Brighton & Hove Albion

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We asked for your views on who will be Brighton's first-choice goalkeeper next season, as transfer rumours continue to swirl around current number one Bart Verbruggen.

The Seagulls already have some options in-house with Jason Steele recently being called up to the England national team, Carl Rushworth impressing on loan at Coventry City, and James Beadle getting minutes in on loan at Birmingham City.

Here are some of your thoughts:

Miles: If Verbruggen goes then I think Rushworth should come back to Brighton and vie with Steele for the number one spot. Steele has shown in the past that he is a competent Premier League goalkeeper so, if Rushworth is not ready, there is no problem. If Verbruggen stays then I would've thought an extended loan to Coventry City would suit all parties.

Stoke: If, as expected, Verbruggen has a successful World Cup and moves on to one of Europe's super power teams, Rushworth will be Brighton's number one next season. If Verbruggen signs a new contract, Rushworth will move on to one of Europe's top teams for a lot of money (as is standard for Brighton).

James: If Verbruggen stays, he will be number one. If he leaves, then I think Steele will become number one and Rushworth will be on the substitutes bench.

Roger: Having followed Rushworth on his Albion career path since his early loan spell with non-league Worthing, his potential has shone out. At Worthing and each subsequent step-up, Rushworth has proven himself worthy of the trust of his coaches and teammates. Each step up has been a personal challenge which he has undertaken with unquenchable self-belief. Above all, he has earned the trust of his masters at Brighton and his time is now. Offer Steele a coaching role at the club before the FA pip you to the post, give Rushworth a season as understudy to Verbruggen, and then accept the inevitable and cash-in on our heroic Dutchman.

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Former Brighton goalkeeping coach Jack Stern believes Carl Rushworth is ready to become the Seagulls' first-choice goalkeeper if Bart Verbuggen was to depart in the summer.

Rushworth, 24, has impressed while on loan at Championship leaders Coventry City, but has himself admitted he may need to leave his parent club to fulfil his ambitions.

As well as Rushworth, Stern mentioned James Beadle, who is on loan at second-tier club Birmingham City, as another "strong" goalkeeper in the mix for a breakthrough at Brighton.

"When I left Brighton, I made the point to say that they had a collection of goalkeepers that was really strong, some of the best young goalkeepers in Europe," Stern told BBC Radio Sussex., external "Both Carl and James have continued to show that this year.

"They have both got huge potential. Just because of his age and experience, James is probably another year or so off being ready for that.

"At Carl's age, there are not many English goalkeepers in the country who have had the amount of games that he has had at a good level.

"Carl probably feels ready and he probably is ready. That's not my decision to make, Brighton have got some difficult decisions to make in terms of the goalkeepers this summer - but some good ones to make as well."

What do you think will happen in terms of Brighton's goalkeepers in the summer? Who do you think will be number one next season and why?

Get in touch with your views here

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Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele says being called up for England by manager Thomas Tuchel is "unbelievable" and something he will "treasure forever".

England have said Steele, who has not made a single Premier League appearance for Brighton this season, is named "with the prospect of him joining the World Cup squad as a training goalkeeper during the summer".

The call-up is the 35-year-old's first at senior international level since he represented Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics in London.

"It's been a very emotional week, for my family especially," Steele told BBC Radio Sussex. "I'm really looking forward to it, to meet everyone, and to show them what I can do on and off the pitch.

"My job is to come into work every day - like everyone else - and try my best. I try to have a positive impact every single day on everything I can control.

"I'm over the moon and really happy. I'll try my hardest every single day in training and see what happens.

"I'm not playing every week at my club, so a lot of people will question why I would be in the squad. He [Tuchel] has obviously done his homework and when I do get the opportunity to play, I always try to help the team as much as I can.

"I think I've shown this season that I train hard and prepare every day as if I am going to play, so maybe that has a positive impact on people.

"As a goalkeeper, no matter how good you are, you're always going to have tough periods so it's about having the resilience to come through it and believe in yourself.

"This club have been amazing to me. I was at my lowest and they supported me and got me back up there by showing belief in me.

"You have to have ability to play at this level, but mentality is probably the most important part. So I'm really looking forward to this opportunity and I'm going to go there and show myself."

England continue their World Cup preparations with friendlies against Uruguay on 27 March and Japan on 31 March.

Listen to an interview with Steele in the latest episode of Albion Unlimited on BBC Sounds

A new episode of BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast is now available to download and listen to on BBC Sounds.

Brighton striker Danny Welbeck reflects on the win over Liverpool and not being selected in the latest England squad, while former Seagulls striker Craig Mackail-Smith discusses Welbeck's Albion role and pressure for forwards.

Elsewhere, goalkeeper Jason Steele reacts to his call-up to Thomas Tuchel's England squad.

Listen now below or on BBC Sounds.

Explore all Brighton content on BBC Sounds

Listen to every Brighton game live on BBC Radio Sussex, with all the build-up and full commentary with Johnny Cantor and Warren Aspinall, and there is a full preview of all Seagulls' matches on Fridays at 18:00 in The Weekend Warm-up

Scott McCarthy
Fan writer

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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

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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."

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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