Image source, Getty ImagesBetween March and December 2023, Brighton scored in a club record 32 consecutive league games.
However, in the 22 games following that run the Seagulls failed to score on 10 occasions.
Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from the final 10 games of the Premier League season.
If you missed Sunday's Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer here.
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Ipswich Town say they are doing everything possible to keep manager Kieran McKenna amid growing interest from Brighton, Chelsea and Manchester United (Teamtalk), external
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Emily Salley
BBC Sport journalist
Image source, ReutersIt's been a rollercoaster weekend for Brighton.
Just 24 hours before their final game of the season, it was announced manager Roberto De Zerbi would be leaving the club.
Despite the short-notice of his surprise departure, Brighton fans came out in force with banners and chants to thank the man who gave them their best-ever top-flight finish and gifted them European football for the first time.
And it looked like the players, too, would give De Zerbi, along with departing teammate Adam Lallana, the perfect send off.
Adam Webster came agonisingly close with two headers, Joao Pedro should have fired home from close range, and Valentin Barco had the better of Aaron Wan Bissaka all afternoon.
However, the lack of a clinical goalscorer has been the story of Brighton's season and eventually Manchester United found a way through.
It was only a slight dampener on De Zerbi's leaving party, though, as the performance showed Brighton have a talented squad to carry them through a managerial change.
One thing is certain - whoever steps in to replace De Zerbi has very big shoes to fill.
Image source, ReutersMidfielder Adam Lallana, speaking to Sky Sports after his final appearance for Brighton: "It was an extremely disappointing result.
"In the first half I thought we played well, we had chances, even the first bit of the second half I had a chance, it was blocked.
"Two soft goals - it's kind of the story of the last three months for us, not being able to score enough goals when we have created the chances. It's just an anti-climax and we're gutted we couldn't give Roberto [de Zerbi] the send-off he deserved.
"I said earlier in the week it's important the fans stay patient with whoever the new manager is. Brighton have massively overachieved in the last few seasons and Roberto is a huge part of that. It's important we say thanks to him, because he was the gold dust on top. He got us to Europe, creating history here. So although it was disappointing, it is important we express our thanks to him."
On De Zerbi: "I'm extremely fortunate our paths crossed in the last couple of years. I will be forever grateful. It's a shame it hasn't ended in a fitting way but that's football and the football cub will move on without Roberto, without myself. I have extremely fond memories of this football club and that goes further than the performance this afternoon."
On captaining the side on his final appearance: "Pascal [Gross] said before the game he wanted me to lead the boys out and I was extremely honoured. You create such amazing friendships that goes beyond football results, points, achievements and in the end you leave. In the end I'm sure we will stay in contact. There's a few goodbyes with Roberto and Jurgen [Klopp at Liverpool] so it's a sad day, but a happy-sad day."
On Brighton's future: "You only have to look at the numbers, the turnover and the young talent out there. It is an extremely well-run football club and they'll bounce back for sure. It's a wonderful job for whoever is fortunate to take it."
Image source, PA MediaBrighton boss Roberto de Zerbi, speaking to BBC Match of the Day after his final game in charge ended in a 2-0 loss to Manchester United: "It was a tough day, a special day. I finish one of my greatest experiences, in terms of the relationship, it has been one of the most important experiences of my life.
"We did a great job, especially in the last season. In the first half of this season, we gave our best and gave every game our best. Sometimes we won, sometimes we lost. We have to be proud of this group of players over the two seasons."
On Sunday's performance: "We had a lot of chances to score, especially in the first half. In the first part of the second half, we were playing in the same way we closed the first half. But when you make mistakes in the last part of the pitch, it can happen against these big teams to lose the game and concede the goal."
On why he is leaving Brighton: "Listen, we didn't find the agreement to move on. We talked together at different parts of the season, I want to keep my way. I know very well what I want to do and I know I am a coach and I have to accept the policies of the club.
"I have no problem with the club or Tony [Bloom, Brighton owner]. I have to say thanks to Tony and his family, and [chief executive] Paul Barber and his family because I can't forget what they gave me. They gave me an incredible chance.
"They gave me the possibility to know incredible people, to play and to work in the Premier League, to play in the Europa League. They gave me the opportunity to know this club, this city, these fans and for that I cannot forget. I have to say thanks."
Here are the key facts and figures from Sunday's game between Brighton and Manchester United in the Premier League.
