Brighton still flying high in the Premier League, despite big-name exits
The Seagulls continue to defy expectations and are top of the table after two games
EIGHT goals and six points from their opening two matches have put Brighton and Hove Albion on top of the English Premier League (EPL) for the first time in their history – proof, if any were still needed, that they are one of the best-run clubs in England’s top football division.
Brighton, homeless and facing an uncertain future little more than a decade ago, welcome West Ham United to their American Express Community Stadium this weekend (Sunday 12.30 am kickoff, Singapore time) looking to continue their dream start.
Last year’s sixth-place finish was the best in the club’s history, enough to send them to this season’s Europa League.
Inevitably, their big-name players became targets for the EPL’s so-called elite. Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and midfielder Moises Caicedo were lured to Chelsea, with Argentina World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister joining Liverpool -- the three deals worth close to £200 million (S$341.2 million).
Other clubs built on less-stable foundations might have been shaken by such an exodus, but Brighton have just carried on regardless, soaring high like the seagulls on the club’s crest.
Few would expect manager Roberto De Zerbi’s side to mount a sustained title challenge, especially with the demands of the Europa League, which is likely to place a strain on the squad.
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But for sheer entertainment, Brighton will again prove extremely popular with the neutrals .In the 34 games that Italian De Zerbi has been in charge, Brighton have scored and conceded in 22 of them.
Those 34 matches have also witnessed a total of 119 goals – 69 for Brighton and 50 for the opposition – the highest number of any club since former Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk coach De Zerbi replaced Graham Potter, who jumped ship to Chelsea.
Brighton scored 72 goals last season, 30 more than their previous best in the top flight. And the way they have started the new campaign, more records could fall.
An economic impact report commissioned by the club showed they provided a boost of nearly £600 million to the local economy in the 2022-23 season. European visitors heading to their home stadium will offer another £80 million boost.
Money aside, Brighton have also become the blueprint for clubs of a similar size.
“It’s what the English pyramid delivers. If you do a good job on and off the pitch, you’ll get your rewards and European football is there to be had if you get it right,” said the EPL’s chief executive Richard Masters.
West Ham, like Brighton, also appear to be a club on the rise after winning last year’s Europa Conference League. Last week’s impressive 3-1 victory over Chelsea means that they will head to Brighton confident of bringing the Seagulls back to earth.
Brighton are one of only three clubs to win their opening two fixtures, along with defending champions Manchester City and last season’s runner-up Arsenal.
Manchester City will play Sheffield United on Sunday, with Arsenal hosting Fulham a day earlier.
Chelsea kicked off the third round of league fixtures on Friday night when they hosted Luton Town (the final result was unavailable as this column went to print) – a fixture that should offer new manager Mauricio Pochettino the chance to record his first victory since taking the Stamford Bridge hot seat.
Fourth-placed Brentford, who give Brighton a close run for their money when it comes to punching above their weight, face a third successive London derby as they host Crystal Palace.
Brentford, who drew with Tottenham Hotspur and beat Fulham in their opening fixtures, are unbeaten in 11 games against clubs from the British capital.
Tottenham – who along with Brentford, West Ham and Liverpool, have four points – are away at Bournemouth, with Liverpool facing a tough trip to Newcastle United on Sunday.
Newcastle leapfrogged Liverpool into the top four last season despite the Reds winning both clashes between the sides. The Magpies (Newcastle’s nickname) thrashed highly-fancied Aston Villa 5-1 at home on the opening weekend of the campaign, but were brought back down to earth by an inability to match Manchester City in a 1-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester United – without key players like Mason Mount, Luke Shaw and new striker Rasmus Hojlund – will seek to bounce back from the 0-2 defeat at Tottenham last Sunday as they host Nottingham Forest.
The Red Devils are unbeaten in 30 games at Old Trafford dating back to last season, and will be confident of extending that record against a Forest team that they have beaten 10 times in a row. REUTERS, AFP
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