Brighton & Hove Albion

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton midfielder Pascal Gross may be one of the best value-for-money signings in Premier League history.

In fact the 35-year-old has effectively cost the Seagulls minus £3m - and been involved in 86 Premier League goals over two spells.

Already in this campaign, Gross has been involved in seven Brighton goals in six games.

Gross was Brighton's first Premier League signing in 2017 for a reported £3m from Ingolstadt.

He left for his boyhood club Borussia Dortmund in 2024 for £8m - but in a surprise move he returned to Albion in January for about £1.7m.

A little-heralded German from relegated Ingolstadt, nobody could have anticipated the impact Gross, nor Albion, would go on to have.

"There's an argument Gross is pound-for-pound the best value player in the Premier League over the last 10 years, especially when you look at his goal involvements," said BBC Radio Sussex commentor Johnny Cantor.

"However, he also drives standards in training, sets a high bar and is a huge influence in the dressing room.

"Technically he is excellent, has superb delivery but also possesses an awareness, popping up in spaces all around the pitch. Managers have leaned on him, team-mates respect him, and fans of all generations adore him.

"He will surely be remembered as one of the best Albion players of the modern age."

Since joining Brighton, Gross is seventh for Premier League assists with 52 to go with his 34 goals in 253 league games.

All the more remarkable when you consider his journey with Brighton appeared over two years ago when he went home to join his beloved Borussia Dortmund.

Albion supporter Maz Mirzadeh said: "When he left for Dortmund, it was like going through a heartbreak and seeing an ex go back to their childhood sweetheart.

"He's outrageously good and massively underappreciated.

"If you watch him play, you would think someone's put him in slow-motion settings, but what he lacks in pace, he makes up in superior football IQ, technical brilliance and working harder than any other player on the pitch."

Emma Smith
BBC Sport journalist

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Brighton came into the match against Sunderland as the league's top scorers and the in-form side in the division before the international break.

And after scoring 10 goals without reply, they have earned three successive league victories for the first time in eight years.

The fact they battled through, following a tight first half and Pascal Struijk's red card, will make this one particularly sweet.

Only Joao Pedro has been involved in more top-flight goals than Pascal Gross this season - and while Sunderland successfully nullified the veteran German creator for 45 minutes, he would not be denied after the break.

He now has seven goal involvements in six league matches and became the oldest player to provide an assist in three successive Premier League games since Manchester United's Ryan Giggs, aged 38 years and 68 days, in February 2012.

The fitness of the 35-year-old will be crucial in a busy period for Brighton, with this the first of seven matches in 21 days.

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler, spoke to BBC Sport after his side's victory against Sunderland: "It was a different performance [to the win over Arsenal] because we had difficult circumstances and faced different adversities.

"It was key for us today to have a really good defensive mindset. I feel it was a deserved win and I have to praise my players.

"They really stuck together, faced adversity no matter how hard it was. They did the basics really well and that is so crucial in a game like this, especially when you are one man down.

"The table is not that important in this moment. It is important that we have this belief in our quality and keep producing these performances. It is about focusing on performances and to keep on improving."

On Pascal Struijk's red card: "I didn't see it back. In that moment I felt it was a harsh decision. I need to have a look and then I can judge it. For me, and how they have educated us, if there is a clear wrong decision then VAR gets into the game. I didn't see a clear and obvious error there."

Did you know?

• Brighton and Hove Albion have won three successive matches without conceding for just the second ever time in the Premier League, after also doing so in October 2018 under Chris Hughton.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Sunderland's performance

What did you make of Brighton's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Monday for a selection of your replies.

There are six games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Arsenal v Leeds United (12:30)

• Aston Villa v Brentford - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Chelsea v Bournemouth - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Ipswich Town v Fulham

• Sunderland v Brighton

• Manchester United v Tottenham (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated.

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I'd usually back Sunderland at home but Brighton are playing some brilliant football and they must be full of confidence.

The Seagulls sneaked a win at the Stadium of Light last season and this will be just as close - but this time the points will be shared.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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Brighton defender Pascal Struijk told BBC Radio Sussex he is "feeling settled" after move from Leeds United.

