BRIGHTON (REUTERS) - Brighton & Hove Albion extended their winless run in the Premier League to eight games when they were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Leeds United on Saturday (Nov 27). The hosts dominated the first half, in which they spurned some glorious chances, and carved out the best opportunities in the second half but Leeds clung on for a point. Brighton were twice denied by the woodwork as they managed 20 goal attempts to the 10 of Leeds but were left frustrated as they drew for the sixth time in their 13 league games. Leeds, still missing several key attacking players, earned a first away clean sheet of the season and might have claimed a smash-and-grab raid with a few late chances. Brighton moved above Manchester United into eighth place with 18 points while Leeds remain in 17th spot, three points above the relegation zone, although they could drop into it if Burnley beat Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. More on this topic Related Story Football: Valiant Brighton fight back from two goals to hold Liverpool to a draw Related Story Football: High-flying Brighton earn 2-1 victory over Leicester
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND (REUTERS) - Manchester City enjoyed a rampant 4-1 victory at Brighton & Hove Albion helped by England midfielder Phil Foden’s double in their Premier League match on Saturday (Oct 23). After losing their first seven Premier League games against City by an aggregate score of 21-2, in the last meeting between the teams in May Brighton came from 2-0 down to win 3-2. But, despite making their best-ever start to a top-flight season this term, Brighton had no answer to the City machine in the first half as the visitors had the job all but done inside 31 minutes. The win moved them up to second in the standings. Pep Guardiola’s side battered the Brighton goal from the start, racing into a 13th minute lead through Ilkay Gundogan after a mistake from home goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. City soon extended their lead as Foden got his first of the match, steering Jack Grealish’s square pass into the net in the 28th minute, before the 21-year-old got the final touch on Gabriel Jesus’ shot to make it 3-0 three minutes later. The visitors took their foot off the gas in the second period, with Alexis Mac Allister’s penalty nine minutes from time giving Brighton a consolation goal. City substitute Riyad Mahrez put the icing on the cake with the fourth goal in stoppage time, sealing a win that moved the champions to 20 points, two points above Liverpool, who visit Manchester United on Sunday, and within two points of Chelsea. Brighton stay fourth on 15 points from nine games. Good lesson “I know what it means coming here against this team, against this manager and this stadium and win here,” Guardiola said. “It is a good lesson that in football it must be played with the ball and when you don’t have it you suffer. Brighton are so hard to play against for 90 minutes. Against another opponent the game would be over (at 3-0), against this team it was not over.” Brighton’s Lewis Dunk had already had to make an acrobatic goal-line clearance to keep City at bay before Gundogan broke the deadlock, with Bernardo Silva hooking the ball into the German’s path after Sanchez had failed to gather a cross. Brighton had only conceded six goals in eight league games prior to City’s visit, but they had soon shipped two more, thanks to Foden. City finished the first half having had nine shots on target – more than any other side in a Premier League match this season – but it was Brighton who started stronger after the break, with Leandro Trossard denied by a smart save from Ederson. The home side did get a deserved goal through substitute Mac Allister, after Ederson fouled Enock Mwepu in the penalty area, with Foden missing another chance to net his first City treble before he picked out Mahrez to fire home the fourth.
