Brentford face Brighton and Hove Albion at American Express Stadium in the Premier League on Sunday (2pm kick-off GMT).
The Bees will be looking to build on their victory over Nottingham Forest against a third-placed Seagulls side who have scored more goals than any other team in the division this season.
Analysis, team news, match officials and more – here’s everything you need to know ahead of the game.
Pre-match Analysis
Stephen Gillett, Playmaker Stats: Prolific Seagulls combine goals with relentless pressure
Brentford make the short trip south to the Amex on Sunday for a fascinating clash against third-placed Brighton.
The Seagulls have started the season in free-scoring fashion, netting 24 Premier League goals across the opening nine matchweeks – more than any other team in the division.
Renowned for their astute recruitment and tactical adaptability, the south coast club have continued to flourish this term despite a couple of high-profile departures.
The decision to re-sign Pascal Groß for just over £1 million at the start of the year has proved particularly inspired, with the 35-year-old's incisive passing and game intelligence central to much of Brighton's best attacking work.
The German playmaker has already registered four assists this season, moving into the Premier League's all-time top 50 for assists, and also leads the division with 24 key passes.
Between them, Brighton (11) and Brentford (10) have had 21 different Premier League goalscorers this season, underlining the variety of attacking options that will be on show at the Amex.
One area in which the Seagulls have been particularly effective is set-pieces.
Brighton have already scored seven times from corners, free-kicks and throw-ins in 2026/27 – more than any other Premier League side and just four fewer than they managed throughout last season.
While Brighton's set-piece prowess represents a significant improvement on last season, their ability to regain possession high up the pitch remains one of their defining features.
Long known for their aggressive, high-intensity pressing, Brighton once again rank among the Premier League's most effective sides out of possession.
Fabian Hürzeler's side start their passing sequences higher up the pitch than any other team in the division and rank second for pressing sequences (123), while their 8.8 passes allowed per defensive action is also the second-lowest figure in the top flight. Interestingly, the only side ahead of Brighton in both categories is Tottenham, now managed by former Seagulls boss Roberto De Zerbi.
That relentless pressure has helped Brighton force a league-leading 97 high turnovers this season, underlining their ability to disrupt opponents attempting to play out from the back.
Brentford will therefore need to be alert defensively, but Brighton's underlying numbers offer Keith Andrews and his side some encouragement at the other end of the pitch.
Only Arsenal (five) have conceded fewer Premier League goals than Brighton (seven) this season, but the Seagulls' expected goals against figure of 13.34 suggests opponents have created considerably more than their impressive defensive record might indicate.
Scout Report
Dan Long, Sky Sports: Brighton building momentum - but busiest stretch awaits
Brighton’s European push only started to gain real momentum in February, when they beat Brentford 2-0 in west London.
The Seagulls had only won one of the 13 Premier League matches leading up to that - but it was the first in a run of six wins in eight games that lifted them right back into the mix.
A second successive eighth-place finish - and qualification for the Conference League - was the eventual reward, but with just one more point, they would have returned to the Europa League.
Still, Brighton know European football of any kind is precious.
They reached the Europa League last 16 in 2023/24 under Roberto De Zerbi, but found competing on multiple fronts a challenge. This time, they have a stronger squad and experience under their belts. They are outright favourites to win the Conference League for a reason.
In September, owner Tony Bloom said: “We’re after a major trophy”. Even so, they might well have bigger fish to fry.
Nine games into the 2026/27 Premier League season, Fabian Hürzeler's side are third in the table. They are two points behind Man City and five behind Arsenal – having already beaten both.
They have scored 24 goals, which is the most in the division, and conceded seven, which is the second fewest in the division. And they are averaging 2.11 points per game. Based on that average, they would pick up another 61 points this season, which would take them to 80.
For context, their record points tally in the Premier League is 62 (2022/23) and 80 has been enough for a top-three finish in five of the last six seasons.
Of course, nine games is a small sample size in the grand scheme of things and Brighton will, by no means, be getting carried away.
After the November international break, they have 11 games before the turn of the year. That equates to one game every 3.7 days. This is where the depth of their squad will be truly put to the test. For now, it’s about enjoying this incredible start and building solid foundations for later down the line.
