Brighton & Hove Albion

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 Andy Bell and Steve Queralt from Ride, who support Arsenal and Tottenham.

Sutton's prediction: 4-3

Brighton's season has fizzled out and it cannot have helped that there is uncertainty over their manager Roberto de Zerbi, who has been linked with so many other clubs.

The Seagulls still had some nice passages of play against Manchester City on Thursday night but it was nowhere near enough - City schooled them from start to finish.

Bournemouth are above them in the table now, something which seemed unlikely earlier in the campaign. When Brighton beat the Cherries at Amex Stadium at the end of September, it sent them third while Andoni Iraola's side were still waiting for their first win.

The way Iraola has turned things around has surprised everyone, myself included, and I am certainly not going to back against them here. I am predicting a south-coast cracker, and a Bournemouth victory.

Andy's prediction: 0-0

No goals here!

Steve's prediction: 2-1

Again, neither team really have much to play for anymore, so I am going to go for it to be a nice sunny afternoon by the sea and Bournemouth to win.

Read the rest of their predictions here

Here is a selection of the key facts and figures before Bournemouth host Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday, 14:00 BST.

• Brighton won this fixture 2-0 last season, ending a run of four straight away league defeats against Bournemouth. They last won consecutive league visits to the Cherries in February 1932.

• Bournemouth are unbeaten in their past five Premier League home games – only once have they had a longer run without defeat at Vitality Stadium in the top flight, going six games between May and October 2018.

• Brighton have failed to score in six of their 12 away games in all competitions so far in 2024, as many times as they had in 49 games on the road in 2022 and 2023 combined.

• Dominic Solanke has scored nine home goals in the league this season – no Bournemouth player has ever reached double figures at the Vitality Stadium in a single top-flight campaign.

• No Brighton player has scored more away goals in the league this season than Danny Welbeck (four). Only in 2013-14 (six) has he scored more on the road in a single campaign.

Brighton made a habit of making life difficult for the big clubs during a stellar campaign last season that led them into the Europa League.

The Seagulls, under manager Roberto de Zerbi, have had another comfortable campaign but perhaps it is a sign of the sky-high standards they have set for themselves that the 4-0 home loss to Manchester City added to the sense of anti-climax at the end of this term.

There have been mitigating circumstances, namely the sale of class midfield duo Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister to Chelsea and Liverpool respectively, allied to a lengthy injury list.

It means there must be context around their current position and the factors that have had an impact upon it.

There has also been speculation surrounding De Zerbi, who has had his name linked to vacancies at Bayern Munich and Liverpool, who will appoint Feyenoord's Arne Slot, and a potential move to Manchester United, where manager Erik ten Hag is under scrutiny.

Brighton will hope this situation is clarified swiftly rather than have a summer of uncertainty before this progressive club regroups once more because their injury-hit team looked jaded against City and even the normally very animated De Zerbi was a low-key presence on the sidelines.

We asked for your views on Manchester City's 4-0 win over Brighton in the Premier League on Thursday.

Here are some of your answers:

Brighton fans

Charlie: Brighton were OK at the start of the season, but I get the feeling De Zerbi has given up. He cannot take Brighton any further and that is felt in the players, and him never picking the same team twice. Yet another goal given away trying to play out. Totally outclassed.

Raymond: Still punching above our weight due to injuries, but many players are not Premier League quality. Man City are a cut above.

JJ: The end of the season can not come soon enough. It is painful to watch our slow passing in our own box versus a team of City’s quality. If De Zerbi wants to stay we should back him, if not we need to move on very quickly and plan for next season.

Matthew: Brighton are in relegation form and no signs point to that changing come next season (bar a miraculous recruitment drive). With the loss of more key players to bigger clubs like Mitoma, possibly Joao Pedro, Estupinan and Gross, then one wonders how thin Brighton’s squad will be next year.

Graham: Pathetic! Their insistence on playing back to the keeper was sheer insanity! Put themselves under unnecessary pressure and led to their downfall. The goalkeeper had more touches in the first 15 minutes than the rest of the team. If teams are going to make it this easy for City, you may as well hand over the trophy now!