The 27-year-old made the switch to the south coast in the summer, signing a five-year deal for a fee of around £20m.

"It was a little bit challenging in the beginning with the injury, but afterwards, I feel like that time gave me space to settle into the team more and get more confidence in the group," he said.

"The beginning was challenging, but me getting minutes at the end until the [international] break has been really good for me."

On the win over Arsenal, before the three-week pause, he said: "For us, it was very nice. We couldn't go into that game any better and we kept it all the way. Perfect performance, you may say, but there's always something to improve on.

"Yes, I feel like I can bring threat from set-pieces in physicality. I think I can help the team, scoring goals, being dangerous in the box. I think I can add to that."

Listen to more by clicking play below or on BBC Sounds here

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Sunderland at The Stadium of Light (15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Hurzeler provided an update on the fitness of Lewis Dunk and Jack Hinshelwood: "Lewis will be back and Jack trained this week. With him, we have to see if it makes sense to take him into the squad because the next weeks will be busy and we have a lot of games. It is about managing the players and understanding who is really available but not risking anything. Overall, these two players are definitely available."

• Mats Wieffer, Yankuba Minteh and Kaoru Mitoma are "getting closer but not fit yet" and "hopefully we will see them soon back in the squad", meanwhile longer-term absentee Stefanos Tzimas is "doing well and progressing but it is still early", and Evan Ferguson is "similar where we have to wait some more weeks".

• He also confirmed Yasin Ayari is fine and available after picking up an illness on international duty with Sweden, but while Summer signing Femi Azeez did feature in a friendly during the break he will be a late decision following some "minor issues".

• On the three-week international break: "A few players went away and had different experiences, but overall the atmosphere in the building is very positive and energetic. It's quite loud, everyone has something to tell, and it's nice to have the players back and enjoy the atmosphere."

• Hurzeler praised Pascal Gross after the 35-year-old's fine form earned him the September Premier League player of the month award: "Like a good wine, the older the better. It's no surprise they show these kind of performances. The award is not a one-man show, it is togetherness. It's just a reflection of the hard effort and hard work and they show this every day. It is a reward for that."

• On balancing domestic and upcoming European games: "We want to have this challenge, that is the next step for the club - to compete in multiple competitions. That is what we want to achieve. We see it more as an opportunity than a problem. We have good depth, good availability, and now it is about managing the players."

• The Brighton boss was not drawn into giving his opinion on the guilty verdicts handed to Manchester City in relation to breaches of the Premier League's financial rules: "I can't control anything from that. The only thing I can really focus on is our preparation, how we are doing, and therefore it is just a distraction that is not in our hands. Hopefully it will be dealt with, but my topic, and I have enough topics to mention."

• On what impact waiting on the sanctions could have: "Let's see how it's going. What I heard is that there is still some ongoing processes so therefore it is really difficult to say anything now. If there is nothing clear, we should really focus on ourselves and if there are results, we can speak again."

• On the challenge posed by the Black Cats: "There is always a fight in Sunderland because it is a very physical team. It is a great stadium with very loud supporters."

Hit play above to hear more from Hurzeler, speaking about the form of Georginio Rutter, or listen on BBC Sounds here

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

Brighton are third in the Premier League with one of the highest-scoring teams in Europe.

To the uninitiated it might seem logical that the Seagulls must have spent big, investing in players ready for the first team.

Yet Brighton are, along with Everton, one of only two clubs to record a profit in transfer spending over the past five years.

It is a team full of young players, testament to the club's data-led recruitment and development strategy.

But how do they do it?

"We have a really clear philosophy around how we can be competitive in arguably the most challenging league in the world," Brighton sporting director Mike Cave told BBC Sport.

Brighton use analytics and data as their primary method of tracking and identifying players.

Through club owner Tony Bloom's Jamestown Analytics, the performance of pretty much any player - or coach - who is in a professional league can be monitored.

"It helps us to identify talent from around the world in quite an efficient way," Cave said. "That allows us then to move quite quickly in what is a really competitive transfer market."

Brighton have shown - from Alexis Mac Allister to Carlos Baleba - that they can be a stepping stone for an ambitious player. And that reputation is crucial in a competitive market.