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND (REUTERS) - Brighton & Hove Albion created a slew of chances but failed to get many of them on target as they were held to a 0-0 draw by a rudderless Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday (Oct 2). On a wet, blustery evening, Arsenal's Bukayo Saka got the game off to a promising start with a raid down the right and a shot straight at Robert Sanchez in the opening minute, but it was one of few chances for the visitors in a dismal attacking performance. Brighton defender Lewis Dunk fluffed a golden chance to give the home side the lead in the 21st minute, blazing the ball high over the bar after it was spilled by Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale. The Seagulls dominated the opening 45 minutes but it was Arsenal who went closest to scoring as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang headed against the post from a tight angle during a rare first-half attack. The home side were sharper all over the field, their incisive passing and quick movement pulling the Arsenal defence all over the place, and the visitors' limited attacks were short-lived as Brighton won the ball back and began again. Named on the left of a five-man midfield, Brighton's Spanish defender Marc Cucurella put in a superb performance up and down that flank, taking part in attacks and getting back to snuff out any counters. But for all their possession, Brighton struggled to get shots on target and they were almost punished when Emile Smith Rowe broke away in the 75th minute, but Sanchez was able to steer his shot behind for a corner. With the final whistle approaching, Brighton turned the screw as they created a flurry of late chances, but the Arsenal rearguard held firm despite conceding 21 goal-scoring opportunities to claim a scarcely-deserved point. "It was a difficult game, they made it hard and we have to give credit to them," said Arsenal's Ramsdale. "We have got to get around that, we have to show more composure and intensity on the ball and make it harder for them." The result sees Brighton rise to fifth in the table on 14 points after seven games, two behind leaders Chelsea. Arsenal, who have only managed five goals in their opening seven league games, are ninth on 10 points.
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND (REUTERS) - Brighton and Hove Albion moved joint top of the Premier League as first-half goals by Shane Duffy and Neal Maupay earned them a comfortable 2-0 home win against Watford on Saturday (Aug 21). Defender Duffy struck with a bullet header from a corner after 10 minutes to give the hosts the perfect start. Watford then gifted Brighton their second a few minutes before the interval when they lost the ball trying to play out from the back and Maupay curled home. The visitors did improve after the break and had a goal by Emmanuel Dennis ruled out for offside, but Brighton were comfortably the better side as they moved to six points. It is the first time Brighton have started a top-flight season with back-to-back wins, and the only blemish was an injury to Maupay who did not come back out for the second half after appearing to hurt his shoulder. Graham Potter’s well-drilled Brighton side were in command once Duffy, who suffered a difficult last season on loan at Celtic, rose highest to power in a Pascal Gross corner. Brighton’s second was a gift as Yves Bissouma pounced on a sloppy pass by Watford defender William Ekong and touched the ball through to Maupay who beat Daniel Bachmann with ease. It was a case of back to reality for Watford who marked their return to the top flight last week with a 3-2 win over Aston Villa at Vicarage Road. But for Brighton manager Graham Potter these are heady days with his side looking capable of residing in the top half. “Back to back wins at any stage are hard to achieve. We are in a good place, but it is just a start,” he said. On Maupay’s injury Potter said: “It’s early, but we are hopeful. Days more than weeks. But it is disappointing for him as he was doing really well.” Watford manager Xisco Munox took heart from a better second half display but said his side must learn from their mistakes. “Everybody knows the Premier League is the best league in the world,” he said. “It’s important everybody stays together. “I promise you we’re working very, very hard. It’s one step back, but we have to try to make two steps forward.”
LONDON (REUTERS) - Arsenal have agreed a deal in principle to sign Brighton & Hove Albion defender Ben White for £50 million (S$93 million), British media reported on Saturday (July 17). Sky Sports reported Brighton have added a sell-on clause for White, who was a late call up to Gareth Southgate's England squad for the European Championship. White did not feature at the Euros as England lost to Italy in the final. After being released by Southampton in 2014, White secured a move to Brighton and made an impact at the south coast club following loan spells with Newport County, Peterborough United and Leeds United. White was one of the standout performers for Graham Potter's Brighton last season, making 36 Premier League appearances in the heart of the defence. Mikel Arteta's Arsenal are looking to strengthen their back line after finishing