Are 'breathtaking' Brighton in title race?published at 09:04 BST
09:04 BST
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Match of the Day pundits Shay Given and Dion Dublin analyse Brighton's emphatic 5-0 victory over Crystal Palace, with Dublin saying the Seagulls could be in the title race.
"What we've seen from them this season has been togetherness and harmony," Dublin said. "The manager is making good decisions and [Pascal] Gross is leading the line on the pitch.
"What is going on on the pitch is the right way they want to play and everybody is chipping in with goals. They look like a very frightening team at the moment."
Goalscoring Brighton only bettered by Barcapublished at 08:27 BST
08:27 BST
Michael Emons BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Brighton have never finished higher than sixth in English football's top flight, but now have 16 points from seven matches, with fan hopes rising that they could make a real push for Champions League qualification, or even a title challenge.
Their tally of 23 top-flight goals is four more than league leaders Manchester City, and more than double the 11 of reigning champions Arsenal.
Since the top flight was rebranded as the Premier League in 1992, only three sides have scored more goals across their first seven games of a season - Arsenal in 2009-10 (24), Manchester United in 2011-12 (24), and Manchester City in 2019-20 (27).
In the top five European leagues, only Barcelona, with 39 goals from nine La Liga matches, have more domestic league goals than Brighton.
With 10 different goalscorers, Brighton, third in the table, have also been the great entertainers of the season so far.
They won their opening league game 4-0 against an Aston Villa side that came fourth in 2025-26 and Fabian Hurzeler's team have shown that was not a one-off. Results since have included winning 5-0 at Coventry, 3-0 against Arsenal, 2-0 at Sunderland despite having a man sent off, and now 5-0 against rivals Palace.
In the Carabao Cup, they fought back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Old Trafford and eliminate Manchester United. In Europe, they have justified their position as Conference League favourites, putting four past both Norwegian side Tromso and Lithuanian champions Kauno Zalgiris.
For Fabian Hurzeler, the youngest permanent manager in Premier League history when he was appointed in June 2024 at the age of 31, the atmosphere at the Amex could not have been any more different to their previous match with Crystal Palace.
When the Eagles won 1-0 in February, Brighton were 14th, had only won one of 12 league games with the home fans chanting "you're getting sacked in the morning" at their own boss.
Therefore, it is no surprise that Hurzeler is not getting carried away at his side's good form.
He was quick to shut down any talk that Brighton could be involved in the Premier League title race and said: "We have to stay very humble. The season will be long.
Brighton 5-0 Crystal Palace: What Hurzeler and Dunk saidpublished at 17:32 BST 18 October
17:32 BST 18 October
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Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler told BBC Sport: "Very happy for our fans. They waited long enough for this feeling. I'm happy for the staff and the whole club. Another good performance, another clean sheet.
"We played in the flow. To get in the flow, you have to do the simple things right. Be intense, win personal duels, second balls, be good at set-pieces."
On Diego Gomez's goal: "That's not simple to score a goal like this. Everyone speaks about his goal, but to me the most important thing is the things we can improve, small, easy passes we missed. It's good to celebrate the win, but understand there is still space for improvement, especially for individual players.
"We have to keep going. We can't be satisfied. We have to keep pushing, stay humble and understand why we are successful at the moment to keep pushing at that level."
More on Gomez's goal: "We don't train shots from 50 metres. Overall, we know he has a really good finish. In these moments it's about being very precise with his long kick. The perception to recognise the keeper and being quick to go to the action was impressive.
"We have just played six games. We have to stay very humble. The season will be long.
"It's a special game, especially for me, because now I'm really part of this club and part of this journey. I'm more happy that the fans have a good night out."
Brighton defender Lewis Dunk, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "It was unbelievable. From the first minute to the last, we were the better side, and we showed what we were about at this moment of time. The intensity, the passion and everything we're doing at the moment is in a high place."
On Diego Gomez's goal: "He's got a hammer-foot and as soon as it left his today I was right behind him and I knew it was in. Unbelievable goal. He's playing with a lot of confidence, and he's showing it out there."
On whether Brighton are in a title race: "That's up to you to do that. That's not my job. We've just got to focus on the next game we've got to go to on Thursday. We've got a big game in the Conference League and another on Sunday and that's all we can focus on. I'll let you do the talking on that."
Did you know?
Brighton and Hove Albion have scored 23 Premier League goals this season – their most ever at this stage of a campaign in the top four tiers. Indeed, only Barcelona have scored more goals than the Seagulls across the big-five leagues this term (39).
Only Lamine Yamal (14) has been directly involved in more goals among teenagers across Europe's big-five leagues this season than Brighton and Hove Albion's Charalampos Kostoulas (5 – 3 goals, 2 assists).
Listen to more match reaction from Pascal Gross below or on BBC Sounds
Goal of the season contender has Seagulls fans in dreamlandpublished at 16:16 BST 18 October
16:16 BST 18 October
Michael Emons BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
This victory continued a superb start to the season for Fabian Hurzeler's Brighton.
The Seagulls had drawn one and lost three of their past four matches against the Eagles, but this result was wrapped up inside the opening 10 minutes.
In-form midfielder Pascal Gross swung in a free-kick from the left wing and Jaydee Canvot headed into his own net at the near post to give the hosts a dream start.
Diego Gomez then produced his moment of magic, which left team-mates, supporters and pundits stunned.
"It's an amazing goal," said Match of the Day pundit Shay Given, a former Newcastle goalkeeper. "It was reminiscent of David Beckham [for Manchester United versus Wimbledon in 1996].
"I don't even blame Walter Benitez the goalkeeper. We're always talking about sweeper goalkeepers and you've got to be high up for the through ball and the defence playing a high line. I think his position was fine.
"You've just got to take your hat off to Gomez. That is just a brilliant, brilliant goal."
Meanwhile, former Premier League striker Efan Ekoku, part of the commentary team on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra called the strike "the goal of the season so far".
Brighton fans were in ecstasy again shortly after with Yasin Ayari making it 3-0. It was the earliest a side had scored three goals in a Premier League game since Newcastle in their 6-1 win over Tottenham in April 2023.
Fabian Hurzeler's side have been hugely entertaining this season and second-half goals from Charalampos Kostoulas and Jack Hinshelwood took the team's tally to nine goals in four days – this win following on from putting four past Lithuanian side Kauno Zalgiris in the Conference League on Thursday.
Brighton are the top scorers in the Premier League, and this was another hugely impressive result after already beating Aston Villa 4-0, reigning champions Arsenal 3-0 and 5-0 away at Coventry City.
It was also their biggest win over Crystal Palace since a 5-0 success on 14 January, 1956. That victory came when both sides were in the old Division Three South.
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on your smart speaker. Just say "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Nottingham Forest v Arsenal" or "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Brighton match", for example.
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I don't see the Eagles getting anything here, though, because Brighton are absolutely flying at the moment.
The Seagulls showed great resilience to hold on at 1-0 with 10 men in their win against Sunderland last week and ended up scoring a second goal right at the end too.
Again, both teams play in Europe on Thursday so they will have to find the right balance with their team selections - but I don't see it affecting Brighton any more than it will Palace.
