Brighton & Hove Albion

Scott McCarthy
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

When Olivia Rodrigo released Vampire in 2023, many theories were put forward as to who the song was about.

After watching Danny Welbeck score the winning goal for Brighton against Liverpool, I have a new one to throw into the mix - Rodrigo was referencing VAR for the way it has sucked the fun out of football.

With 57 minutes on the clock, the Albion retook the lead against the reigning Premier League champions. Potentially, a massive moment in Brighton's season to continue the turnaround in form which has had supporters going from worrying about getting dragged into the relegation battle to dreaming of Europe.

To the naked eye, it looked like the goal might have been offside. Welbeck and Jack Hinshelwood both had their doubts as they instantly looked at the assistant referee.

In the days before VAR, Brighton fans would have taken a quick glance themselves, spotted no flag and then gone ballistic with unbridled joy.

Not any more.

The celebrations around the Amex were half-muted. We learned a painful lesson when bodies were flying (or, as the kids call it these days, "absolute limbs") from a similar incident at Fulham in January when VAR ruled a Welbeck goal offside by a millimetre.

Nobody wanted to make that mistake again. And so Brighton players and fans reined in their emotions until given permission to partake in happiness by someone at Stockley Park watching a super-slow-motion replay with a ruler.

Unlike at Craven Cottage, the goal stood. And admittedly, the Welbeck celebration was worth waiting for. He leapfrogged 6ft 2in team-mate Lewis Dunk from a standing start in an astonishing feat of athleticism for a 35-year-old.

Welbeck going Olympic gymnast, however, was not enough to make up for the feeling Albion fans were denied the sort of spontaneous, unexpected moment of ecstasy which is why many of us fell in love with the sport in the first place.

Find more from Scott McCarthy at We Are Brighton, external

Image source, PA Media

Former England captain Wayne Rooney, speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show about Brighton striker Danny Welbeck being left out of Thomas Tuchel's latest England squad: "He's been scoring goals but it's not just his goalscoring, it's his hold-up play, his work-rate and his experience.

"He's probably the best English striker this season in the Premier League. To not be in the 35-man squad is quite strange.

"Maybe he's left Welbeck and Ollie Watkins out of the squad because he doesn't need to see any more of them. He might want to see Dominic Solanke up close.

"He will have seen enough of Welbeck, he knows enough of him. What you'll find with older players, actually seeing them up close might not benefit them.

"At Welbeck's age, sometimes you need to monitor your training, so you can't train as much and you can't train at 100%. You're getting yourself ready for games more than training sessions, so sometimes you don't get that energy you get from younger players - but they know how to turn it on on a matchday."

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

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Midfielder Carlos Baleba spoke to BBC Radio Sussex after Brighton's victory against Liverpool: "We won the game with the right mindset and a good intensity.

"We are very happy - four wins in five. We continue to keep going, work hard and take it game by game. Maybe eighth is still possible. We are still working on that.

"My season has been up and down, but it is not finished. I will still keep pushing hard and working. If I am not starting it is not a big problem, I will continue to work for the team."

Image source, PA Media

Former Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast about Danny Welbeck's fine form and whether the Brighton striker should be in the England squad: "He's evolved, I think he's like a fine wine.

"He's clearly proven at a great club like Brighton to not just be that number nine running in behind, he's becoming an all-round striker.

"You need squad players [at international tournaments], you can't just bring 25 individuals, you need to think about the team cohesion as well.

"[England boss] Thomas Tuchel has got so many amazing individual players to choose from and he's going to leave a lot of players at home that he not necessarily doesn't think are good enough, but maybe do not really fit in that team spirit.

"When I was part of the Dutch squad in 2014, Louis van Gaal left some unbelievable players at home because he knew how important those players are who don't get many minutes - how important it is for an impact on the pitch, but even more important off the pitch supporting that starting XI."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Brighton and Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Brighton fans

Trevor: An excellent all-round performance from the whole team. The manager has kept the team together and guided us out of a sticky middle part of the season. Well done, Fabian Hurzeler, for turning it around. As for Danny Welbeck, come on, Thomas Tuchel, wake up and give Danny one last chance at a World Cup!

Phil: As usual, the media were mostly descriptive about how poor Liverpool were, not how good Brighton were. Both goals came from no-nonsense, high, looping crosses - not so easy to defend - and Brighton converted those chances with excellence.

Sarah: Brilliant game! Much better forward movement, more attacking and better-quality crossing. We deserved the win. From threat of relegation to Europe within reach - come on, Brighton!

Henry: Brighton need to keep this momentum going. Welbeck again showing what an asset he is to the club. We do need to bring in a new striker in the summer if possible, though, as we can't keep relying on Danny. The strikers we currently have will hopefully improve with more development and time, but if we really have ambitions to push on we need to stop selling our better players.

