Brighton – Sunderland

Brighton head into the home fixture as fourth‑placed leaders with seven points from four games, having scored 13 and conceded just five. Their opponents, Sunderland, sit in 14th place on four points, their lone win and draw balanced by two defeats and a modest three‑goal tally against five conceded. The Seagulls will be looking to extend their unbeaten run and close the gap to the league leaders, while Sunderland will need to tighten up at the back to avoid slipping further down the table. Historically, the two sides have not met often this season, so the encounter could prove a decisive test for Brighton’s promotion ambitions and Sunderland’s fight for survival.