Brighton & Hove Albion

BBC pundit Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's games, he takes on former England striker Jermain Defoe.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

This was the game at the end of last season where Everton absolutely demolished Brighton. Sean Dyche's side were brilliant that night, and their win went a long way towards keeping them up.

Everton are badly in need of a repeat of that result this time, too. Although they have drawn three of their past four games, they haven't won in the Premier League since 16 December.

Brighton have been back in the goals recently after a spell at the start of the year where they could not score, but I am going to back Everton to nick this one.

They will have the same gameplan they used when they beat the Seagulls in May, which is to defend deep and counter-attack quickly. If it works again, they will win.

Jermain's prediction: 3-1

Read all of Sutton's predictions for this weekend's games

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi has spoken to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Everton.

Here are the main lines from his news conference:

• Kaoru Mitoma is a doubt because of a "problem with his back", which was suffered before last week's win against Sheffield United. He confirmed it is not related to Mason Holgate's challenge on Mitoma which saw the Blades defender dismissed.

• Reflecting on the Europa League draw which will see Brighton face Roma: "I want to keep my eyes on the Everton game and then we play in the FA Cup. Then we will think about Roma and the game in the Europa League. For sure it's a tough game, but if we want to go far then we have to win against Roma or another team."

• He said Everton "are a very good team" and their league position does not reflect their capability and "clear style of play".

• On what his side need to do to get a result against Sean Dyche's team: "We have to be ready to not concede on the counter attack, move the ball in the right way and be prepared to defend set-pieces. We have to win those second balls."

• De Zerbi said it is "difficult to understand" whether January signing Valentin Barco is ready to be in contention for first-team selection. He added: "We have to give him as much time to understand the new country and new style of play."

• Ansu Fati and Pervis Estupinan visited De Zerbi's home this week, where he cooked them pasta and told them how the club "are there to help the young players with big talent".

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences

The draw for the last 16 of this season's Europa League has been made.

Roberto de Zerbi's Brighton are set to face Roma, while Liverpool have been drawn against Sparta Prague and Europa Conference League holders West Ham will take on German club Freiburg over two legs.

Here is the full draw:

• Sparta Prague v Liverpool

• Marseille v Villarreal

• Roma v Brighton

• Benfica v Rangers

• Freiburg v West Ham United

• Sporting Lisbon v Atalanta

• AC Milan v Slavia Prague

• Qarabag v Bayer Leverkusen

The first legs are scheduled for 7 March and the second legs will be played a week later on 14 March.

Image source, Getty Images

Many teenagers dream of becoming a professional footballer - but only the minority actually achieve it.

The Football Extra Newsletter has been speaking to a member of the Secret Scout, external, who is a coach, scout and youth recruitment consultant with experience working at both club and international level. His identity remains a secret to protect his relationships in the football industry.

In recent years, we've seen teenagers like Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham breakthrough into the Premier League and on to the world stage. These 'wonderkids' have transitioned into first team football from their academies as young as 16-years-old, whilst many others go out on loan to get experience.

"Lewis Miley at Newcastle, he’s a perfect example," said the Secret Scout. "An outstanding player in an academy that hasn’t got the depth of quality that others do, so he’s going to get pushed. If he was at Chelsea or Man City it’s very unlikely he would have been pushed so much."

So how hard is it for club's to strike the balance between providing a pathway for young players to establish themselves, whilst continuing to push for titles?

"Spurs have some outstanding youth players: Tyrese Hall, Mikey Moore, Callum Olusesi are just a few to look out for. But Ange [Postecoglou] has to get the first team right and win football matches so when things are difficult he can say ‘look, I’ve done this just give me a chance’.

"After that, you can implement some youth players into the team because he’s earned that right."

Aside from those at Tottenham, the Secret Scout picked out Chelsea's Rio Nghuoma as one to look out for in the next few years.

"He’s a winger, only 15 but he’s played U21s football and plays for England. Outstanding, so, so tricky 1v1.

"Darius Lane from Brighton is another name to look out for. He’s a central midfielder, French-American and just got called up to represent America. He’s a box-to-box, all-action style player and another one that I think has a really good opportunity to make it if Brighton provide him with the pathway.

"Also look out for Dante Headley, he’s a right-back at Manchester City. Fin Gorman, an attacking midfielder, is another from City too."

And you can read more from The Football Extra Newsletter here

Brighton and Celtic are among several clubs watching Charlton Athletic's 18-year-old Irish forward Patrick Casey. (Football Insider, external)

Want more football gossip? Read Friday's full column

Here are the key facts and figures before Saturday's game between Brighton and Everton in the Premier League.