eighth in the league last season and missing out on European football for the first time since the 1994-95 season. Meanwhile, Brighton confirmed winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh has completed a permanent move to Dutch side Feyenoord on a three-year contract. The Iran international joined Brighton from Eredivisie outfit AZ Alkmaar in 2018 but struggled for regular first-team chances, scoring four goals in 61 appearances in all competitions. "Ali has been a very good professional and great to work with, but this move is a good one and gives him the chance of more regular game time, which is not something we are able to guarantee," Potter said in a statement. "I'd like to thank Ali for his hard work during my time here and wish him all the best for the future." More on this topic Related Story Football: Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs to play friendlies in support of mental health Related Story Football: Manchester United, Arsenal tumbled in value during Covid-19 pandemic
BRIGHTON (REUTERS) - Brighton & Hove Albion scored three times in the second half to fight back from two goals down and beat Manchester City 3-2 at home on Tuesday (May 18) in a thrilling Premier League encounter in which the champions lost Joao Cancelo to an early red card. Ilkay Gundogan struck in the second minute, heading home a superb cross from Riyad Mahrez to briefly silence just under 8,000 Brighton fans who had been allowed to return to the stands following over a year away due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Cancelo saw red in the 10th minute for a clumsy challenge on Danny Welbeck, but City struck again three minutes into the second half as Phil Foden won the ball inside his own half and out-sprinted the Brighton defence before slotting home his 15th goal of the season in all competitions. Brighton's amazing comeback began almost immediately, with substitute Leandro Trossard dribbling across the box and drilling the ball in at the far post as the Seagulls began to make the most of their numerical advantage. Adam Webster drew them level in the 72nd minute with a towering header before Dan Burn notched the winner four minutes later, scooping the ball into the net after his initial effort was blocked. Brighton survived a late VAR check following Adam Lallana's challenge in the box on Gabriel Jesus and a late City onslaught to secure a win that lifts Graham Potter's side to 15th spot in the table on 41 points. More on this topic Related Story Football: Brighton beat Leeds to all but secure Premier League safety Related Story Football: Man City's new generation lay foundation for golden era
SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND (REUTERS) - A first-half goal by David McGoldrick gave Sheffield United a bittersweet 1-0 win home over Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday (April 24) a week after the Blades were relegated from the Premier League. Sheffield United lost any chance of staying in the top flight after a 1-0 defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers in the previous round but they left struggling Brighton with work to do if they are to avoid joining them in the Championship. The result left the Seagulls 16th on 34 points from 33 games, seven ahead of 18th-placed Fulham who occupy the final relegation spot with five games remaining. Sheffield United stayed bottom on 17 points. McGoldrick netted in the 19th minute after Brighton's defence failed to clear the danger and the home team's striker beat goalkeeper Robert Sanchez with a smart left-footed shot on the turn from eight metres. Sheffield goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale twice denied Neal Maupay, who also skied a shot from three metres with the goal at his mercy after Brighton midfielder Jakub Moder had a goal disallowed for offside in the build-up. Yves Bissouma and Jose Izquierdo also came close for Brighton but the home side held on in the closing stages.
BRIGHTON (REUTERS) - Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton fought out a 0-0 draw in a dour Premier League clash on Monday (April 12) after neither side managed to create any clear-cut chances with defences dominating at the Amex stadium. The result left Everton eighth on 48 points from 30 games while Brighton moved one place up to 15th on 33 points from 31 games, seven ahead of the relegation zone with 18th-placed Fulham on 26 points from 32 matches. Brighton had the upper hand in the first half and twice came close as Neal Maupay had a low shot deflected by Yerry Mina while Yves Bissouma fired over the bar with an acrobatic overhead kick from a tight angle. Jakub Moder blazed a first-time shot off target after a corner midway through the second half as Brighton continued to press before Maupay volleyed wide from inside the penalty area. Everton were forced to defend desperately as their keeper Robin Olsen tipped over a Lewis Dunk header in the 78th minute and the visitors also needed several frantic clearances in the closing stages to scrape a draw. Everton, who were looking to set a club record of 10 away Premier League wins in a season, nearly snatched victory out of the blue in stoppage time as substitute Alex Iwobi shot inches over the crossbar.