Manchester City fans

Peter: Great performance by the whole City team. The result was never in doubt after De Bruyne’s brilliant header. This team set about the task with determination and they are now serious contenders to win four titles in a row. Brighton are a selling club so will always be a mid-table team and they offered very little.

Scott: A really good performance against a lacklustre Brighton. I have to say, we did get away with two penalties, and the Foden free-kick was a slip - not a foul. I would not be surprised if Foden wins the PFA Players' Award this year. On to the next game, keep playing well and our fate is in our own hands.

Michael: Comprehensive. I was there and at no point were Brighton a threat. City dominated and always had the game under control. The crowd did not like Foden but both he and De Bruyne pulled the strings.

Bundesliga club Stuttgart are ready to make 27-year-old Germany forward Deniz Undav's move permanent, after signing him on loan from Brighton last summer. (Caught Offside), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi speaking to Sky Sports: "City are one of the best teams in the world and they played very well.

"Sorry for the first two goals. The first two goals were unlucky."

Can playing out from the back be a risk? "Yes, sometimes we took the advantage [with playing this way]. For sure if you make mistakes you can concede goals.

"You have to analyse how many goals we score and points we made playing the ball, then the advantages [outweigh] what we concede."

• Manchester City are now unbeaten in 30 games in all competitions (W24 D6), making them the third English top-flight side to go 30+ matches without defeat, after Nottingham Forest (40 in 1978) and Manchester United (twice - 34 in 1993-94 & 33 in 1998-99).

• Phil Foden scored his 50th (and 51st) Premier League goal, becoming only the third player to score 50 top-flight goals under manager Pep Guardiola while aged 23 or younger - after Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland.

• Brighton have won just six of their last 27 Premier League games (D11 L10) – since the start of this spell in September - only Burnley (5), Nottingham Forest (5), and Sheffield United (3) have won fewer.

• Brighton have lost back-to-back Premier League home games, as many as their previous 22 at the Amex Stadium beforehand (W12 D8 L2). The Seagulls have lost successive league home games while also failing to score each time for the first time since a run of four from February-March 2022.

• Kevin De Bruyne's opener for Manchester City was his 68th goal in 255 Premier League appearances – but the very first time he scored a header in the competition.

• In his 390th Premier League appearance, Manchester City’s Kyle Walker provided two assists in the same game for the first time in the competition.

Manchester City moved to within one point of Premier League leaders Arsenal by thrashing Brighton 4-0 at Amex Stadium.

The visitors took the lead through Kevin de Bruyne's excellent diving header in the 17th minute.

Phil Foden scored a second from a free-kick before doubling his tally, capitalising on defensive errors to give City a 3-0 half-time lead.

Julian Alvarez completed City's scoring midway through the second half after fine work from full-back Kyle Walker.

The result means City leapfrog Liverpool to go second in the league table, having played one game fewer than the Reds and leaders Arsenal.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?

Brighton fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

How did you rate the side's performance, Manchester City fans?

Follow all of the reaction here

The team news for the Premier League game between Brighton and Manchester City is in, with less than an hour to go until kick-off at Amex Stadium.

Follow all the build-up and live text updates of the match here

Image source, Getty Images

Former Brighton midfielder Gary Dicker has been praising Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi and "the energy he brings" to the club.

Speaking about De Zerbi on BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast, Dicker, who is currently working for the club as a professional development coach with the Seagulls' under-21s side said: "You wouldn't be the brightest if you didn't take some stuff from people and we've learned loads. I'm greedy because you want more and more.

"You want to learn more and see how he can keep developing the team and the players and the style of play. The detail that he's come with and his ideas are better than any coaching course I've been on.

"I've learned that being on the grass and watching means I've tried to take in as much as I can. When we get a chance, can we watch training> You'll always see us out there when we're not training to watch and learn."

Youngster Mark O'Mahony made his debut for Albion in the 1-1 draw with Burnley and Dicker described it as a "massive win for us as an academy and for Mark".

"I remember when he came in on trial last year," Dicker continued. "He was really raw and after day one we had a look at him and thought 'oh yeah we like that.'