• The home side hasn’t won any of the last six Premier League meetings between Brighton and Everton (D2 L4), since a 4-2 victory for the Toffees at Goodison Park in October 2020.

• Nine of Brighton’s 10 Premier League wins this season have seen them score at least three goals. They have drawn five and lost four of their nine games when scoring only once in Premier League games this term.

• Everton have failed to win any of their last eight Premier League games (D4 L4) – the longest ongoing winless run in the division – having won six of their previous eight games before this run (D1 L1).

• Only Arsenal (11) have scored more goals from corners than Everton (10) in the Premier League this season. Excluding penalties, 52% of the Toffees overall goals have come from set pieces (14/27), the highest share in the competition this term.

• Brighton’s Pascal Gross has been involved in 10 goals in his last 13 Premier League games (2 goals, 8 assists), including four involvements in his last three appearances. His nine assists overall this term is the most by a Brighton player in a single Premier League campaign, while the last German player to reach double figures in a season was Leroy Sane in 2018-19 (10 assists).

A mini-league seems to have formed between the teams sitting 7th-11th in the Premier League table, but which of those can get into the European places?

I would be amazed if anyone can give me that answer at this moment in time with those teams. There are so many questions hanging over that battle - what kind of bounce, positive or negative, will teams have after recent results?

What turn around are we going to have from West Ham? Chelsea are showing little glimpses of improvement in performances at a time they need it so could quickly move up the table with their squad and attacking abilities. Wolves keep surprising everybody. If they went on and got into Europe this season, that would be unbelievable. To get ahead of Brighton, Newcastle, West Ham and Chelsea it would be amazing for Gary O'Neil and the side. With Newcastle, they have the squad togetherness and understanding with Eddie.

The truth is, who do I believe is going to be at the top of it come the end of the season? I really don't know. I couldn't call one, I couldn't say one team are the favourites. You might edge towards Newcastle United with that support they have and home form. When they just get themselves together a little bit, they probably edge it.

If you're looking at who needs those European places the most, that is difficult too.

Chelsea have underachieved if they don't get it, that is just a complete given. Brighton may say, 'well, we were open to push for that and we've got in a European position again'. Newcastle would have huge disappointment after last season. West Ham would look to achieve it and have been in a good position, but would they have said that they would finish above Newcastle United or Chelsea? I don't think they would, but the West Ham supporters will expect them to.

Because of the likes of Aston Villa this season, that's one team everyone can look at and say they have gone and delivered in a big way. You think about Brighton and the complete turn around of the players that they've had, they still just keep sitting nicely, contributing and they could finish seventh and that would be an unbelievable season for them.

Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Image source, PA Media

Brighton striker Danny Welbeck says it is a "massive plus" for the Seagulls to have wingers Simon Adingra and Kaoru Mitoma at their disposal again for the Premier League run-in.

Adingra, fresh from winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast, scored twice in Sunday's 5-0 victory at Sheffield United, while Mitoma has made two starts since returning from international duty with Japan at the Asian Cup.

Welbeck told BBC Radio Sussex: "It's great to have those two back from their respective competitions. They've got the ability, it's clear to see, when you put them in one-v-one positions they're very dangerous. It's a massive plus for us to have them back."

Meanwhile, midfielder Adam Lallana believes manager Roberto de Zerbi deserves huge credit for steering Brighton through a spell where players have been absent because of injuries or international duty.

He said: "Our manager has done ever so well to set us up in their absence without any full-backs or wingers really for six weeks. That's where Roberto shows how tactically clever he is. For example, the win against Spurs [in December] without having any full-backs or wingers was remarkable.

"It's great to have options, you always need a big squad to go deep in competitions. That's what my experience has taught me. The more bodies back, the merrier."

Listen to Albion Unlimited on BBC Sounds

Image source, PA Media

The departure of head of recruitment Sam Jewell will be a "blow" to Brighton, says BBC Radio Sussex reporter Johnny Cantor.

The Seagulls confirmed on Tuesday that Jewell had accepted a new position at Chelsea.

"It was kind of inevitable, we heard the rumours that it was in the offing and now it's a case of sorting out compensation," Cantor told the Albion Unlimited podcast.

"It will be a blow because I think he'd done really well in the role, particularly with his links in South America and what he achieved with bringing certain players over.

