Brighton & Hove Albion – FC Fulham
Brighton comes into the game on the back of a 4-1 win at Tottenham, while Fulham is coming off a defeat to Manchester City, and the question is who will set the tone for the new season, Fabian Hürzeler or Marco Silva. De Cuyper is particularly in the spotlight at Brighton.
On Saturday, Brighton & Hove Albion welcomes Fulham to the American Express Stadium, with both teams starting the Premier League season without any points. Brighton is currently in 5th place in the table, while Fulham is in 10th. The most recent head-to-head match in March ended 2-1 in Brighton’s favor, but Fulham had the upper hand in the previous series. Fulham looked solid in pre-season, with Harry Wilson scoring frequently, but Marco Silva criticized the team’s passive transfer window. Antonee Robinson is out for Fulham, while Adam Webster and Stefanos Tzimas are unavailable for Brighton. In addition, referees intend to crack down on holding in the penalty area, which could lead to more set pieces and penalties.
Brighton – Fulham Info
- Venue: American Express Stadium, Falmer, East Sussex
- Date and time: 16.08.2025, 16:00
- Competition: Premier League (Matchday 1)
Our tips at a glance: Over 2.5 goals, Brighton to win, both teams to score: Yes.
The goal bet is backed by Brighton’s consistent attacking pattern and Fulham’s vulnerability, with Fulham conceding over 1.5 goals in 80% of their games. Stricter refereeing for holding in the penalty area increases the likelihood of penalties and thus the goal rate. Brighton’s four wins in five games, home advantage, Fulham’s rather passive transfer window with a possible gap on the left if Robinson is missing, and offensive impetus from De Cuyper all point to a win for Brighton. The power rankings see Brighton ahead of Fulham. Both teams to score: Yes remains plausible because Brighton has conceded a goal in 80% of its recent games and Fulham has scored in four of its last five, flanked by Harry Wilson’s strong run-up in preparation.
Brighton Form & Record Check
Brighton are coming off a strong finish to last season. They won four of their last five league games, including a 4-1 win at Tottenham and a 3-2 win against Liverpool, as well as a 2-0 win at Wolverhampton and a 1-1 draw against Newcastle. Their performances looked more mature, although their balance wavered at times, and they only just managed to hold on to their leads against West Ham and Liverpool.
The patterns are clear. Brighton scored in each of these five games, often before the break, and every game saw more than 1.5 goals. At the same time, they conceded in four of these games, most recently twice in a row. The first halves are often more controlled, but after the break the game opens up and the defense wobbles in intense phases.
Adam Webster and Stefanos Tzimas are out. Matt O’Riley was in the spotlight recently as a penalty taker, and there are rumors surrounding him and Carlos Baleba. De Cuyper is also in the spotlight. Brighton is formally in fifth place in the table, level on points with Brentford and Burnley.
Our prediction: Hürzeler will start with Brighton in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Verbruggen in goal, Lamptey, van Hecke, Igor and De Cuyper behind him. Wieffer will set the pace in the center alongside Baleba, with Minteh, O’Riley and Mitoma in front of Rutter. Interestingly, De Cuyper is particularly anticipated, as was hinted at recently. Given the stricter interpretation of holding, Lamptey’s running duels in the penalty area will be tricky.
Webster is likely to be out with a cruciate ligament rupture and Tzimas with muscle problems. Therefore, van Hecke and Igor are the obvious choices in the center. O’Riley, despite rumors of a move to Juve, could play in the number 10 role, while Baleba remains a candidate for the starting lineup despite flirting with United. Alternatives include Veltman on the right, Enciso in the half-space and Welbeck up front. Please note that this is a possible, unconfirmed starting lineup.
Fulham Form & Record Check
Fulham’s final sprint has been mixed. Away wins at Southampton (1-2) and Brentford (2-3) were followed by defeats at Aston Villa (1-0), at home against Everton (1-3) and against Manchester City (0-2). Against City, there was a lack of presence between the lines, and the penalty that made it 0-2 sealed an overall passive performance.
It is striking that Fulham conceded a goal before half-time in each of their last five games and did not win a single first half. There were no draws, there were often plenty of goals, and the second halves were often better. The preparations sounded more positive, with the team remaining unbeaten in four friendlies, Harry Wilson scoring five times and Emile Smith Rowe three.
Marco Silva criticized a too passive transfer window, which is evident in the depth of the squad. Antonee Robinson is missing on the left after surgery, which costs the team momentum. Rodrigo Muniz is being targeted by Atalanta, which could have an impact before the season starts. Formally, Fulham starts in 10th place, level on points with Everton and Leeds.
Our prediction: Fulham will stick with Silva’s 4-2-3-1 formation. Leno in goal, behind him Tete, Andersen, Cuenca and Sessegnon. In front of them Lukić alongside Cairney. In the attacking trio, Wilson, Pereira and Traoré behind Jiménez. Wilson was very sharp in pre-season with five goals, and Jiménez has also been on target recently. Minor adjustments are conceivable, but the framework seems set.
Personnel prediction: Robinson is out after surgery, so Sessegnon is likely to start on the left, with Castagne the pragmatic alternative. Da Silva criticized the transfer window as passive, so no radical changes are to be expected, rather clear roles. Smith Rowe, who scored in the preseason, and Iwobi are waiting in the wings as flexible options and could see some early minutes depending on how the game unfolds.
H2H Brighton – Fulham Head-to-head & Statistics
The last five encounters have seen Fulham win three, Brighton one, and one draw. In March 2025, Brighton won 2-1. Before that, Fulham won 3-1 in December 2024 and 3-0 in 2024. In 2023, there was a 1-1 draw and a 1-0 win for Fulham.
Fulham scored in all five games, meaning Brighton conceded goals every time. Fulham also won the second half four times in a row, while Brighton lost the second half just as often. This suggests control after the break.
In terms of goals, four of the five matches had fewer than 3.5 goals, while four matches had at least two goals. Interestingly, the second half was low-scoring three times in a row, with fewer than 1.5 goals. Patience could be crucial again.