Liverpool fans

Anthony: Poor tactician, poor man-manager. It's not just that Liverpool are losing games, it's the style (if you can call it style) that is so slow and ponderous. It is not enjoyable to watch. Once the fans start booing a team, it must spell the end.

Dan: Losing Hugo Ekitike so early didn't help, but far too many wayward passes and individual mistakes. The lack of depth in the squad is really showing and I'll be glad when the season's over. Everton did us a favour, but honestly can't see us getting top five.

Wesley: Awful. Too many positional changes throughout the match, not enough intensity and lapses in concentration. Florian Wirtz looks incredible but doesn't affect the game enough. Andy Robertson needs to play because we need his leadership. Deserved to be beaten. Something needs to change quickly.

Alan: We go on about injuries to our players, but Spurs were decimated by injuries when they played us, and they still played with more power and passion.

Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

When Thomas Tuchel named his England squad on Friday for upcoming friendlies against Uruguay and Japan there was one omission that became even more glaring the following day.

That's because the player with the most goals by an Englishman in the Premier League this season hit a double as Brighton beat Champions League-chasing Liverpool.

Danny Welbeck may be 35 but he is showing age is just a number after scoring his 11th and 12th league goals of the season.

While he may not be able to show Tuchel what he can do on the international stage before the German coach decides on his squad for this summer's World Cup, he appears to be doing all he can at club level.

If he was frustrated at not impressing Tuchel enough yet for a call-up, he didn't show it after his man-of-the-match display against Liverpool.

"Control what I can control," he told BBC Match of the Day on being in the conversation for a call-up.

"It's really nice that my name is being mentioned. That's a positive for me.

"I don't like to give energy to things I can't control. For me, I'm just happy, I'm enjoying my football and I focus on what I can control."

His two goals for Brighton took his tally in the league this season to 12, his outright most in a single campaign.

Indeed, it's the third time he's netted more than one goal in a league game this term, also his outright most in a season.

Key to Welbeck's scoring form this season is just how clinical he is. His first six goals of the season came from just seven shots on target and against Liverpool he had two shots on target, scoring both.

But for Seagulls manager Fabian Hurzeler, the veteran offers much more than just the goals.

He said: "Not only scoring goals - he is in brilliant shape of course - but also being there as a team-mate, finding good connections between team-mates, creating a good togetherness.

"He is a great connector, he is so valuable on and off the pitch and he can help every team in the world, including England."

Former England striker Wayne Rooney praised Welbeck's all-round play, saying: "He scores goals, he works really hard, he links the play really well.

"He's certainly an option for England."

Read more on Welbeck's fine form

Pundits Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Everton 3-0 Chelsea

• Fulham 3-1 Burnley

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler speaking to TNT Sports after their 2-1 win over Liverpool: "The intensity we brought on the pitch was key today. We pressed intense. We played intense. We brought a lot of energy onto the pitch. We created a lot of chances in the second half. I was pleased how everyone played and tried to outwork and outrun the opponent."

On improvements made over the last few weeks: "We manage the key points better. I think that's our only improvement, because we have always played good football but haven't always gotten these results. We try to stay calm, stick to our principles and not overreact in certain moments, especially today when we conceded a goal but we stayed calm and stuck to the basic things."

"I see a great team on the pitch. I see a team working and helping each other and I think that's very important to win Premier League games.

On Yankuba Minteh: "Yankuba Minteh is a great example of what it means to work hard, not just offensively but defensively. I always say to my team if you are successful as a team, if you create good connection, then you will get rewards as individuals but first of all you have to perform as a team, which is what they are doing at the moment."

On if Danny Welbeck should go to the World Cup: "I think England has a really good German coach and he will make the right decision. I can only say how important Danny Welbeck is in creating group togetherness, which can be crucial for a World Cup as well. Not only scoring goals, even though he is in brilliant shape but also as a teammate. Finding good connections and togetherness. He's so valuable on and off the pitch, and I think he can help any team in the world, even England.

On European hopes: "I think it's very important now to stay humble, to understand where we were seven weeks ago, to where we are now, and to keep doing these things, and then see what happens."

You can listen to more from Hurzeler on BBC Sounds

Did you know?

• Brighton and Hove Albion have won four of their last five Premier League games (L1), as many as in their previous 18 matches in the competition (D7 L7).

Aadam Patel
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

After a first half where both sides repeatedly lost the ball carelessly, Brighton deserve credit for exploiting Liverpool's tired legs after the interval.

Fabian Hurzeler waited until the 76th minute to turn to his bench and his side regularly carved Liverpool open after the break. They were deserved winners, with this win ensuring they are well and truly in contention for European football.