"It will be interesting to see how the club react. They always prepare for a potential replacement. Mike Cave [assistant technical director] is going to take over in the meantime, he's been there for a bit so he's got his feet under the table. Whether they will replace him [Jewell] with somebody else or promote from within, we'll have to wait and see.

"But certainly Jewell has been somebody that a lot of people have been talking about for a while and now it looks like he's moving to west London, as a fair few others have done in the past couple of years."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

The news was released at 10:00 GMT on Tuesday in a 49-word statement - succinct and to the point. Head of recruitment Sam Jewell is leaving for Chelsea.

Brighton could have cut and pasted their statement from Paul Winstanley, Jewell's predecessor, who also left for Stamford Bridge 16 months ago.

Manager Graham Potter also left Brighton for Chelsea, as did Ben Roberts, the goalkeeping coach and Kyle Macaulay, the recruitment analyst. They have also sold Marc Cucurella, Moises Caicedo and Robert Sanchez to them in the past two years for a combined £180m.

When you add in Alexis Mac Allister, Yves Bissouma, Neal Maupay, Leandro Trossard, Brighton have lost a seven-a-side team, their manager and his backroom staff in less than two years.

It is fair to assume more of their assets will be targeted this summer, including manager Roberto de Zerbi.

This is testament to Albion's structures. As someone from another Premier League club told me recently, everyone wishes they could do it like Brighton.

But how long can this last? How long can a club of Brighton's size continue to set new standards, while all the time being vulnerable to their staff and players being picked off?

That has to be a worry for owner Tony Bloom.

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton have confirmed that head of recruitment Sam Jewell has accepted an offer to join Premier League rivals Chelsea.

The 34-year-old had been involved in Albion's global talent-spotting, especially in South America.

A statement from Brighton said: "Sam has now commenced a period of gardening leave. We thank him for his long service to our club.

"With immediate effect, Mike Cave, assistant technical director, supported by George Holmes, scouting and intelligence manager, will assume Sam’s responsibilities."

Scott McCarthy
Fan writer

It was nice while it lasted. For six months, Todd Boehly and Chelsea seemed to have forgotten their obsession with the Albion and left Amex Stadium alone.

Having paid Brighton the best part of £230m for nine members of staff over the previous year, had the Blues finally learned their lesson that you cannot replicate the Seagulls’ success simply by throwing a huge amount of money around?

No appears to be the answer. Boehly is bringing Albion head of recruitment Sam Jewell to Stamford Bridge - just 15 months after he took Jewell’s predecessor as Albion head of recruitment, Paul Winstanley, to Stamford Bridge.

While the rest of football wonders why Tony Bloom always allows personnel to leave - as long as what he considers a good deal for Brighton is agreed - the answer to that question is very simple.

The people at the Amex are only cogs in a machine. It is the culture Bloom and deputy chairman Paul Barber have created at Brighton, and the systems in place, which allow the Albion to punch well above their weight (and sit above Chelsea in the Premier League table).

This is especially true of the recruitment department, which is so successful thanks to Bloom’s data-driven approach and algorithms. And while Winstanley and now Jewell are aware of how parts of the model work, Bloom is famously secretive and untrusting about letting anyone know how it all fits together.

It means that when Jewell goes, another head of recruitment - probably an internal appointment, in this case assistant technical director Mike Cave, assistant technical director - takes over. The wheel keeps turning and, in 15 months' time, Chelsea will probably try to poach the successor.

At some point, Boehly might realise the only way he can turn Chelsea into Chelsea & Hove Albion is by signing Bloom. And Bloom is not for sale... we hope.

Scott McCarthy can be found at We Are Brighton, external

We asked you for your thoughts on Sunday's Premier League match between Sheffield United and Brighton & Hove Albion. Here are some of your comments...

Blades fans

Stuart: The sending-off killed us, but it’s awful seeing the negative set up every week. Playing 5-4-1 makes no sense - the wide midfielders and wing-backs occupy the same space. No possession, no creativity, no desire, poor defending - battered. Rinse and repeat.

Richard: Holgate should be ashamed of himself. Absolute disgrace how he let the team down.

Nihal: Dreadful in every respect. Who takes off their only striker for another centre-back when you’re already 2-0 down?

Brighton fans

Paul: Brighton, win or lose, are exciting to watch and go from strength to strength. Coming back from a recent 4-0 drubbing, our reaction against Sheffield United was clinically efficient. Superb - and I strongly believe we can still make sixth place... at least.

Nicolas: That’s the Brighton from last season - ruthless on the attack. I think it mostly comes down to the attacking threat that Mitoma and Adingra bring, but everyone was superb.