MANCHESTER (REUTERS) - Manchester United edged closer to a top-four finish in the Premier League after Mason Greenwood headed an opportunist late winner to secure a 2-1 home win over struggling Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday (April 4). Former United striker Danny Welbeck had headed Brighton into a 13th-minute lead before Marcus Rashford equalised in the 62nd minute and Greenwood popped up on the edge of the six-yard box to complete the Old Trafford side’s comeback in the 83rd. The result left second-placed United on 60 points from 30 games, 14 behind leaders Manchester City who have played a game more and four ahead of third-placed Leicester City. Brighton stayed 16th on 32 points, six points above the relegation zone. United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was pleased with his side’s hard-fought win and said David De Gea and England’s Dean Henderson, picked ahead of the Spaniard, were now neck-and-neck in the pecking order for first-choice goalkeeper. “It’s always difficult to play Brighton,” Solskjaer told the BBC. “We have had good results and we’ve had to earn them the hard way. We managed to find a way in the second half. “We had to come in at halftime and compose ourselves as we didn’t create much after they scored.” “I’ve got two great keepers, two numbers ones. David de Gea spent a while back home and then he had internationals so he hadn’t played for about a month. He’ll definitely play football for us again.” Static defence Welbeck fired Brighton ahead with a composed finish after Henderson saved his initial header with United’s static defence giving him time and space to pick his spot after Neal Maupay swung in a cross from the right. Lewis Dunk shaved the crossbar for Brighton with a 19th-minute header and Jakub Moder also came close for the visitors on the stroke of halftime before United moved up a gear in the second half. Rashford levelled when he took a Bruno Fernandes pass in his stride and beat goalkeeper Robert Sanchez with a clinical side-footed finish into the far corner from inside the penalty area. Maupay’s shot flashed across the face of goal in the 72nd before Greenwood got on the end of a speculative Paul Pogba volley in the 83rd to find the net and turn the tide as Dunk was unable to clear his header off the line. Visiting manager Graham Potter conceded Brighton were still far from assured of staying in the top flight. “I’m confident in terms of the team, the way we’re playing and the personality in the team but until you get the points you can never relax,” he said. “We took the lead and were probably the team which carried the most threat in the first half. We just missed that final pass. Man United responded in the second half without creating too many chances. They scored from not too much.” More on this topic Related Story Solskjaer must start winning games that matter
BRIGHTON (REUTERS) - Brighton & Hove Albion took a stride towards Premier League safety and left Newcastle United deep in the relegation mire after a 3-0 home victory in the basement battle on Saturday (March 20). Leandro Trossard's lethal finish gave Brighton the lead just before halftime and Danny Welbeck matched that with a sumptuous curler six minutes after the restart. Newcastle's misery was complete when Neal Maupay's sharp finish made it 3-0 with around 20 minutes remaining. Sixteenth-placed Brighton's second successive victory put them on 32 points from 29 games, six points above third-from-bottom Fulham who have also played one game more. Newcastle, without a league win in six games, are 17th and only two points ahead of Fulham, albeit with a game in hand. It was the sort of night that has summed up Newcastle's season as shortly before going behind, they lost midfielder Isaac Hayden to what looked a serious leg injury after an accidental collision with Brighton's Yves Bissouma. And just a minute before Welbeck struck they were denied an equaliser when Ryan Fraser's curling effort struck the post. Newcastle could have few complaints though as Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez did not have to make a save.
