The 2025/26 Premier League season resumes this weekend with Gameweek 27. The latest round of fixtures starts on Saturday with three successive games, including Brentford vs Brighton & Hove Albion at the Gtech Community Stadium.
In a season of surprise packages, Brentford’s recent ascent has made them late bloomers. Many predicted the West London outfit to be a part of the relegation scrap after they lost Thomas Frank, Bryan Mbeumo, and Yoane Wissa last summer. However, Keith Andrews has stepped up brilliantly, with the Bees rising to seventh in the Premier League standings after a three-game unbeaten run. They also progressed to the FA Cup fifth round by beating Macclesfield this week.
On the other hand, Brighton & Hove Albion have endured a frustrating 2025/26 campaign, as they have bowed out of the FA Cup and sit in the 14th spot in the Premier League standings. The Seagulls are on a six-game winless run in the Premier League, and Fabian Hurzeler’s men risk being dragged into the relegation dogfight, as they are only seven points ahead of the in-form West Ham United.
The reverse fixture saw Brighton & Hove Albion come from a goal down to beat Brentford 2-1, with Jack Hinshelwood scoring the match-winning goal. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Keith Andrews has received a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Brentford head coach will be bereft of the services of only three first-team players vs Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Kevin Schade is available after serving a three-match suspension. So, Antoni Milambo, Fabio Carvalho, and Josh Dasilva are the only absentees, with the trio recovering from long-term knee injuries.
Caoimhin Kelleher is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Brentford lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. The backline will feature Michael Kayode, Sepp van den Berg, Nathan Collins, and Rico Henry.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Yehor Yarmolyuk and Jordan Henderson in the double pivot, with Mathias Jensen reprising the no. 10 role. Finally, Igor Thiago will lead the line for Brentford against Brighton, with Kevin Schade and Dango Ouattara being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Kayode, van den Berg, Collins, Henry; Yarmolyuk, Henderson; Ouattara, Jensen, Schade; Thiago
Like his counterpart in the Brentford dugout, Fabian Hurzeler has received a positive update on the team news front ahead of the trip to the Gtech Community Stadium. The Brighton & Hove Albion head coach may be without only three first-team players on Saturday.
Hurzeler has been sweating over Yasin Ayari’s fitness due to a shoulder issue, and the 22-year-old midfielder faces a late fitness test to determine his availability. However, Solly March, Adam Webster, and Stefanos Tzimas remain in the treatment room with their knee injuries.
Bart Verbruggen is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Brighton & Hove Albion lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Brentford on Saturday. The backline will feature Ferdi Kadioglu, Jan Paul van Hecke, Lewis Dunk, and Maxim De Cuyper.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Pascal Gross and Carlos Baleba in the double pivot. Georginio Rutter will reprise the no. 10 role, with Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh being the two wide attackers. Finally, Danny Welbeck will spearhead the Brighton attack against Brentford this weekend.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Kadioglu, van Hecke, Dunk, De Cuyper; Gross, Baleba; Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma; Welbeck
While Danny Welbeck, Georginio Rutter, and Dango Ouattara were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Igor Thiago as the Player to Watch for Saturday’s Premier League clash between Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion at the Gtech Community Stadium.
The Brazilian striker has applied more “pressures” both overall (1,986) and in the opposition half (1,392) than any other player in the Premier League this season. However, Thiago has netted only one goal in his last five top-flight outings, and he will hope to rediscover his scoring touch this weekend.
The recent head-to-head record in the meetings between Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion leans towards the away side. However, the Seagulls have been on a dreadful run of form with very little to play for this season other than avoiding relegation. On the other hand, Brentford can secure a spot in a European competition next season, and they have been on a tear of late.
Additionally, Igor Thiago’s recent dry run has not affected the home side’s output in the final third, and that will be visible this weekend. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Keith Andrews and his charges, with Thiago rediscovering his scoring touch to guide his team to a crucial victory.
