Brighton: Premier League fixtures, injury latest ahead of season restart
Sky Sports will show 64 live Premier League games when season resumes; 25 matches available on both Sky Sports Premier League and Sky's free-to-air Pick channel
Friday 3 July 2020 18:34, UK
The Premier League is back - but what shape are Brighton in for the season restart as they try to avoid relegation?
Ahead of the Premier League's return this month, we run the rule over Graham Potter's side, from fixtures and fitness to the manager's view and more...
- Brighton fixtures for PL return
- Premier League - all the new fixtures and dates
- Premier League table - as it stands
Who have they got left to play?
It is a tough return to action for Brighton, as they face Arsenal at home on Saturday June 20, before clashes with Leicester and Manchester United - both of which are live on Sky Sports Premier League.
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Brighton then face a huge trip to Norwich, before daunting back-to-back home games against Liverpool and Manchester City. Their final three games are against Southampton, Newcastle and Burnley.
Analysis: Difficult run-in ahead
Purely on a results basis, the suspension of football came at a very good time for Brighton, who seemingly couldn't buy a win in 2020.
It was nine games without a victory in the Premier League for Graham Potter's side, their last win coming on December 28 against Bournemouth.
This season has seen huge progress on the pitch for Brighton in terms of playing style, and some notable wins against Tottenham and Arsenal, but they have slipped towards a relegation battle again and their run-in could hardly be more difficult.
Their first three games back come against Arsenal, Leicester and Man Utd, while Liverpool and Man City are also opponents still to come. Potter's side will need some big results if they are to avoid slipping closer to the trapdoor and back to the Championship for the first time since 2017.
Simeon Gholam
Brighton's confirmed Premier League restart dates
Saturday June 20
Brighton vs Arsenal
Kick-Off: 3pm
Tuesday June 23
Leicester vs Brighton
Kick-Off: 6pm; Live on Sky Sports
Tuesday June 30
Brighton vs Man Utd
Kick-Off: 8.15pm; Live on Sky Sports and Sky Pick
Saturday July 4
Norwich vs Brighton
Kick-Off: 12.30opm
Wednesday July 8
Brighton vs Liverpool
Kick-Off: 8.15pm; Live on Sky Sports
Saturday July 11
Brighton vs Manchester City
Kick-Off: 8pm; Live on Sky Sports
Brighton fixtures: Dates and times to be confirmed
Southampton vs Brighton
Brighton vs Newcastle
Burnley vs Brighton
Where can they finish?
Brighton are 15th in the table and two points clear of the drop. However, their form before the suspension was troubling and they have one of the more difficult run-ins of sides in the bottom six.
Their most likely finish is 16th - but modelling by Experimental361 suggest they are about as likely to finish in the relegation zone as they are outside of it.
Any other commitments?
No. Brighton were knocked out of the FA Cup in the third round in January.
Is everyone fit and available?
Brighton were missing Jose Izquierdo, Steven Alzate and Aaron Connolly before the suspension, all had suffering long-term injuries and it remains to be seen whether they will be fit for the restart.
What form were they in before the break?
Brighton are without a win in the Premier League in 2020 as their poor run of form has seen them nosedive down the table. They have drawn six and lost three of their last nine.
What's the manager said?
"There's suffering to get to the Premier League and there's suffering when you're in the Premier League," Graham Potter told Sky Sports in an exclusive interview last month.
"I've found it challenging. I've found it enjoyable. You can appreciate, there's a responsibility in the Premier League and you also realise that I'm very lucky and privileged to be here as well. I'm sure there's a lot of coaches out there in the world who would swap position with me.
"It's, as you'd expect, challenging, hard, ups and downs. But it's been exciting. There's a lot of work to do, we know that. We've made some steps. We've introduced young players into the group, we've changed the dynamic a little bit. We're at the start of that process. Clearly we need to carry on. That's where the work is now."
The betting - Can Brighton stay out of trouble?
The suspension may well have come at the right time for Brighton, as they were on a really poor run of form. Despite their precarious position and their tricky run-in, Sky Bet still fancies the Seagulls to be a Premier League side come next season.
Brighton to stay up - 1/4 with Sky Bet
Watch the Premier League with Sky Sports
Sky Sports will show 64 live Premier League games when the season resumes. In addition to the 39 matches already scheduled to be broadcast exclusively live on Sky Sports before the coronavirus interruption, 25 more matches will be available on both Sky Sports Premier League and Sky's free-to-air Pick channel, allowing the whole nation to be part of the return of live sport.
Free-to-watch highlights of every remaining Premier League game this season will be available from shortly after the full-time whistle on the Sky Sports website, Sky Sports App and Sky Sports Football YouTube channel.