If Brighton do end up being in the title race, it would be an incredible achievement and one unthinkable for many until relatively recently.
Yet even if that becomes unmanageable in the long run, the potential to qualify for the Champions League and/or win a European trophy would still represent another remarkable step forward for a club that continues to raise its own ceiling.
In the Dugout
Fabian Hürzeler
Born in February 1993, during the time his Swiss father and German mother were working in the USA, Fabian Hürzeler started out as part of Bayern Munich's youth system after returning to Europe aged 2.
He spent the best part of a decade with Die Roten, working his way up to play for Bayern Munich II, while also playing for the German national team from U15 to U19 level.
Hürzeler moved on in 2013, first to 1899 TSG Hoffenheim II, then to 1860 Munich II a year later, before dropping to the fifth tier of German football with Pipinsried, where he combined playing with the role of head coach, while also working as assistant manager of Germany U18s and U20s.
His coaching credentials were clear from the start, as Pipinsreid won promotion from the Bayernliga Sud in his first season.
After four years, he left the club in the summer of 2020 and was appointed assistant at St Pauli.
Two-and-a-half years later - aged just 29 - he became head coach after the departure of Timo Schulz, four months before he was granted his UEFA Pro Licence, and led the club to a fifth-place finish in the 2. Bundesliga in 2022/23.
Hürzeler's side flourished in 2023/24 and went unbeaten in their first 20 games of the season, on the way to pipping Holstein Kiel to the title by a single point to secure a return to the Bundesliga after 13 years away.
Just three months after signing a new contract at St Pauli in March 2024, Hürzeler took over from Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton, becoming the Premier League's youngest permanent manager in history at the age of 31.
At 33, Hürzeler remains the youngest manager in the top four divisions of English football.
The Game Plan
With Brian Owen, Brighton and Hove Albion reporter at The Argus
Brian Owen, Brighton and Hove Albion reporter at The Argus, explains how Fabian Hürzeler is likely to set his side up for Sunday’s game against Brentford.
“It is really fluid,” he told brentfordfc.com.
“Officially, you would probably say 4-2-3-1, but Enzo Maresca made the point ahead of the game against Man City last week, and he is right, that they do go direct more often.
“They are very intense, relentless, and they have made a point of being physically stronger this season as well.
“Players crop up in all sorts of positions, especially the full-backs.”
Last Premier League starting XI v Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Costinha, Vušković, Dunk, Boscagli; Groß, Andrés; Gómez, Ayari, De Cuyper; Kostoulas
Team News
Yarmoliuk returns for Brighton trip
Yehor Yarmoliuk is available for Sunday’s game at Brighton after completing his three-match suspension.
Head coach Keith Andrews reported no fresh injury concerns following the win over Nottingham Forest.
Josh Dasilva is edging closer to a first-team return after featuring alongside Yarmoliuk for Brentford B on Monday.
Antoni Milambo has trained consistently but is not yet ready for selection.
Fábio Carvalho (knock) and Rico Henry (hip and quad) remain sidelined.
Match Officials
Oliver set for second Brentford assignment of the season
Referee: Michael Oliver
Assistants: Stuart Burt and James Mainwaring
Fourth official: Stephen Martin
VAR: Stuart Attwell
Michael Oliver will referee Sunday’s game at the Amex.
Oliver was the man in the middle for Brentford’s 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on the opening day of the Premier League season.
Oliver has officiated 13 games this season, showing 39 yellow cards and four reds.
Memorable Meeting
Brighton 3 Brentford 3 (1 April 2023)
Brentford were denied all three points against Brighton and Hove Albion by Alexis Mac Allister’s last-minute penalty.
The Bees took the lead three times only to be pegged back on each occasion in a thrilling encounter on the south coast.
Pontus Jansson nodded home after 10 minutes; a goal which was cancelled out 11 minutes later by Kaoru Mitoma’s neat lob.
That kicked off a spell of three goals in seven minutes which saw Ivan Toney restore the Bees’ advantage before Danny Welbeck’s close-range leveller.
Ethan Pinnock put Brentford back ahead at the start of the second half; a lead which lasted until Mac Allister’s spot-kick in the final minute of normal time.