"The key thing is being able to demonstrate to young players that we have a plan," Cave added.

"Depending on the age, that can be over one year or several years. Hopefully, that leads to playing in our senior team.

"That track record of being able to nurture young talent in different ways plays a big part in why a number of players agree to come to Brighton."

For Cave, "arguably the most critical part" is integrating players into the city and the culture of English life.

"We can have all the data, all the character backgrounds, context and information that's available," he said.

"But, ultimately, when that individual and their family arrives in Brighton, how we onboard them, how we embed them, how we make them feel like it's their home all contributes to them being the best version of themselves on the football pitch.

"We want players to come to Brighton and thrive and enjoy the city, enjoy the football club."

Read more on Brighton's date-driven rise

And listen to the full interview with Cave on BBC Sounds

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Just five games in, it might seem a bit early to pay much attention to the Premier League table - but it's probably more settled than you think.

If we look at the Premier League after five games last season and where teams ultimately ended up, the final table was already starting to take shape as 13 of the 20 sides finished within four places of where they sat even at this early stage (65%).

Eventual champions Arsenal were second, Sunderland were already seventh - where they finished eight months later - and two of the three sides that were relegated were already in the bottom three.

The eventual champions have been in the top two at this point in the past four campaigns, suggesting - potential punishments aside - it will be Manchester City or Arsenal that lifts the trophy.

The top end of the table overall has sometimes settled surprisingly quickly in recent years. The top eight after five games in 2024-25 finished as the top eight at the end of that season (although not in the same order), while the top six in 2019-20 and top seven in 2016-17 were also in place at this early stage.

While being top after five games has not meant much in recent seasons, being bottom certainly has.

Tottenham could well be in trouble once again as the side bottom of the Premier League after five games has been relegated in six of the past seven seasons.

Being bottom this early did not used to be such a bad omen. Between 2013-14 and 2018-19, only one of the six sides that were propping up the table after five games ended up going down - Newcastle in 2015-16 - while Crystal Palace finished as high as 11th in 2017-18.

Looking at the relegation battle more broadly, at least one of the teams in the bottom three at this stage has been relegated in the past eight seasons - so one of Tottenham, Fulham and Coventry City are very likely to be heading to the Championship in May.

The pool of contestants for this season's relegation battle may already be decided too because the three sides that ultimately went down in the past three seasons were all in the bottom six after five games, which would add Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace to the mix.

The last sides to be outside the bottom six at this point but relegated were Leeds United and Southampton in 2022-23, who were both in the top half (seventh and ninth). With their teams currently in eighth and 11th place, Hull City and Ipswich Town fans will hope that is still the case at the end of this campaign.

While the season may well have barely begun, the Premier League table is already starting to take shape.

Read the piece in full here

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The stability that exists within the hierarchy at Brighton allows for "development and evolution" without "disrupting the strategy of the club", says Seagulls sporting director Mike Cave.

Cave initially joined the club in November 2022 as assistant technical director and became technical director before being appointed to the role of sporting director in July this year.

Since Tony Bloom's takeover in 2009, Brighton have gone from League One to competing in European competition and have moved to Amex Stadium.

"We've got staff members at the club and many fans who have done that journey," Cave told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"Those of us that maybe weren't there 15 years ago are custodians at this moment in time.

"Our responsibility is to ensure that what's to come is better than what's happened in the recent or distant past. I think the club has been on an unbelievable journey, but I still think there's lots more to come also."

While the personnel in the club's hierarchy has changed over the years, the trajectory of the footballing side has always trended upwards and Cave believes that is because of strong foundations.

"The key responsibility of all the heads of department within the football club at any given moment in time is to be constantly trying to improve the processes and systems and the work that we do," he added.

"The foundations were put in place when Dan [Ashworth] or David [Weir] or Jason [Ayto] was at the club. My role is very much to build on that good work that has taken place and continue to find way to evolve it in a very competitive league.

"The stability in that approach allows for change to take place and it not totally disrupt the strategy of the club, but also allows the development and evolution that comes with that change."

