Brighton hit Palace for five to go third
Brighton thrashed Crystal Palace 5-0 to keep a perfect defensive run going.
It was a fourth straight Premier League win. The aggregate score across those four games reads 15-0. BBC Sport
Diego Gomez lit it up early. He scored from the halfway line in the seventh minute to make it 2-0. Brighton had three goals inside the opening ten minutes, and Jack Hinshelwood added the fifth to finish the rout.
The result left Brighton third after seven games. They sat on 16 points, behind Arsenal and Manchester City. City still held a 100% record at that stage, while Arsenal went into the weekend as reigning champions.
The numbers behind the start are striking. No team in the division had scored more than Fabian Hurzeler's side. None had conceded fewer. Brighton led the league for shots on target and sat second for shots, big chances and xG, expected goals, a measure of chance quality.
They have done it while reshaping the attack. Brighton lost top scorer Joao Pedro to Chelsea in the summer of 2025, according to BBC Sport, and Danny Welbeck also moved to Chelsea. Defender Luka Vuskovic arrived from Tottenham Hotspur.
The goals have come from everywhere. Brighton had 11 different league scorers, plus three own goals given in their favour. They had also kept a league-high five clean sheets and were still unbeaten at home.
Teenager Charalampos Kostoulas has been central to it. The 19-year-old striker had three league goals and two assists this season. Among teenagers in Europe's top five leagues, only Lamine Yamal had more goal involvements.
Across Europe, only one club attack was outscoring them in domestic league play. Barcelona had 39 goals from nine La Liga matches, the only total higher than Brighton's among the top five leagues.
What makes this stand out is how new it feels for Brighton. The club have never finished higher than sixth in the top flight. Match of the Day pundit Dion Dublin was asked if they could stay in the fight and mount a serious title challenge. His answer: "Why not?", as reported by BBC Sport.
For fans, this means a short trip into uncharted territory. A derby win by five, a halfway-line goal, and a place just behind the champions and the leaders. It is early, with only seven games played, but the noise around the Amex is getting louder.