"He was rough around the edges which he still is, but with his attitude and him being a finisher, we could see glimpses of stuff that we wanted to work with.

"We always go back to it - the attitude and wanting to get better every day.

"He's desperate to get better and desperate to learn. When you're coachable and have the attitude like that, it makes our life really easy."

Listen to the whole episode here

Brighton head coach Roberto de Zerbi has been speaking to the media before his side face Manchester City in the Premier League on Thursday.

Here are the main headlines from his news conference:

• "The situation is more or less the same as last game," De Zerbi explained in terms of injuries. Adam Webster may be available again - but nine players are out with Pervis Estupinan and Evan Ferguson missing for the rest of the season.

• On City being tired: "I think no, they played Saturday against Chelsea and tomorrow is Thursday. They are used to playing so many games. They were unlucky against Real Madrid because they lost on penalties. But they are with Arsenal and Liverpool one of the best teams in the Premier League."

• Erling Haaland is out of the game and he said: "Great news, because Haaland is a top player. Unfortunately they will play with [Julian] Alvarez - still a big player, Bernardo [Silva] a big player. [Jeremy] Doku and [Jack] Grealish, big wingers."

• On Brighton's season: "It has been very tough especially after January. We are suffering too many injuries. It's not finished yet - I'm sorry because I'm disappointed because I wanted to compete in different ways, but we have to accept. Next season we will be with more experience."

• On if they can qualify for Europe: "It's difficult because we play against big teams in the Premier League. We have a lot of teams with eyes on the top of the table. We have to play better for sure, we have to be stronger in the last 20 metres and to give our best more. We can't do more than that."

• On the Amex at night: "I love playing in the night because there is a different atmosphere. I think our fans have been fantastic every game at the Amex and away. If we start the game with good attitude and right behaviour the fans can understand and support more."

• He had lots of praise for Pep Guardiola: "He's patient, he's great, he loves football but if you speak about tactical parts he's a different coach and different man. There are a lot of coaches and there is Pep - different things."

• De Zerbi referenced to how Thiago Motta and Xabi Alonso are innovating in the game but pointed back to Guardiola, stating: "The first one who changed football was Guardiola, in Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City. Every season he makes something different."

• Both times Manchester City have failed to beat Brighton in the Premier League have come in a midweek game at Amex Stadium – they lost 3-2 in May 2021 and drew 1-1 in May 2023, though had already been confirmed as champions both times.

• Since beating Sheffield United 5-0 in February, Brighton have scored just four goals in their past seven Premier League games. The Seagulls are also winless in their past four (D2 L2).

• City are unbeaten in their past 17 Premier League games (W13 D4), last having a longer run within the same season between November and March in 2020-21 (19).

• Brighton’s 3-0 defeat by Arsenal in their most recent Premier League home game ended a 12-match unbeaten run at the Amex in the competition. They last lost consecutive home league games in November/December 2022 (including defeat to Arsenal), while they last lost consecutive home league games in the same month in March 2022.

• City's Phil Foden has scored more Premier League goals against Albion than he has against any other side, netting six in his past seven. His next goal will be his 50th in the Premier League.

Brighton have stunned many with their rise in recent seasons but now that a taste for European adventure exists, what does the club do next?

Fan Dan Towse has been considering future plans on the latest episode of Albion Unlimited.

Watch a clip above and get the show in full here.

This week's Albion Unlimited discusses Vincent Kompany's links with the Seagulls, plus Gary Dicker explains how working at the club's academy is going.

There's loads of fan nostalgia and plenty of laughs.

Get the episode here

"Never forget where you've come here from," sang the great Take That.

And Brighton fans have not forgotten where they came from if the anger among Seagulls supporters over the scrapping of FA Cup replays is anything to go by.

In 1991, an FA Cup replay with the mighty Liverpool gave Brighton a financial lifeline when the club was struggling to stay alive.

A particularly volatile FA Cup replay against Crystal Palace in 1976 is considered by many to be the spark which ignited the Seagulls v Eagles rivalry.

And we have seen the good FA Cup replays can do for other clubs. Gate receipts and broadcast money from the Albion's second-round replay with FC United of Manchester in 2010 helped the non-league club build their new stadium.

