Brighton finished the league season in sixth place, qualifying for European football for the first time in club history into the UEFA Europa League. This was the highest league finish in the club's history, surpassing the record of ninth place set in the previous season.
Summary
Brighton's opening game of the Premier League season made history, with The Seagulls recording their first ever win at Old Trafford in the 2–1 victory over Manchester United. Pascal Groß scored a brace, taking his tally up to four goals in total against the Red Devils. The win also recorded back to back victories, having won 4–0 in the last home game of the previous season.[3][4] Brighton set a club record of nine consecutive top-flight matches without defeat after their 1–0 home win over Leeds on 27 August.[5] However, any chance of extending this was ended in their next match after losing 2–1 at Fulham with Lewis Dunk scoring his sixth Premier League own goal of his career.[6]
Five days later, Brighton beat Leicester 5–2 at Falmer Stadium, with this being the first time the Seagulls have scored five goals in a Premier League fixture.[7] On 8 September, Graham Potter left Brighton for Chelsea following the sacking of Thomas Tuchel. Andrew Crofts former Brighton player and current under-23's head coach took over as interim head coach with current player Adam Lallana acting as interim first-team coach.[8]
On 18 September 2022, Brighton announced Roberto De Zerbi as the club's new head coach on a four-year contract.[9] His first match in charge came on 1 October, which ended in a 3–3 draw away at Liverpool with Leandro Trossard scoring all three of Brighton's goals, becoming the first Brighton player to score a Premier League hat-trick. Brighton had led Liverpool 2–1 at the break before going 3–2 down, with Trossard scoring an 83rd-minute equaliser.[10] De Zerbi lost his first match at Falmer Stadium on 9 October, losing 1–0 to Tottenham.[11]
On 10 October, Enock Mwepu announced he had been forced to retire due to a hereditary heart condition.[12] Brighton thrashed Chelsea 4–1 on 29 October, beating Graham Potter's men on his first return to Falmer Stadium since he left for the Blues, with De Zerbi claiming his first Brighton win.[13]
Mid-season break for World Cup
During the mid-season break for the World Cup, Brighton headed to Dubai on a training camp where they later played a friendly against Aston Villa on 8 December. They drew 2–2 with the fellow Premier League opposition with Deniz Undav scoring a brace.[14]
Brighton players at the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Brighton were sixth in the Premier League for player representation at the 2022 FIFA World Cup with eight players heading to Qatar for the mid-season competition starting on 20 November.[15]
On 20 December, Brighton's first match since the conclusion of the World Cup, they faced an away trip to League One side Charlton Athletic in the fourth round of the EFL Cup. The game finished 0–0, with Solly March firing over his penalty in the shootout to miss the opportunity to send Albion through to the quarter-finals, with Brighton eventually losing.[16] Six days later on Boxing Day, March redeemed himself, scoring his first goal in over two years with a 20-yard thumper in the 3–1 away win over Southampton, where he also assisted Adam Lallana's goal against his former club.[17] On 31 December, in the 4–2 home defeat against league leaders Arsenal, Albions' 18-year-old Evan Ferguson scored his first Premier League goal, becoming Brighton's youngest ever goalscorer in the league.[18] After the turn of the year on 3 January 2023, Ferguson scored again on his first Premier League start, also assisting March's second goal of the season in the 4–1 away victory over Everton. Brighton graduate Andrew Moran made his Premier League debut as a substitute in the game.[19] On 29 January, Brighton beat defending champions Liverpool in the FA Cup fourth round to advance to the fifth. This victory meant that Brighton had gone three games unbeaten – one draw, two victories – against Liverpool in the 2022–23 season.[20] In the fifth round of the cup competition, on 28 February captain and hometown boy Lewis Dunk made his 400th Brighton appearance, helping the Albion progress into the quarter-final after a 1–0 away win over Championship side Stoke City.[21] On 4 March, long term back-up keeper Jason Steele made his second Premier League appearance of his career – his first coming in November 2021 – keeping his first top flight clean sheet in the 4–0 home win over West Ham.[22] After being selected ahead of Robert Sánchez against the Hammers, the 32-year-old was given a run of game time and preferred to than the Spanish keeper with De Zerbi saying that "maybe he [Steele] is closer than Robert in my style."[23] On 15 March, Pascal Groß made his 200th Seagulls appearance, helping Brighton defeat their bitter rivals Crystal Palace at Falmer Stadium with former Palace youth player Solly March scoring the only goal of the game.