Brighton and Hove Albion kick off their 2025-26 Premier League campaign after Fulham at the Amex Stadium on Saturday 16th August at 3pm. The Seagulls missed out on European football by four points last season and will be looking for a better finish this time around. Fulham ended the 2024-25 campaign in the bottom half of the table.
BTTS & Over 2.5 Goals (9/10 with Betway)
Brighton and Fulham were the Premier League’s go-to fixtures for goals last season, topping the both-teams-to-score standings, and the script isn’t expected to change when they kick off the new campaign at the Amex on Saturday.
Last term, both sides scored in 27 of their 38 league games, including both head-to-heads, which produced a combined seven goals (Brighton 3, Fulham 4). With that kind of record, another open, high-scoring encounter feels very much on the cards, making BTTS + over 2.5 goals an appealing play.
Georginio Rutter to Score First (7/1 with Betway)
Given the attacking options at Fabian Hurzeler’s disposal, singling out one Brighton forward is no easy task, but Georginio Rutter might just be the one to watch this season.
The Frenchman ended last term in fine form, producing five goals and two assists in his final 13 competitive outings, a strike contribution every 123 minutes. He’s carried that momentum into pre-season with a couple of goals and looks ready to make an early impact. At 15/2, he’s an intriguing pick to set the tone for the Seagulls and grab the game’s opener.
How both teams go into Brighton vs Fulham
Brighton boast the significant advantage of no European commitments in 2025/26, and the Seagulls could be in-line for significant progression. Fabian Hurzeler presided over a largely positive campaign where Albion suffered just nine league defeats despite injuries to key personnel. More consistency in selection will aid their exploits.
Only four sides scored more Premier League goals than Brighton, and the Seagulls also picked up victories over the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Newcastle to highlight their top-level threat. The defence will require a few tweaks if the south coast club are going to feature in the top-six shake-up, as no side inside the top-14 conceded more goals.
Fulham smashed their own Premier League points record last season, but there’s a “what if” hanging over their campaign — the Cottagers let 28 points slip from winning positions. Still, they impressed against the league’s elite, with only champions Liverpool faring better versus the top-half.
If Fulham can keep up those eye-catching performances and tighten their grip on games against the lower-ranked sides, a push toward European spots is realistic. The club has kept all their key players, but with few new signings, breaking into the top six in a tougher season could remain just out of reach.
Brighton team news
Solly March is ruled out until September. Carlos Baleba is back in training, but his future remains uncertain with a linked move to Manchester United. Adam Webster and Julio Enciso are both out.
Fulham team news
Antonee Robinson is ruled out with a knee injury. Ryan Sessegnon is a doubt and will be assessed before the game.
Brighton vs Fulham head-to-head
Brighton’s 2-1 win in March ended a run of nine Premier League games without victory against Fulham. The Cottagers won five of those matches, alongside four draws.
| Date | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 08/03/25 | Brighton 2-1 Fulham | Premier League |
| 05/12/24 | Fulham 3-1 Brighton | Premier League |
| 02/03/24 | Fulham 3-0 Brighton | Premier League |
| 29/10/23 | Brighton 1-1 Fulham | Premier League |
| 18/02/23 | Brighton 0-1 Fulham | Premier League |