Sunday's match was Roberto de Zerbi's 70th and final Premier League game in charge of Brighton. Despite defeat for his side, he leaves with the highest win percentage in the English top flight of any Seagulls manager (37% - 26/70).
Manchester United won a Premier League away game without conceding for the first time since November 2023 against Everton (3-0), while this was their first league win away at Brighton since September 2020 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (3-2).
Despite their 2-0 victory, Manchester United ended a league campaign with a negative goal difference (57 scored, 58 conceded) for the first time since 1989-90 (-1 in both cases).
Rasmus Hojlund scored his 10th goal of the Premier League season for Manchester United, ending the campaign as the youngest player to reach double figures for goals (21y 105d).
Brighton made 143 changes to their starting XI in the Premier League this season. Only Manchester United in 2013-14 (144) and Manchester City in 2019-20 (144) have ever made more in a single campaign in the competition.
Rasmus Hojlund and Diogo Dalot helped Manchester United to a victorious end to the Premier League season with a 2-0 success at Brighton.
Despite the win, Erik ten Hag's side end the season eighth - their lowest top-flight finish since 1989-90.
Brighton, meanwhile, failed to give departing boss Roberto de Zerbi the perfect send-off, despite having the better chances and dominating possession.
Adam Webster and Joao Pedro came closest to putting the Seagulls ahead in the first half, but they each lacked the clinical edge to beat Andre Onana.
Brighton were left regretting missed chances when Dalot slotted past Jason Steele in the 73rd minute, before substitute Hojlund sealed the three points two minutes before the end of normal time.
What did you make of the game?
Brighton fans - who should succeed De Zerbi?, external
United fans - are you confident heading into next week's FA Cup final?, external
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All 20 teams are in action on the final day of the 2023-24 Premier League season, with the title winners, European spots and one relegation place still to be confirmed.
We asked for your views on the news head coach Roberto de Zerbi is to leave Brighton after Sunday's final game of the Premier League season.
Here are some of your comments:
Chris: Despite what he may think, he is not bigger than Brighton and with the strategy and how well run the club is, I am sure he will soon be a fond memory.
Jenny: Good luck to him. We were never big enough for his ego, but I do thank him for what he brought Brighton (plus his cards!). I was furious with Graham Potter but he has not gone anywhere else, he is still local and knows how to do it. I would be quite happy to welcome him back. I will not love him like I loved De Zerbi but, if the management and players can cope, then so can I!
Joe: It was always going to happen. De Zerbi had his head turned when Jurgen Klopp announced he was leaving Liverpool and since then, it was never really the same love affair between him and Brighton. Tony Bloom has been in this situation before, and his experience in this matter should be a positive in his search for the next boss.
Leo: De Zerbi's leaving because Brighton are not in Europe. They had an excellent season and they will qualify for Europe again. As for the next manager, Graham Potter would be a huge appointment. He deserves another go, as he has unfinished business. Klopp, maybe? Allegri is also available, too.
James: De Zerbi ran out of steam and goals. He spoke about going to another club if Brighton did not match his ambitions. Now he has no club.
Anton: Tony Bloom has done nothing but steer the Brighton ship right. He has made the club what it is today; a robust, lucrative entity that will never see it destroyed by money hungry commercialists. De Zerbi has been incredible but, so were Gus [Poyet], Chris [Hughton] and Graham [Potter]. Bloom and Barber knew who would fill De Zerbi's boots the day he took the job. In that I trust, end of.
Image source, PA MediaFootball finance expert and Brighton fan Kieran Maguire believes "there has clearly been some form of fall out" between boss Roberto de Zerbi and owner Tony Bloom for the Italian and the club to part ways.
Speaking on BBC Radio Sussex following the announcement that boss De Zerbi will leave the club after Sunday's game against Manchester United,, Maguire said: "I was probably just as surprised as everybody else!
"Things seemed to be moving slowly forwards and the articles we have seen in the newspapers reflected that too, so I am taken aback.
"It is the timing too because doing it 24 hours before the end of the season seems very strange. But we know at the Albion there is always a plan and strategy, so they must know what they are doing.
"It will be very sad but you have got to have everybody working together and there has clearly been some form of fall out between himself and Tony Bloom.
"But it has been absolutely brilliant, and like the vast majority of Albion fans, I am sad to see him go."
Image source, Getty ImagesRoberto de Zerbi will lead Brighton out for the final time on Sunday, following the announcement of his imminent departure from the Premier League club on Saturday.
The Seagulls boss, who only addressed the media on Friday in a pre-match conference before Brighton host Manchester United, had played down the speculation of him leaving in recent weeks.