Listen to the full episode of Football Daily on BBC Sounds

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In a special edition of BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast, BBC Sport's Football Issues Correspondent Dale Johnson speaks to Brighton sporting director Mike Cave about the strategy behind the club's remarkable rise.

From data-driven recruitment to profitable player trading, they explore how the Seagulls have established themselves in the Premier League and evolved into one of English football's smartest success stories.

"Our recruitment strategy and philosophy has been something that we've built on over a long period of time now," Cave explained.

"The data element of it gets a lot of attention because going back a few years it was quite novel in comparison to some other clubs.

"Really it's just a component of a bigger process that goes on. It's an important component, it helps us to identify talent from around the world in quite an efficient way which allows us to move quickly in what is a really competitive transfer market.

"That's just the starting point of a long process that culminates hopefully in not only signing a player but a player coming into our environment and being successful in our first team.

"There is no single attribute or metric we go after, it's more trying to assess a player's performance and then subsequently potential over a period of time. We're dealing with human beings playing a really complex game in different parts of the world.

"There are a number of factors but ultimately it's about identifying players performing at a good level that we think will be a good fit for us in the Premier League."

Listen to the full episode below or on BBC Sounds

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Brighton sporting director Mike Cave says selling players for big profit is never the club's "intention at the outset".

The Seagulls are notorious for signing players for low fees, developing them, then selling them on for huge fees. In the past four seasons they have sold six players for over £50m.

Since their promotion to the Premier League in 2017, only Chelsea have made more signings than Brighton.

"I wouldn't say we ever set out thinking about how we're going to sell a player," Cave told a special episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"Ultimately, when we recruit players we recruit them to come and perform and develop for Brighton and Hove Albion.

"Like nearly every club in the world, players choose to leave. That's just the natural cycle of any team and any squad. When that moment comes the important thing is that any club is able to maximise the sale of that player because that is what helps to go back into the football club to reinvest and hopefully again to improve the squad in some capacity over time.

"It's a critical part of the football business but it's certainly not the intention at the outset. For us it's about developing and putting the best teams and players on the pitch to allow Brighton to be succesful.

"You can never exactly plan when these departures are going to take place. The key thing is to have processes and systems in place to be able to react and that is what is in our control. Should any player leave for any reasons, what would we do in that scenario?

"That is our approach to it."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Former Brighton striker Warren Aspinall believes Fabian Hurzeler's side must take all three points in their first game back after the international break this weekend against a depleted Sunderland.

The Black Cats have injury concerns over key duo Brian Brobbey, who scored a hat-trick away at Manchester City in his last game, and commanding defender Dan Ballard.

Aspinall added that Regis le Bris will also be disappointed if his side are without midfielder Noah Sadiki, who faced some fitness doubts while away for DR Congo.

Aspinall said on BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast: "The spine of the team has been ripped apart. Three valuable players like that are hard to replace. The goals from Brobbey, three in the last game he played in the Premier League against Man City, so he will be a big loss. Ballard for his set-plays, defending and attacking and Sadiki's athleticism.

"I think we have to go there and win. It's a must-win three points. I think they will be fluctuating towards the bottom end of the table, they won't get Europe again. It's a big ask. You have to go to these places and take them to the sword and move on."

The Seagulls secured a massive 3-0 win against reigning champions Arsenal before the break and Aspinall thinks Hurzeler won't change the way his side approached the home win as they travel to the Stadium of Light this weekend.

"I think he'll set his standards and I think you have to play that way the whole time," he said.

"I think it's the best we play when we play high-intensity football. Play the ball forward first of all, not sideways and back and that won't allow Sunderland to get back in their positions.

"The full-backs, when they get forward, play as wingers and that means there's space in behind and if we break and put pressure on them like we did against Arsenal, we can win the ball high up the pitch.

"I'm very confident we will win this game."

Listen to the full podcast below or on BBC Sounds

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A number of Premier League clubs want Manchester City to be hit with both "retrospective punishments" and sanctions for the future for their mass financial rule-breaking, sources have told BBC Sport.

An independent commission found City guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.

City have appealed against the verdict, while the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is poised to look at the findings to see if there may be any suggestions of potential misconduct.