Brighton fan opinion is pretty clear. What we do not know is what the club's position is. You would hope that those in power remembered its history and that it was not so long ago it needed FA Cup replays.

Somebody at the top table needs to speak and stick up for the rest, at least until the very welcome independent regulator comes in. Brighton know better than most there is much more to football in England than just the Premier League.

It is a sad day if the Albion are now a club where self-interest rules over what is good for the rest of the game.

Scott McCarthy can be found at We Are Brighton, external

Chris Sutton is making predictions for every Premier League game this season against a variety of guests.

For this week's matches on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, he takes on actor Zack Morris, star of new thriller film Jericho Ridge.

Sutton's prediction: 0-2

City are, apparently, extremely tired but I looked at their bench for their FA Cup semi-final on Saturday and it wasn't too bad for a team that is so fatigued.

The Brighton of last season would have been very awkward opponents for Manchester City, but I am not so sure they offer the same test this year.

Still, there is no margin of error for Pep Guardiola's side. They have the advantage in the title race at the moment but even a draw changes things completely at the top of the table, so the pressure is on.

Zack's prediction: 1-3

City are going to be fine, aren't they? They are not going to walk away with this one, but they will still get the job done.

You can read the rest of the predictions here

Image source, getty images

Burnley have not begun the search for a successor to manager Vincent Kompany, BBC Sport understands.

A report, external from a Belgium journalist today suggested Brighton have identified Kompany as a replacement for Roberto de Zerbi, should the Italian leave the Seagulls this summer.

But there is no truth in the rumours that "informal talks" have already taken place between Brighton and Kompany's entourage.

Statements on X have been plentiful in recent days and now Clarets chairman Alan Pace has waded in, seemingly dismissing such chat.

"This is what happens when you let children play on X," wrote, external Pace.

Relegation-threatened Burnley beat bottom side Sheffield United 4-1 on Saturday and are now just three points adrift of 17th-placed Nottingham Forest in the chase for Premier League safety.

They travel to face FA Cup finalists Manchester United on Saturday.

Image source, Getty Images

Monday, 22 April marks Earth Day - a day in the international calendar that provides the opportunity to reflect, make change and understand more about sustainability and the impacts of climate change.

Sport and football are not immune to these issues and there has been increasing awareness of their relationship to the environment over the past few years.

Football has a global footprint and, as it continues to grow, it has been subject to questions and criticism over some of the decisions that could hinder efforts in reducing its impact, including expanding Uefa cup competitions and the men's Fifa World Cup.

The effects of adverse weather related to climate change has been increasingly felt, with a study last year showing extreme weather has affected 40% of football players and spectators.

But, football and its fanbase also have an opportunity to be part of the solution, with clubs like Forest Green Rovers showing how the sport's environmental footprint can be reduced.

We have taken a look into some of the key things Brighton are doing to become more sustainable:

• Over 400 solar PV panels have been installed at the training ground and all purchased electricity across sites is 100% renewable.

• 1,000 trees and bushes have been planted at the training ground and bird nesting boxes have been installed on the stadium's roof.

• They have implemented 100% digital ticketing for home games and are the first club to launch away tickets on mobiles.

• Home and away fans are offered free bus and train travel to the stadium on matchdays within a free travel zone.

• Groundwater and rain water is collected at the training ground to be reused for pitch irrigation.

One important area all Premier League clubs can address to reduce their carbon footprint is their travel, as shown in BBC Sport research.

Why is this important?

Football For Future is a non-profit organisation working with stakeholders across football to create a more environmentally sustainable culture and founder Elliot Arthur-Worsop told BBC Sport: "Climate change will be the defining challenge of our generation, and the future of football will be affected too.

"We're already seeing the impacts, with more than 120,000 English grassroots games being called off annually, and major tournaments such as the World Cup and Afcon being moved because of extreme weather.

"Beyond the pitch, the climate crisis threatens livelihoods and global food and water security.

"With its unparalleled social influence, football has an opportunity to inspire global climate action, from micro-behaviours to essential policy change."

What would you like to see your club do more (or less) of to be greener?