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND (REUTERS) - Leicester City climbed back into second place in the Premier League as they came from a goal down to win 2-1 at Brighton & Hove Albion thanks to a late goal by Daniel Amartey on Saturday (March 6). Adam Lallana scored his first goal for Brighton in the 10th minute and was close to adding a second when he hit the post with a header before halftime. An impressive Brighton also had a goal disallowed in the first half but Leicester improved after the break and Kelechi Iheanacho equalised in the 62nd minute. The hosts looked nervy late on and Amartey stooped to head in from close range in the 88th minute. It was tough on Brighton, who remained down in 16th position, three points above the relegation zone after three narrow defeats in a row. Injury-hit Leicester, now unbeaten in 10 league away games, moved two points ahead of Manchester United into second place with 53 points from 28 games. United face runaway leaders Manchester City on Sunday. “The first half was not good enough at all. It was not difficult to do better in the second half,” Leicester midfielder Youri Tielemans, who set up the equaliser, said. “It feels like a very big result.” With injuries to key players such as James Maddison taking their toll, there have been signs that Leicester were beginning to falter having looked on course for a top-four finish. Defeat by Arsenal and a draw with Burnley in their last two games had raised doubts and they struggled throughout the first half. When Neal Maupay played in Lallana with a clever pass he made no mistake with a cool finish past Kasper Schmeichel for his first goal in 32 league games. Superb save Leicester were denied an equaliser by a superb save by home keeper Robert Sanchez from a thunderous strike by Sidnei Tavares but Brighton were agonisingly close to making it 2-0 when Pascal Gross whipped in a free kick and Lallana’s glancing header hit the far post. There was still time before the break for Maupay to produce an exquisite finish from Lallana’s pass but Leicester were saved by an offside decision. Brighton were to rue those opportunities just past the hour mark when Tielemans’s sliderule pass took out the Brighton defence and Iheanacho dinked a finish past Sanchez. Lallana had a chance to restore Brighton’s lead, but it was Leicester who looked menacing with Jamie Vardy having a penalty appeal turned down after a last-ditch tackle by Lewis Dunk. Sanchez then flapped at Marc Albrighton’s corner and Amartey was in the right place to head home. Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers admitted his side had started slowly. “We needed to be more aggressive. Once we did that we had more energy on the ball,” he said. “The mentality has been incredible – to be up there challenging with 10 games to go.”
BRIGHTON (AFP) - Christian Benteke's stunning 95th-minute volley snatched a 2-1 win for Crystal Palace at Brighton on Monday (Feb 22) to ease fears the Eagles could be dragged into a relegation battle. Brighton are still looking over their shoulders at the bottom three after a night that summed up so much of the season for Graham Potter's men. The Seagulls had 25 shots to Palace's three and nearly 75 percent possession, but failed to make it count in front of goal. Roy Hodgson's side were without the talismanic presence of Wilfried Zaha due to injury, but Jean-Philippe Mateta made an impact on just his second start since joining on loan from Mainz. Jordan Ayew's cross from the right allowed the Frenchman to back-heel home on the turn and claim his first Palace goal on 28 minutes. The visitors were then pinned back as Brighton dominated, but Neal Maupay, Adam Lallana and Leandro Trossard all wasted chances. When the hosts did equalise 10 minutes into the second period it was thanks to right wing-back Joel Veltman's first goal for the club. Pascal Gross' low shot was blocked by Palace defender Tyrick Mitchell as he battled inside the box with substitute Danny Welbeck and fell kindly for the Dutch defender to sweep home left-footed. Palace then clung on for a point until completely against the run of play they snatched all three deep into stoppage time. Andros Townsend's cross beyond the far post did not seem to pose any danger until Benteke connected flush on the volley to send the ball into the far corner. Victory takes Palace 10 points clear of the relegation zone, while Brighton remain just four clear of in-form Fulham.
LONDON • Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes that deadline day signing Ben Davies will be a big plus to his squad, as much as playing for the Reds will be a huge advantage for the defender. The Premier League champions bolstered their injury-hit defence by signing centre-back Davies from Championship club Preston North End on Monday and also secured a season-loan deal for Schalke's Turkish central defender Ozan Kabak. British media reported that Liverpool would pay Preston around £2 million (S$3.6 million) for the 25-year-old, who arrives at Anfield on a long-term contract. Speaking ahead of today's Premier League home clash against Brighton, Klopp said: "Ben knows how it is to play a lot of games and play more than you train. He knows how to defend. So it is a big opportunity for both sides. A player with experience and space to develop. "Very interesting signing, looking forward to meeting Ben finally as it went quickly... We looked all