[24] Dunk became the first Brighton player to make 200 Premier League appearances on 8 April in an away match at Tottenham, scoring an equaliser in an eventual 1–2 defeat. The refereeing of that game was mired in controversy and several calls were questioned by the media.[25] Brighton were knocked out of the FA Cup at the semi-final stage on 23 April, losing on penalties to Manchester United at Wembley Stadium. Solly March was reduced to tears after firing over his second spot kick in a shootout of the season.[26] After the game, De Zerbi spoke that Brighton "have to close the page," putting their Wembley disappointment behind them and focus on the fight for Europe.[27] Three days later, Brighton were not able respond to their FA Cup semi final defeat and lost 3–1 away at Nottingham Forest. However, Facundo Buonanotte scored on his first Premier League start, with Julio Enciso making his first league start, and later Odeluga Offiah coming on for his first Premier League appearance.[28] Three days after that, Brighton's first home game in four weeks, they recorded their highest Premier League win, a 6–0 thrashing over Wolves. Deniz Undav scored his first and second league goals in an Albion shirt, with Pascal Groß and Danny Welbeck also scoring braces.[29] On 8 May, Brighton suffered one of their worse Premier League defeats, a 5–1 thumping at home against Everton, with the Toffees scoring within 34 seconds.[30] On 21 May, after a 3–1 win at home over Southampton, Brighton secured a top six finish meaning they had qualified for Europe for the first time in their history.[31] Three days later, Brighton got a 1–1 draw with Manchester City with Enciso scoring a stunning 25-yard equaliser to sealing sixth place and a place in the 2023–24 UEFA Europa League.[32] Brighton's successful season ended in a 2–1 away defeat at Aston Villa on 28 May.[33]
^On 6 January, Connolly was recalled from his season-long loan at Venezia and joined Hull on loan
^On 10 January, Khadra was recalled from his season-long loan at Sheffield United and joined Birmingham on loan
^On 31 January, Duffy signed for Fulham permanently, ending his season-long loan
^On 31 January, Tolaj was recalled from his season-long loan at Salford and joined Dundee on loan
Pre-season and friendlies
On 17 June, Brighton announced details for their pre-season friendly games. Two matches against Union SG and Brentford will take place at the club's training ground, the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre and an away fixture was announced against Reading at the Madejski Stadium.[96]Espanyol was later confirmed as the pre-season finale.[97]
Source: Premier League Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) If the champions, relegated teams or qualified teams for UEFA competitions cannot be determined by rules 1 to 3, rules 4.1 to 4.3 are applied – 4.1) Points gained in head-to-head record between such teams; 4.2) Away goals scored in head-to-head record between such teams; 4.3) Play-offs[98] Notes:
^Since the winners of the 2022–23 FA Cup, Manchester City, qualified for the Champions League, the spot given to the FA Cup winners (Europa League group stage) was passed to the sixth-placed team.
^Since the winners of the 2022–23 EFL Cup, Manchester United, qualified for the Champions League, the spot given to the League Cup winners (Europa Conference League play-off round) was passed to the seventh-placed team.
Source: Premier League A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
^Game on matchweek 8 was postponed due to a planned industrial rail strike.[99] Game rescheduled for 15 March 2023.[100]
^Game on matchweek 7 was postponed in mark of respect following the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II.[101] Game rescheduled for 4 April 2023.[102]
^Game on matchweek 28 was postponed due to both Brighton's and opponents Manchester United's involvement in the FA Cup quarter-finals.[103] Game rescheduled for 4 May 2023.
^Game on matchweek 25 was postponed due to Newcastle United playing in the EFL Cup final.[104] Game rescheduled for 18 May 2023.
^Game on matchweek 32 was postponed due to both Brighton's and opponents Manchester City's involvement in the FA Cup semi-finals. Game rescheduled for 24 May 2023.
Matches
Win Draw Loss Fixtures
On 16 June, the Premier League fixtures were released.[105]
Stadium: Vitality Stadium Attendance: 10,266 Referee: Darren Bond
Note: The match was originally scheduled for 10 September 2022, but was postponed as a mark of respect following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.[101] Fixture rearranged to 4 April 2023.[102]
Brighton joined the competition at the third round stage, and were drawn away to Middlesbrough.[106] In the fourth round a home tie against Liverpool was confirmed.[107]
Brighton entered the competition in the second round and were drawn away to Forest Green Rovers, the first time the senior team have played there.[108] In the fourth round, another away tie was drawn, against Charlton Athletic.[109]
