Why You Should Bet on Brighton in the Premier League and FA Cup

Brighton are one of the form teams in the Premier League. Continuing their impressive run could see them qualify for the Champions League. 

Scott Thornton outlines why the Seagulls are the value bet to finish in the top five in Fabian Hurzeler’s first season at the club. 

Odds courtesy of bet365. Correct at time of publishing and subject to change.

Brighton’s Form Makes Champions League Football a Possibility

Brighton and Liverpool are the only teams that are unbeaten in their last five Premier League matches. Their last league outing was a 2-2 draw against Manchester City at the Etihad. Hurzeler’s side finished the game with more attempts and a higher xG than their opponents, showing that they are a match for anyone in the division as we head into the final weeks of the season. 

Hurzeler took over from a hugely popular Roberto De Zerbi and he has taken this team up a level. Brighton are more direct under their new boss. They look to create overloads all over the pitch and move the ball to their more advanced players quickly. The likes of Joao Pedro, Danny Welbeck, Kaoru Mitoma, Georgino Minteh and Georginio Rutter have all made a healthy contribution. The Seagulls don’t rely on one man to grab the goals, meaning their late charge cannot be derailed by injury. The five players mentioned have combined for 34 league goals and will be key in the weeks to come. 

The Seagulls endured a tough run of results in December but they have been excellent since the turn of the year. Since the start of 2025, Brighton are the fourth-highest-scoring team in the league, netting an average of 1.9 goals per game. They also have the fifth-highest average xG with 1.75, so their excellent attacking output is no fluke. 

Brighton’s attack has helped them pick up 20 points from their last 10 league outings. Over that period, they have beaten Chelsea, Manchester United, Bournemouth, Fulham, Southampton and Ipswich. Their two draws have come against Arsenal and Manchester City.

Brighton face just two teams who are currently in the top six in their last nine Premier League games. They face Liverpool in their final home game of the campaign but it is their clash with Newcastle at the Amex Arena on May 3rd that could prove decisive in the battle to qualify for the Champions League. The Seagulls are currently 7th, behind Newcastle on goal difference. A decent run of fixtures and home advantage in this crunch clash with the Magpies makes them the value pick to finish in the top five, which could be enough to secure a place in Europe’s elite club competition. 

Brighton’s next league outing sees them square off against Aston Villa. Hurzeler’s men drew 2-2 when they faced the Villains in Birmingham earlier in the season. They beat Unai Emery’s men 1-0 when they last faced them at the Amex. The scoreline doesn’t tell the whole story. The Seagulls dominated that game, creating six big chances and having 13 more shots than their opponents. 

There are important fixtures to come but Brighton’s form means they are well placed to finish above their rivals. Newcastle are odds on to secure a place in the top five so the chunky price of 5.50 available for the Seagulls makes sense given the form they are in.

The Seagulls Target Cup Success

Brighton have enjoyed a meteoric rise since Tony Bloom became the club’s chairman in 2009. The club have made a series of fantastic managerial appointments and their shrewdness in the transfer market is the envy of most Premier League clubs. Despite the upward trajectory, the Seagulls are yet to get their hands on a major trophy but that could all change this season. They face Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup and are the third favourites to go on and win the trophy. 

Fabian Hurzeler’s side were beaten 7-0 the last time they faced Nottingham Forest, a rare poor performance in 2025, but the underlying data suggests that the scoreline was slightly flattering. Nuno Espirito Santo’s team drastically overperformed their xG of 3.41.  Brighton are unbeaten in their seven matches since that defeat and have home advantage when the teams meet in the FA Cup. This weekend provides them with the perfect opportunity to exorcise their demons and keep their cup dream alive. 

Forest have won just one of their last five away matches in all competitions. That solitary victory came against an Ipswich side that are destined for relegation. During that run, they have conceded an average of three goals per game. They face a Brighton side that have won their last four games in front of their own fans. The Seagulls are also unbeaten in their last five home games against Nottingham Forest.

With Brighton in exceptional form, now is the time to back them for success in the Premier League and FA Cup. 

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