Martin: A strong performance, especially as Brighton have not gained many points against teams near the bottom of the league. We became a little complacent after going two up but the second half was outstanding and Brighton could have scored more!

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton hit five goals past 10-man Sheffield United on Sunday and former Premier League striker Alan Shearer has admitted he "would love to be a forward" in Roberto de Zerbi's team on.

Shearer told Match of the Day 2: "I was watching this game thinking 'I would love to be a forward, in this position, with this Brighton team'.

"The way they operate, the way they get people into the box. More importantly for a forward, it's the way they get the ball into the box and they are quality balls.

"Both players either side [on the wings] have got the skill to go past players. They had a field day, they gave the full-backs a torrid time down the left-hand side and the right-hand side, whether they were going past them or putting balls into the box which makes it really difficult for defenders.

"But it makes it a lot easier for forwards when you know that your wide guys are going to put balls into the box, particularly early balls as well. Sometimes you just move it out of your feet, get it in the box and pick someone out. They did that all afternoon and it was a really tough day for Sheffield United.

"Brighton had the right attitude, they moved the ball a lot quicker, they made the pitch as big as they could with their wide men, and their wide men were brilliant."

Catch up on Match of the Day 2 here

Mark Chapman introduces highlights and analysis from Sunday's two Premier League matches.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries in full on BBC Sounds:

Sheffield United v Brighton

Luton v Man Utd

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has asked for more scouting reports on Roberto de Zerbi as he considers approaching the Brighton boss to succeed Xavi as manager at the end of the season. (Sport - in Spanish), external

Want more news? Read Monday's full gossip column

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The game swung in the 12th minute when Sheffield United's Mason Holgate caught Kaoru Mitoma in midfield with a horrific challenge just below the knee.

Holgate was shown a straight red, but even before his sending-off Roberto de Zerbi's side were routinely carving forward at will

Brighton's win is their biggest away from home in the top flight, and they have scored four or more goals seven times in all competitions this season.

Sunday's victory was only the Seagulls' second in the league in 2024, although they have won twice in the FA Cup, including a 5-2 triumph over United at Bramall Lane in the fourth round.

But they now have a real chance to start stringing a formidable run together.

Seventh-placed Brighton face teams from the bottom half of the table in their next five games.

And next up they host Everton on Saturday, a match De Zerbi will expect his side to win.

Roberto De Zerbi spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Brighton's victory against Sheffield United: "I'm delighted for the performance. It wasn't a real, real game because we played 75 minutes with the one player more. We are sorry for it because we would like to win 11 v 11."

"It's not our business [if the red card decision was correct], our business is to score and to play well and to be correct.

"I've not seen yet the situation, I can't say anything. It can happen because in the game at the Amex we finished the game with one player less. I know very well what it is like playing with a player less.

"Anyway I don't want to speak of the red card because I don't believe, I don't agree with that.

"We played with the right mentality, especially in the second half. We didn't concede counter-attacks. Sometimes you can lose if you are playing one player more. Football is strange, you can open the game when you think the game is closed.

"We are happy for [Simon] Adingra and [Kaoru] Mitoma. We missed them both a lot. We played without natural wingers. And so I am very happy when all my players are available."

• Sheffield United have conceded 65 goals in the Premier League this season, the most ever by a side in their first 25 matches of a campaign. In fact, it’s the most shipped by any side in their first 25 games of an English top-flight season since Ipswich Town in 1963-64 (70).

• This was Brighton and Hove Albion’s biggest ever margin of victory in an away top-flight match, and biggest on the road in any league outing since February 2000, when they won 7-1 at Chester City in the fourth tier.

• Brighton have had 12 Premier League goals scored by teenagers this season (excl. own goals), the most by a side in a campaign since West Brom in 2012-13 (14).

• Sheffield United have netted more own goals than any other side in the Premier League this season (4), while it’s also the most they’ve put through their own net in a campaign.

• Pascal Groß provided his ninth assist of the season in the Premier League, now the outright most by a Brighton player in a campaign. He created eight chances in this match, the second-most ever by a Brighton player in a Premier League game, behind his own tally of 10 v Watford in February 2019.

• Since the start of 2021-22, no player has been given more red cards in the Premier League than Sheffield United’s Mason Holgate (3). In the 13th minute, his was the earliest straight red card given to a player in a game since Nathaniel Chalobah for Fulham v Newcastle in October 2022 (8th min).