Therefore, it has come as a "massive shock" to many fans.
Talk Seagulls host Ryan Adsett told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast: "I am still pretty speechless!
"Not many people would have thought from his Friday press conference that he would be going, so it is a shock to Brighton fans.
"I really wanted to avoid a situation like this and just have a summer to build, but the summer has not even opened yet and here we are needing a new manager.
"I believe in the club to do the right thing because there is that element of trust there. But at the same time, there is that worry about how some of the players will react going into the transfer window. No one really knows anything now until it happens. That is the uncertainty that I wanted to avoid."
After replacing Graham Potter in September 2022, Brighton finished sixth last season, with the club's highest ever top-flight finish securing European qualification for the first time in their history.
"On the most part, everyone will look back on the good times," added Adsett. "I do not think there will be too many fans that look back with any spite. I hope not anyway, because there has been a lot of good memories that will be written into the history books of the football club."
Scott McCarthy
Fan writer
The announcement that Roberto de Zerbi is to leave Brighton is that strangest of things: an unsurprising shock.
The Albion board do not take well to public criticism, so from the moment De Zerbi questioned the club's transfer plans and said those at the top would need to learn lessons from the 2023-24 season, it felt like he had cooked his own goose.
Gus Poyet went the same way 12 years ago, although Brighton have at least avoided a repeat of another messy and undignified divorce. It was also easier to understand the decision to dispense with Poyet in the face of a disappointing Championship play-off semi final defeat by Crystal Palace.
Despite De Zerbi's questioning of the ownership, I thought he would have enough credit in the bank.
To lead the Albion to sixth place in 2022-23 was a phenomenal achievement. This season, he has delivered unforgettable victories in Europe over Marseille, AEK Athens, Ajax and Roma.
Domestic performances do not warrant him leaving Brighton either. At the start of the season, most Albion fans would have settled for a 10th-place finish and a decent Europa League run.
Everyone knew the challenges clubs face when qualifying for Europe for the first time. Throw in a crippling injury list and De Zerbi has done a fine job.
There was excitement over what 2024-25 would hold with him at the helm.
With a fully fit squad and some shrewd acquisitions, and without the additional workload of European football, the Albion stood every chance of getting back to the flowing De Zerbi-ball which took the Premier League by storm in his first season.
It was the best football ever played by a Brighton team.
Now there are just questions. Only time will tell if this is the right decision for the club.
Tony Bloom has an excellent track record - Sami Hyypia aside - when it comes to appointing managers.
This next is one he must get right.
De Zerbi's boots are big ones to fill after he had the Seagulls soaring to the highest heights supporters have ever known.
Never dull, being a Brighton fan.
Scott McCarthy can be found at We Are Brighton, external
We asked for your views on the news head coach Roberto de Zerbi is to leave Brighton after Sunday's final game of the Premier League season.
Here are some of your comments:
Sam: Very sad news but it was always going to happen. De Zerbi is just too good for us. Luckily we can trust that Tony Bloom will bring in the best man for the job and get us going again.
Louis: RDZ was fantastic. He took us to new heights, setting the standard for future Brighton managers and their squads. He will be a hard act to follow. That being said, I think this might be the best move for all parties. He asked a lot of a fairly shallow squad and you wondered if they could sustain the trajectory he set them on. All the best, Rob!
Andy: Not totally unexpected. I don't think all the injuries this season are down to playing so many games. De Zerbi was brilliant last season, but this year he seemed devoid of a plan B once other clubs worked out 'the Brighton way'. Time for a fresh face and to push on up the table. Just hope he doesn’t poach all the best players, wherever he ends up!
Busual: He spent too much time talking about Chelsea and how they bought their players. Brighton made far more than the players are worth. When we thought he was a likeable man, he started running his mouth unnecessarily.
Sam: Some good times but I feel the past few months have led to this point. He was first asked about his future months ago and didn't commit to us. Now there are no other offers on the table, it seems he wanted to commit and talk about how great the club is. Tony Bloom is the man, not him. He breaks the model for nobody. Ask Chelsea!.
Daz: While it's disappointing, it does bear the hallmarks of Antonio Conte at Spurs, and as the club is bigger than one member of the team, off he will go. I'd like to see Thomas Tuchel come in. He has the big game, big club experience that would propel us into the regular European football Bloom has targeted. However, money will be an issue too big, I fear.