However, there is said to be a consensus among a group of top-flight club executives that if City's appeal is unsuccessful, the sanctions should make reparations for the period when they broke the rules, while also limiting their powers in future.

There is also a feeling from at least four Premier League boardrooms that a "one-hit" points deduction resulting in relegation to the Championship would be an insufficient punishment given the severity of City's wrongdoing.

Read more on what rival clubs want

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Having been named the top-flight's player of the month for September, it leads to the question of whether Brighton midfielder Pascal Gross may be one of the best value-for-money signings in Premier League history.

In fact, the 35-year-old has effectively cost the Seagulls minus £3m - and been involved in 85 Premier League goals over two spells.

Nobody has been involved in more top-flight goals than Gross this season - six in five games.

He was Brighton's first Premier League signing in 2017 for a reported £3m from Ingolstadt and left for his boyhood club Borussia Dortmund in 2024 for £8m.

But in a surprise move he returned to Albion in January for about £1.7m.

Since Gross first joined Brighton nine years ago, only three players have created more chances in the division than his 562 - Bruno Fernandes, Kevin de Bruyne and Mohamed Salah.

And that includes the 18 months he was away from the Premier League.

Gross was Albion's first signing after they sealed promotion to the top flight.

A little-heralded German from relegated Ingolstadt, nobody could have anticipated the impact he, nor Albion, would go on to have.

Despite going home to join his beloved Borussia Dortmund two years ago and returning in January, he has played in 73% of Brighton's top-flight games since 1983.

"There's an argument Gross is pound-for-pound the best value player in the Premier League over the past 10 years, especially when you look at his goal involvements," said BBC Radio Sussex commentor Johnny Cantor.

"However, he also drives standards in training, sets a high bar and is a huge influence in the dressing room.

"He will surely be remembered as one of the best Albion players of the modern age."

Only Chelsea's Joao Pedro can match Gross' goal contributions this season in the top flight (both three goals, three assists).

Remarkably, Gross has run more in the Premier League (almost 60km, 37 miles) than any player except for Everton teenager Harrison Armstrong all season.

The midfielder - who retired from international football after the World Cup - has also played every single minute for Brighton in all competitions, eight games so far.

This form led to him being the sixth oldest player to be named Premier League player of the month.

Read the full article here

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Despite losing several senior players in the summer, Brighton sit third and have been the Premier League's most potent attacking force this season, leading the way for goals, expected goals and possession.

Long-range shooting has played a part, with Fabian Hurzeler's side scoring a league-high four goals from outside the box. That helps explain why they are the top flight's biggest overperformers in terms of finishing, scoring 16 times from an xG of 11.5.

That may not prove sustainable, but the Seagulls' pressing metrics suggest their strong start is built on more than just a hot streak in front of goal.

Just like last season, Brighton have the league's lowest figure for passes allowed per defensive action (PPDA). Their PPDA of 7.4 means opponents average approximately seven passes before Albion intervene, for example through a tackle, interception or foul.

Hurzeler is achieving that by fielding the league's third-highest defensive line, which compresses the pitch and enables the team to regain possession in dangerous areas.

Their open-play sequences begin an average of 47.4m from their own goal, which is the league's highest starting point and 6m above average. That approach is paying off, with Brighton recording more high turnovers than any other side, including 15 in their impressive 3-0 win over Arsenal.

The challenge for Hurzeler this autumn will be to maintain that intensity despite the additional demands of the Conference League.

Image source, Getty Images

It was a triple celebration for Brighton on Friday as the club completed a clean sweep of the Premier League awards for September.

Fabian Hurzeler picked up the manager of the month award, Lewis Dunk's stunning long-range strike at Coventry has been named goal of the month, while the impressive Pascal Gross secured player of the month.

The 35-year-old - in his second spell at the Seagulls - has been instrumental in the club's rise to third in the Premier League after five games.

Across the month, Gross scored twice and provided three assists in just three games, including finding the net and setting up a goal in the dominant 3-0 win over champions Arsenal.

Away from the league, he also scored in the 3-2 comeback Carabao Cup win against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Gross becomes the first Brighton player to win the Premier League player of the month award.