The Seagulls have now won four of their last five Premier League games (L1), as many as in their previous 18 in the top-flight (D7 L7).

As for Danny Welbeck, what a season he is having. After his first goal, he cupped his ears in celebration.

Was that a message to the Liverpool fans from the former Manchester United striker or to Thomas Tuchel, who did not pick him in the England squad for the March internationals?

His double here took his tally of Premier League goals this season to 12, his outright most in a campaign.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Brighton's performance

What did you make of Liverpool's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Fabian Hurzeler names an unchanged Brighton side from the eleven that started the win at Sunderland last weekend

Brighton: Verbruggen; Wieffer, Van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu; Milner, Gross; Gomez, Hinshelwood, Minteh; Welbeck.

Substitutes: Steele, Georginio, Baleba, Kostoulas, Boscagli, Mitoma, Ayari, De Cuyper, Veltman.

Despite playing less than three days ago, Arne Slot makes just the two changes from Liverpool's 4-0 win over Galatasaray. And both are enforced, with Giorgi Mamardashvili and Cody Gakpo coming in for the injured Alisson and Mohamed Salah. Dominik Szoboszlai is set to start down the right in Salah's absence.

Liverpool: Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo, Ekitike.

Substitutes: Woodman, Gomez, Chiesa, Jones, Robertson, Nyoni, Ramsay, Morrison, Ngumoha.

There are four games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Brighton v Liverpool (12:30)

• Fulham v Burnley (15:00) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Everton v Chelsea (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Leeds v Brentford (20:00)

Kick-off times GMT

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Fulham v Burnley" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Everton v Chelsea".

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Chris Adams
BBC Sport journalist

A Brighton and Hove Albion side that seems to have emerged from their mid-season slump hosts Liverpool at the Amex on Saturday (12:30 GMT) aiming to climb into the top half of the table for the first time since early January.

Three wins in their last four have gone some way to counteracting the Seagulls' dreadful winter form, which saw them record just one victory in 13 league games.

Minteh fresh

Yankuba Minteh was the hero last time out at Sunderland, wriggling past Granit Xhaka before slicing an unorthodox cross into the net as the home team appealed for a foul in the build-up.

The 21-year-old Gambia winger was a constant thorn in the side of the Black Cats' defence with his tricky, direct approach and got his just rewards to end a personal 20-game goal drought.

Since signing from Newcastle United in July 2024, Minteh has registered more top-flight goal involvements than any other player aged 21 and under (eight goals, eight assists).

Fabian Hurzeler's side are unbeaten in their last three at home to Liverpool (won two, drawn one) but went down 2-0 at Anfield earlier this season, in part thanks to Hugo Ekitike's opener after just 46 seconds.

While an extreme example, it does highlight how Brighton have struggled to keep it tight in the first half of games this season. They are one of just three sides, along with Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur, to have conceded more goals in the first half of games (19) than they have in the second half (17).

All not lost for Liverpool

A comprehensive win over Galatasaray on Wednesday sent Liverpool through to the last eight of the Champions League and a similar result in East Sussex on Saturday would go some way towards securing Arne Slot's side a place in Europe's elite competition again next season.

Liverpool are fifth in the table, which should be enough to merit a place through the traditional route, although of course they could qualify also by winning the current tournament.

Despite their patchy league form – four wins from 12 in 2026 – strong runs in Europe and the FA Cup mean there is still plenty for the Reds to play for.

Dominik Szoboszlai is making a strong case to be named their player of the season, although there is a school of thought that the Hungary midfielder's versatility has worked against him, as he has often been deployed at right-back because of injuries to the likes of Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong.

He scored from midfield against the Turkish champions and didn't let a defensive role against Tottenham Hotspur last week stop him smashing home a fourth direct free-kick of the season, taking him just one shy of the long-standing Premier League record jointly held by David Beckham and Laurent Robert.

Liverpool's undoing against Spurs was a last-minute leveller from Richarlison, which must have given the Anfield faithful a huge dose of déjà vu.

Slot's side have conceded eight goals in the 90th minute (including stoppage time) in league games this season, with only Leeds United shipping more (nine).

All eight of these goals against have caused the Reds to drop points, resulting in three draws and five defeats.

Brighton have hit a bit of form but how do you know what to expect from Liverpool at the moment? They are so up and down - will they turn up this week?

Liverpool's standout player this season has been Dominik Szoboszlai, and they are probably looking to him to do something special again here.

I've mentioned before how Brighton fans are not having Fabian Hurzeler, so this run of good results as manager - they have won three of their past four games - has come at a good time.