over in Europe. I saw Ben, I was interested. I am a big believer in opportunities and taking chances and Ben sees it the same way." Liverpool are without centre-backs Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez due to long-term injuries and were dealt another blow when Joel Matip was forced off with an ankle ligament injury in their 3-1 league win at Tottenham Hotspur last week. He has been ruled out for the rest of the season. Klopp has had to play midfielders Fabinho and Jordan Henderson in defence this season while also relying on young players to fill gaps at the back. Liverpool fielded Henderson and 23-year-old Nathaniel Phillips as their centre-back pairing in Sunday's 3-1 win at West Ham United that lifted them to third place. Fabinho was absent due to a "minor fitness issue" and is ruled out of today's game. "We found some good solutions and now we have more options," added Klopp. "It is not perfect. January not my favourite window. We signed them yesterday, they (could) play tomorrow. It's work under pressure. Options. "Ozan is still a talent and has proven a lot. He is here now in a stable team. He can help us and we can help him. Our situation is really strange. We are without our four centre-backs. We needed players." Meanwhile, the Reds' Japanese midfielder Takumi Minamino has joined Southampton on loan for the rest of the season. There were only three permanent deals on deadline day, owing much to clubs being hamstrung by the coronavirus crisis and new Brexit rules. Everton signed striker Joshua King from Championship side Bournemouth until the end of the campaign, while Brighton secured the services of midfielder Moises Caicedo from Ecuadorian top-flight side Independiente del Valle on a deal until 2025. Manchester United's Amad Diallo, Aston Villa new boy Morgan Sanson and West Brom pair Mbaye Diagne and Robert Snodgrass were among the handful of high-profile permanent signings in the January transfer window as teams made the decision to rely on their existing squads or relied on loans. Liverpool sit four points behind leaders Manchester City (44), who have a game in hand. But Klopp is also wary of 17th-placed Brighton. He said: "They have a clear idea, good players in the right positions. They stick to their idea and I respect that a lot. Against Spurs it was a deserved (1-0) win. Controlled it. A football-playing side." Following today's match, the Reds will host City in a crucial clash on Sunday. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS LIVERPOOL V BRIGHTON Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227, tomorrow, 4.15am
BRIGHTON (REUTERS) - Southampton came from behind to beat traditional south coast rivals Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 in the Premier League on Monday (Dec 7) as Jannik Vestergaard and Danny Ings cancelled out a Pascal Gross opener for the home side. German midfielder Gross fired Brighton ahead with a 26th-minute penalty before Vestergaard levelled with a superb header on the stroke of halftime and Ings turned the match on its head with an 81st-minute penalty. The result left Southampton fifth in the standings on 20 points from 11 games while Brighton stayed 16th on 10 points, four clear of the relegation zone. James Ward-Prowse handled an innocuous-looking ball in the area and Gross made no mistake with the spot-kick, sending goalkeeper Alex McCarthy the wrong way. Ward-Prowse made amends when he floated in an inviting corner for Vestergaard to head home inside the far post as Southampton pressed in the closing stages of the first half. When the match seemed to be heading for a draw, Solly March was deemed to have fouled Kyle Walker-Peters just inside the penalty area and Ings drilled in the spot-kick to silence some 2,000 home Brighton fans.
LONDON (REUTERS) - Gareth Bale came off the bench to head the winner for Tottenham Hotspur in a 2-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Sunday (Nov 1), his first goal since returning to the club from Real Madrid. The Welshman was brought on in the 70th minute and three minutes later he met a Sergio Reguilon cross with a firm and well-directed header to restore Tottenham's lead. Harry Kane had put Spurs ahead in the 13th minute from the penalty spot after Adam Lallana was ruled to have fouled him as he climbed for a header. Brighton responded with a long spell of good possession football as Spurs failed to drive home their advantage and Graham Potter's side drew level in the 56th minute. Tariq Lamptey drove into the far, bottom corner after being set up by Pascal Gross at the end of a clever move from Brighton but the VAR official asked referee Graham Scott to look at a challenge on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg by Solly March. Spurs felt that Marsh had fouled the Dane but Scott ruled the challenge was fair and the goal stood. Tottenham then struck the post twice, firstly a drive from the edge of the box from Erik Lamela and then a close-range effort from a tight angle by Kane. Then came Bale's winner as Spurs moved above Everton in the standings into second place on 14 points, two behind leaders Liverpool. Everton lost 2-1 to Newcastle United earlier on Sunday. More on this topic Related Story Football: Mourinho says attacking Spurs still far from Real deal Related Story Football: Tottenham have a 'Fab Three' in Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Gareth Bale, says Graeme Souness