Tony: Brighton's success has been built on the back of the work done by Graham Potter. He is the obvious replacement to take the next step, if he is willing to do so.
Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter
It was only on Wednesday that my extensive interview with Brighton chief executive Paul Barber was published.
It included the following key quote about Roberto de Zerbi: "He understands what our limitations are. Behind the scenes, our model is very well known to him. We won't break that model for anyone."
The model has taken Brighton from the depths of the Football League and into Europe. Owner Tony Bloom is clear sighted and has a vision in which he sees the club as top-10 material. They may achieve that this season.
But Brighton is Bloom's long-term project. Barber has just signed a contract to 2030.
Brighton are refusing to say what triggered Saturday's announcement, but you only have to read De Zerbi's quotes for the biggest clue.
He said: "We have agreed to end my time at Brighton so that the club and I can continue to work in the way that suits each of us best, following our own ideas and visions."
So, either the Italian has no faith in the project or, more likely, he is not convinced it will deliver on his aspirations quickly enough.
His stock has risen considerably during his 18 months at the Amex. He will not be short of suitors this summer and is now free to take the offer he thinks is best.
Brighton will move on. In my chat with him, Barber also said he is obsessive about forward planning.
There is no chance he will be coming at this situation from a standing start.
Burnley boss Vincent Kompany was linked with Brighton last month. Ipswich Town's Kieran McKenna is bound to be on their radar. And, interestingly, former Albion boss Graham Potter has just turned down Ajax.
Do not be surprised if Brighton have someone in place relatively quickly.
That is conjecture. What is not is that whoever De Zerbi's replacement is, he will work to Bloom's plan, not the other way round.
So, Roberto de Zerbi is leaving Brighton after just under two years in charge following the game against Manchester United at Amex Stadium on Sunday.
How has the news left you feeling, Albion fans? Is it the right time for a parting of the ways? And how do you described the Italian's spell on the south coast?
BBC Sport understands that one manager on Brighton's list to replace De Zerbi is likely to be Kieran McKenna, who has just won promotion to the Premier League with Ipswich Town.
Who would you like to see take over next?
Chris Sutton is making predictions for every Premier League game this season against a variety of guests.
For this weekend’s final games of the season, he takes on Gladiators star Legend.
Sutton's prediction: 2-1
I've been talking for a while now about how the season has fizzled out for Brighton and Roberto de Zerbi, and their poor form continued against Chelsea on Wednesday.
The Seagulls can still secure a top-10 finish with a win here though, and things cannot be too bad if that counts as a disappointing campaign for them.
Fair play to Manchester United for getting over the line against Newcastle United on Wednesday, but they are still only in eighth place. If they finish there, it will be a pretty accurate reflection of their season.
Legend's prediction: 1-2
It is between Chelsea, Newcastle United and Manchester United for sixth and seventh place - and the final European slots.
I am so torn there because I actively dislike all three of those teams. With United that feeling is just inherent but, weirdly, out of those three teams I would rather they got into Europe.
They are going to concede goals but they do still look dangerous going forward, and Brighton are struggling.
Read all of Sutton’s predictions for the final day of the season here
Image source, Getty ImagesRoberto de Zerbi says he is "very proud" of the "past two historic seasons", as it was announced he would leave Brighton by mutual agreement after their final game of the season against Manchester United on Sunday.
The 44-year-old former Shakhtar Donetsk coach joined the Seagulls in September 2022 on a four-year contract, after Graham Potter left for Chelsea.
He guided them to their highest Premier League finish in 2022-23 and then to the last 16 of the Europa League this season - the club's first in Europe.
"I am very sad to be leaving Brighton," said De Xerbi.
"But I am very proud of what my players and staff have achieved with the support of everyone at the club and our amazing fans in the past two historic seasons.
"We have agreed to end my time at Brighton so that the club and I can continue to work in the way that suits each of us best, following our own ideas and visions, as well as our work and human values.
"I have really enjoyed an intense and challenging two years working in the Premier League, not least competing in four major competitions this season.
"Leaving now provides me with time to take a break before deciding on my future plans."
Albion chairman Tony Bloom praised De Zerbi for "leading the club to new heights" and said making the announcement now gives Brighton "the earliest opportunity to plan for next season".
He added: "I am sure our fans will give Roberto and his staff a wonderful and fully deserved send off at the Amex before, during and after tomorrow's match."
"I'd like to thank Roberto and his staff for all their hard work in the past two seasons. They all leave our club on good terms and with our very best wishes for the future."