I was at Anfield in December when Liverpool won 2-0 and Brighton should have got something out of that game. This time, Brighton will beat them.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Image source, Getty Images

Midfielder Jack Hinshelwood said he was delighted to have signed a new contract to stay at Brighton until June 2029.

"I've loved every minute of being at this club, and now I can stay here for another three years, hopefully," he told BBC Radio Sussex.

"I think since the summer, obviously, there was talks of hopefully extending my stay. And then the season didn't probably start the way I wanted it to, with the injury and stuff, and then obviously, now I've got myself back in the team. I think it's come at a really nice time.

"I look at Lewis Dunk and Solly March as role models all the time. If I have half the career Dunk's had, then I'll be happy.

"Playing in this higher sort of role, it's been really good. If I can add some goals and assists to my game as well, that will only help the team going forward.

"I love attacking the box. I think it's only a matter of time that I find the back of the net with the positions I'm getting in."

Listen to more from the interview with Hinshelwood on BBC Sounds

Explore more Brighton content on BBC Sounds

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Liverpool at American Express Stadium (kick-off 12:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• There are no new injury concerns and winger Kaoru Mitoma is available for contention.

• On overcoming a tricky patch: "I never stop thinking about how I can improve the team and how we can improve as a club, on the pitch and off it. I always emphasise how my team plays, they always stick together, and it's important to keep working hard and keeping standards high. We do that well."

• He said the Premier League "is unpredictable" this season so they "need to play every game like it's a final" to see if they can get into the top eight.

• On Liverpool, who comfortably beat Galatasaray midweek: "We all know Liverpool are still one of the best teams with incredible individual quality. They came into a flow and when Liverpool get into a flow they are dangerous for every team."

• Hurzeler said "it's our responsibility" to disrupt Liverpool's flow and they can do that by being "prepared and intense".

• He said his "relationship with the fans has never been closer" and he puts that down to navigating the "tough period" together.

• His message to the fans for the Liverpool game: "Be as loud as possible, be behind us, be pushing, be creating an energy. We can create a place that no-one wants to go [Amex] and that will help our intensity and performance. The fans against Arsenal were on it and they influenced the game."

• He acknowledged the "competition is on" for a starting place, but as a lot of his players have different attributes he believes the squad "can benefit" game-to-game.

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Got a question about Brighton? Get in touch here and we'll put it to our experts

England manager Thomas Tuchel has named his 35-man squad for the two friendlies against Uruguay and Japan in March.

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City), Aaron Ramsdale (Newcastle United), Jason Steele (Brighton & Hove Albion).

Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guéhi (Manchester City), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan).

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), James Garner (Everton), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace).

Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona, loan from Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur).

There are 13 players involved who weren't in the last squad back in November, while there's a first senior call-up for Everton midfielder James Garner and Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele.

In this week's edition of the Football Interview, Kelly Somers speaks to Brighton midfielder James Milner.

They discuss his journey from joining the Leeds academy to breaking the appearance record in the Premier League at the age of 40.

He talks about the best managers he's played under as well as the highs and lows of his Premier League career which started way back in 2002.

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Brighton keeper Carl Rushworth, on loan at Coventry City, is attracting interest from as many as six Premier League clubs with the 24-year-old Englishman expected to command a fee of about £20m. (Talksport), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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We are getting to the stage of the season where every Premier League team is managing injuries in their squad as the sheer volume and intensity of games begins to take its toll.

But who has been most affected by injuries across the campaign so far?

Ben Dinnery, from Premier Injuries Limited, has provided the data below, showing the number of domestic injuries each top-flight team has suffered, defined by a player missing at least one Premier League game.

The data has been taken from the opening weekend up to and including 18 March.

Despite this table listing domestic injuries, it is unsurprising that the top three of Arsenal, Chelsea and Aston Villa have all competed in European competition, with the Gunners still fighting on four fronts and the Blues also coming off the back of a much-shortened pre-season following their Club World Cup victory.

Perhaps more surprisingly, however, is the fact Arsenal's 31 domestic injuries so far comfortably leads the way, illustrating the strength and depth available to Mikel Arteta to still have his side nine points clear at the top of the table.

The graphic below shows Tottenham lead the way for days missed by injured players, illustrating the issues faced by Thomas Frank, who had to cope with long-term absentees including Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison.

Both West Ham and Brentford are in the bottom three for domestic injuries and days missed through those injuries, while Arsenal and Villa are in the top three for both.

Chelsea drop down the table when looking at days missed, showing they have predominately suffered from short absences spread throughout the squad.

It is worth pointing out that Newcastle's two longest absences this season - Emil Krafth (120 days) and Yoane Wissa (88 days), who had not yet even trained with his new side, resulted from injuries picked up on international duty and are not factored into the figures.