray into the final third.

That doesn’t mean the Brazilian doesn’t have an influence going forward, however. Far from it.

He was the architect of both of Everton's goals at Brighton with two bits of sheer class.

Allan played a wonderful through ball to set Demari Gray free in the first half. The purchase on the pass was inch-perfect, making the winger's mind up to drive towards goal rather than push the ball out wide.

The ex-Udinese midfielder's ball to set Seamus Coleman away to win the second-half penalty that Dominic Calvert-Lewin tucked away was even better.

He ensured Joel Voltman - brought on to add balance to the Seagulls' defence at the break - was tied up and forced to bring down the Everton captain inside the box.

Additional cover

There are, perhaps, some concerns about how much strength is behind Allan and Doucoure.

Andre Gomes was the only other option on the bench, with Fabian Delph and Tom Davies both absent.

Before the transfer window closes, sections of supporters would like another to arrive. Adept cover who can do a similar job to the lynchpins of Doucoure and Allan would strengthen Everton markedly.

That will likely be dictated by the budget available to Benitez, though, and if he could offload someone to free up funds.

When it comes to the debate about the best midfielders outside the Ngolo Kantes, Paul Pogbas and Rodris in the Premier League, Bissouma is undoubtedly up there.

But if Everton’s pair continue their form, they’ll too rightly lay claim to such accolade.

Achieve that and the Blues won’t be too far away from achieving their overall ambitions come May.