Brighton & Hove Albion host Sunderland at the Amex Stadium on Saturday 20 Decemberwith both sides arriving from very different most-recent results — and separated by only a small gap in the table. Brighton start the weekend on 23 points, while Sunderland sit slightly higher on 26 points.
Brighton’s last match in any competition was the 2–0 Premier League defeat away at Liverpool on 13 December, where they fell behind inside the opening minute and couldn’t recover. Sunderland’s last match in any competition was the 1–0 Premier League win over Newcastle on 14 December, a derby result that will have lifted both confidence and belief heading into this trip.
The form guide reflects the contrast. Brighton’s recent league run includes the Liverpool defeat, a late 1–1 draw with West Ham, and the 4–3 home loss to Aston Villa, with a notable 2–0 away win at Nottingham Forest also in that sequence. Sunderland’s recent league results include the derby win over Newcastle, the 3–0 defeat at Manchester City, and the 1–1 draw away at Liverpool, showing both their ability to compete in big games and the fine margins they’ve been living on.
Selection issues could influence the tone of the afternoon. Brighton are set to be without Lewis Dunk, and Carlos Gómez is suspended, reducing options at the back. Sunderland also have absentees related to international commitments, and will again need to manage the balance between energy and control that has characterised their strongest performances this season.
Tactically, Brighton at home will look to reassert rhythm and structure after the Anfield setback. They tend to be at their best when they can build pressure in waves, use width to stretch opponents, and keep the game in the opposition half for long spells. Sunderland, meanwhile, have shown they can handle hostile environments and big occasions — and after the Newcastle win they’ll travel with the belief that they can stay compact, compete for second balls, and make moments count when they do get forward.
With the teams close in the standings and both bringing very different emotional carryover from their last outings, this shapes up as a match where game management matters: Brighton looking for a controlled home response, Sunderland trying to ride derby momentum without letting the occasion pull them out of shape.
