Brighton Focuses On Finals-Mode For Remaining Premier League Contests

Brighton host Bournemouth at the AMEX Stadium on Monday in a Premier League clash with European implications, as Brighton chase a place in continental competition and Bournemouth attempt to recover from

a steep league drop while adjusting to key changes in their squad and recent cup disappointment.

Fabian Hurzeler wants Brighton to treat every remaining league fixture as must-win, with the tight table giving Brighton hope of European qualification, while Bournemouth arrive with renewed belief following a dramatic win over Tottenham yet remain wary after an extended slump in domestic form.

Brighton sit 11th in the Premier League but remain firmly in contention, only four points behind fifth-placed Brentford, helped by a two-match unbeaten league run against Burnley and Manchester City, plus an FA Cup third-round success over Manchester United that strengthened morale inside Hurzeler’s squad.

Hurzeler underlined the mentality Brighton need during the run-in, stressing short-term focus and the intensity of every game. Hurzeler said: "We should go game to game and don't look too much ahead. In the Premier League this season, anything is possible, and you have to see every game as a final. "

Brighton’s coach also highlighted the importance of Monday’s match and the difficulty of the division. Hurzeler added: "We have to go into this game on Monday, and it will be a big challenge and a big opportunity for us. This Premier League season is very competitive and unpredictable. "

Hurzeler’s options improved with the return of Yankuba Minteh and Carlos Baleba from Africa Cup of Nations duty, increasing competition for places, especially in midfield, where Pascal Gross is available again after rejoining the group this month and challenging Baleba’s previously secure starting role.

Discussing that dynamic, Hurzeler said: "First of all, Pascal is a player who makes the players around him better, so I hope Carlos will benefit from that. Our thing is definitely that there is more competition. That's also what Carlos needs to understand. We have more midfielders now. "

Under the lights on Monday night.pic.twitter.com/65F0oaaLUWBrighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) January 16, 2026

Bournemouth’s season has swung sharply, shifting from early top-four contention to a current position of 15th in the table after a poor league sequence, yet their recent 2-1 victory over Spurs provided a timely lift ahead of visiting Brighton, despite an FA Cup exit on penalties to Newcastle United.

Andoni Iraola must also deal with squad changes after Antoine Semenyo’s departure to Manchester City in a reported 62.5m transfer, leaving Bournemouth seeking reinforcements during the January window and increasing pressure on recruitment as the club balance survival ambitions with longer-term planning.

Iraola outlined the situation but refused to be drawn on specific transfer targets. Iraola told reporters: "I cannot speak about players that are not our players. The club is working on trying to sign players. We are all aware of our situation, and now it is very delicate, and we need to add players. "

Iraola continued, stressing the difficulties of January business and the need for patience from Bournemouth supporters. Iraola added: "But you can't just decide that you need a playerand you will sign a player. The club is working on different situations, open to different options, and we have to wait until we can close a deal. "

Premier League Brighton vs Bournemouth players to watch

Kaoru Mitoma stands out for Brighton against Bournemouth, having scored more Premier League goals versus the Cherries than against any other opponent, with five strikes, and Mitoma’s next appearance will mark the 100th Premier League match, making Mitoma the third Japanese player to hit that landmark, following Maya Yoshida and Shinji Okazaki.

Junior Kroupi has emerged as a key attacking figure for Bournemouth, with the 19-year-old already scoring seven Premier League goals this season, placing Kroupi among the leading teenage scorers, behind only Nicolas Anelka, Robbie Keane, Romelu Lukaku and Kelechi Iheanacho in single-season tallies by non-British teenagers.

Premier League Brighton vs Bournemouth match prediction and stats

Historical results favour Brighton at the AMEX Stadium, with the Seagulls losing only one of six Premier League home meetings against Bournemouth, winning four and drawing one, and Brighton have taken victory in each of the last four such fixtures since suffering a heavy 5-0 defeat in April 2019.

Brighton also boast a strong overall home record, with just two defeats in their last 18 Premier League matches at the AMEX, winning ten and drawing six, with both losses coming against Aston Villa, while Hurzeler’s side have recovered more points after conceding first than any other team this season.

Bournemouth show the opposite trend when opening the scoring, having failed to win more different Premier League matches after scoring first than any other club this term, drawing four and losing two, though Bournemouth still aim for a league double over Brighton after September’s 2-1 home victory at Vitality Stadium.

The Cherries’ success against Spurs, a 3-2 result, ended an 11-match winless league sequence that contained five draws and six defeats, and Bournemouth now seek consecutive Premier League victories for the first time since August, when they recorded three straight wins, including their last two league successes over Spurs and Brighton.

Long-range shooting has been a major attacking strength for Bournemouth, who have scored 11 Premier League goals from outside the penalty area this season, their highest such tally in a single top-flight campaign, with only Aston Villa bettering that figure, having recorded 12 strikes from distance so far.

OPTA’s model makes Brighton favourites for this fixture, reflecting Brighton’s strong home record and Bournemouth’s inconsistency. The probabilities for the three possible results are set out below in percentage terms for additional clarity for supporters and analysts assessing likely outcomes.

Result	Win Probability
Brighton	52.2%
Draw	24.4%
Bournemouth	23.4%

The meeting between Brighton and Bournemouth brings together teams targeting different objectives yet sharing urgency, with Brighton pushing for European qualification and Bournemouth seeking stability after a difficult spell, and both managers stressing the importance of Monday’s game within a tightly contested Premier League season.