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Brighton vs Brentford Preview: Team News, Form and Prediction
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- Brighton vs Brentford Preview: Team News, Form and Prediction
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Brentford have drawn all four of their away league matches this season, a record they hope to improve when they visit Brighton on Sunday. Fabian Hürzeler's side have been particularly difficult to beat at the Amex Stadium, though, taking ten points from their opening four home games and conceding just once in the process.
The Bees ended their four-match winless run in all competitions with a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest last weekend , leaving them sixth in the Premier League. Brighton are three places and five points above Keith Andrews' side after an impressive 1-0 win at Manchester City, although they have a European fixture to negotiate before Sunday's meeting.
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The Seagulls travel to Spain to face Getafe in the Conference League on Thursday evening, giving them considerably less preparation time than Brentford , who have not played since Saturday.
Brentford Team News
Yehor Yarmoliuk is available again after completing his three-match suspension, giving Andrews another midfield option after Vitaly Janelt's return against Nottingham Forest.
The Ukraine international featured for Brentford B on Monday, scoring in a 2-1 Premier League Cup victory over Wycombe Wanderers Under-21s. He also played 72 minutes after missing the first team's recent matches against Hull City, Sunderland and Forest.
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Janelt returned to the starting XI against Nottingham Forest, lining up alongside Mathias Jensen and Mamadou Sangaré as Brentford secured their first clean sheet since September. With Yarmoliuk now available again, Andrews must decide whether to retain that midfield three against Brighton .
Aaron Hickey could also come into contention for a starting place. The Scotland international made an impression from the bench against Forest, playing the pass that released Jaidon Anthony before the winger assisted Igor Thiago's second-half goal.
Nathan Collins remained an unused substitute in that game, with Kristoffer Ajer and Sepp van den Berg retaining their places in central defence.
Rico Henry and Fábio Carvalho are both expected to remain sidelined until after the November international break. Henry has been recovering from hip and quad injuries, while Carvalho picked up a knock in training last month.
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There has been progress elsewhere. Josh Dasilva played for the B Team against Wycombe as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury, and Antoni Milambo has returned to training with the group. Kaye Furo remains unavailable following metatarsal surgery.
Brighton Form and Team News
Brighton have won six of their opening nine Premier League matches, scoring 24 goals and conceding seven. Their home results have been particularly impressive, with Aston Villa beaten 4-0 on the opening weekend, Arsenal losing 3-0 in September and Crystal Palace suffering a 5-0 defeat last month.
Hürzeler's team also showed another side to their game at Manchester City last Saturday. Yasin Ayari scored the only goal in the 11th minute, with goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen making several important saves as Brighton protected their advantage.
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The result came just six days after a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool, and European commitments have complicated their preparations for Brentford's visit.
Brighton face Getafe on Thursday in their third Conference League group-stage fixture. Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Pascal Struijk and Femi Azeez have not travelled to Spain because of fitness concerns, with Hürzeler confirming that their absences were not simply a precaution to rest them ahead of Brentford's visit.
Brighton's attacking performances have remained strong. Maxim De Cuyper has been operating further forward in Mitoma's absence, and Diego Gómez has been another important figure in Hürzeler's side. Pascal Groß has also been influential since returning to the club, providing both goals and creativity from midfield.
What to Expect From Brighton vs Brentford
Brighton have caused opponents considerable problems with their pressing this season, often committing players high up the pitch to prevent teams building attacks from defence.
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Their 4-2-3-1 formation offers plenty of movement in midfield, where Groß can drop deeper to receive possession while those around him push forward. Gómez and De Cuyper have also been important to Brighton's defensive work, closing down opponents in wide areas and helping regain the ball higher up the pitch.
Arsenal struggled particularly badly against that approach in September, when Brighton's pressure forced mistakes and restricted their opportunities to play through midfield.
Brentford will need to be careful not to invite that pressure around their own penalty area. Caoimhín Kelleher has been comfortable distributing the ball from defence, but Brighton's willingness to press individual opponents could make passing options harder to find.
Andrews does have players capable of taking advantage when Brighton commit bodies forward.
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Kevin Schade and Dango Ouattara have the pace to attack space behind the full-backs. Finding those players quickly, rather than trying to play through every phase of Brighton's press, could give Brentford chances.
The Bees' second goal against Nottingham Forest showed how effective they can be when attacking at speed. Hickey found Anthony in space on the right, and Thiago finished the move after the winger picked him out inside the penalty area.
Brentford managed only six shots against Forest, however, and were forced to defend for lengthy periods. Brighton have been considerably more productive in front of goal than Oliver Glasner's side, making the defensive concentration Andrews praised last weekend important again.
The Bees have scored in every Premier League match this season and remain unbeaten away from home, although Brighton's record at the Amex suggests opportunities may be limited.
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Last season's meetings also matter. Brighton won both league fixtures, including a 2-1 victory at the Amex in November 2025 when Thiago scored an early penalty before Danny Welbeck and Jack Hinshelwood turned the game around.
Thiago had another chance to rescue a point in stoppage time, but Verbruggen saved his second penalty of the afternoon.
Brighton followed that victory with a 2-0 success at the Gtech Community Stadium in February.
When Is Brighton vs Brentford?
Brighton host Brentford on Sunday 8 November 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 2pm GMT.
The match takes place at the American Express Stadium in Falmer.
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Michael Oliver will referee the game, with Stuart Attwell appointed as VAR.
How to Watch Brighton vs Brentford
The match will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports+, with coverage beginning at 12.30 pm.
In the United States, the match will be available on Peacock, and selected NBCSN subscribers can also watch. NBC Sports includes the 9 am ET kick-off in its official weekend broadcast schedule.
Supporters in Canada can watch the match live on Fubo, which carries the Premier League through its Fubo Sports Network. Coverage is also available through eligible DAZN+ subscriptions via Fubo Sports on DAZN.
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Prediction
Brighton deserve to be favourites on their home form, given the number of chances they've created and how few they have conceded at the Amex.
Brentford have been difficult to beat away from home, drawing at Leeds, Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Hull City, and their attacking options could cause problems if Brighton leave space behind their defence.
Hürzeler's side will also have considerably less recovery time after their trip to Spain, which could factor in as the game progresses.
Brentford will need to defend well to extend their unbeaten away record, but another point looks achievable.
Prediction: Brighton 1-1 Brentford
