Follow live coverage as Brighton & Hove Albion face AFC Bournemouth today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Brighton & Hove Albion FC 1 - 0 AFC Bournemouth
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
20:36Substitution David Robert Brooks Marcus Joseph Tavernier
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
20:33Semenyo has done his best to drag Bournemouth back into the contest, forcing Verbruggen into a close-range save with a shot from one of his four touches in the box, and creating two big chances from six final-third passes. The Ghana international has also won five duels thus far, including three in the air, and has twice turned possession over with two tackles, one of which sparked a chance in Brighton's own third.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
20:29The half-time whistle goes in this evenly-matched contest on the south coast, with Brighton leading Bournemouth 1-0 thanks to that early penalty from Joao Pedro! The hosts started Brightly and have already racked up 1.65 xG, much of which came via Rutter and Mitoma both putting efforts wide from close range before Joao Pedro stepped up to slot home the opener from 12 yards after being fouled in the box by Kepa. Further openings followed for Rutter and Minteh as Mitoma struck the post, but the Seagulls couldn't add to their advantage, while Bournemouth also went close at the other end. The Cherries produced 0.65 xG, with Christie and Semenyo both forcing saves from Verbruggen, Kluivert and Brooks both having shots blocked as the visitors do their best to get back into this game ahead of the second half.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
20:22HALF-TIME: BRIGHTON 1-0 BOURNEMOUTH.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
20:22Mitoma takes on Cook down the left and fires an early cross into the area, but Kepa's off his line to collect before Joao Pedro can tap it home!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
20:20Mitoma looks to play a succession of one-twos with Rutter on the edge of the box, but it doesn't quite come off and Bournemouth come away with possession. Semenyo plays it forward for Kerkez down the line, but Van Hecke slides in to put the ball out for a throw.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
20:18We'll play an additional four minutes of stoppage time to close out the first half at the Amex.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
20:17Kerkez fizzes a teasing cross into the Brighton box with Brooks the far-post target, but Verbruggen's off his line to claim the ball cleanly for the hosts.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
20:17Brighton beat Chelsea 3-0 in their last Premier League home game, ending a run of five without a win at the Amex. The Seagulls last won consecutive home league matches back in September 2023, the second of which was against Bournemouth.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
20:14Estupinan delivers a Brighton corner which is brought down by Webster and played back for Minteh to cross into the area once again, but he overcooks his effort and Estupinan can't keep it in play at the back post.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
20:13BLOCKED!!! Huijsen and Kerkez turn possession over for Bournemouth and Kluivert sends Brooks over halfway on the counter-attack. He drives towards goal and lets fly from the edge of the box, but Van Hecke gets in the way to block it!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
20:11Bournemouth winger Semenyo has now recorded 94 shots in the Premier League this season, with 31 on target – only Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, with 98, has more.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
20:10OFF THE POST!! Brighton spring forward at speed and Joao Pedro spreads the ball wide to Lamptey, whose cross back into the middle is met by Mitoma. He arrives late to send a volley goalwards from close range, but it bounces back off the near post and Minteh can't turn home the rebound!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
20:08SAVED!!! Semenyo is sent sprinting in behind by Ouattara's reverse ball on the turn, and bears down on goal before firing a powerful strike into the knees of Verbruggen, who stands his ground to make the save!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
20:06Brighton have won each of their last three home league games against Bournemouth, having been winless in their previous five against them beforehand.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
20:04BLOCKED!!! Ouattara is released in behind and squares for Kluivert on the edge of the box. The Dutchman's shot is blocked by his compatriot Van Hecke, but Bournemouth keep the ball alive and Kerkez's cross for Cook is skewed into the side netting by the Cherries skipper!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
20:03Semenyo wins a corner off Lamptey's block and Kluivert delivers to the near post for Bournemouth, but Hill's header takes a series of deflections and Verbruggen is easily able to clean it up.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
20:01Estupinan swings a dangerous-looking cross into the Bournemouth box with Joao Pedro attacking it, but he barges into Hill in mid-air and the free-kick goes Bournemouth's way to give them some respite.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:57Brighton have now opened the scoring in 15 different Premier League games this season, with only Forest (20), Liverpool (18) and Arsenal (17) doing so more often so far this term.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:57Substitution Ryan Christie Alex Jay Scott
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:55Christie has gone down clutching a groin and requires further treatment on the sidelines, with another injury to a key player being the last thing Andoni Iraola needs at Bournemouth right now.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:54SAVED!!! Rutter turns just outside the area to play in Minteh on his right, and the Gambian cuts inside before sending a low strike straight into Kepa's gloves!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:54BLOCKED!! Brighton turn possession over high up the field and Rutter tries his luck from the edge of the box. Huijsen blocks his first effort, and recovers to block a second after the ball came straight back out to the Frenchman!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:51Semenyo now cuts inside from the left to swing a right-footed cross into the area, as Ouattara rises at the back post to head the looping ball over the crossbar!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:51Semenyo has options on the edge of the box and pulls the ball back to Christie, whose first-time shot is blocked by Baleba having already engaged a diving Verbruggen.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:49Bournemouth win a free-kick on the left which is swung into the far post by Brooks. Verbruggen comes out for the ball, but misses it almost completely and can only palm it behind for a corner!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:47A clever turn on the edge of the area from Ouattara allows him to play Kluivert into shooting space, but the Dutchman takes too long to get a shot away and is dispossessed in the box by Webster!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:46Joao Pedro has now netted six of his seven penalties in the Premier League, only failing to score against Aston Villa last May.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:44PENALTY TO BRIGHTON!!! Another throughball engages Kepa, and this time it comes up trumps for Brighton!!! Rutter puts Joao Pedro clean through on goal, and the Brazilian is caught flush by the Bournemouth keeper to give the referee aboslutel no choice!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:43WIDE!! Brighton go closer still!! Gomez slips an absolutely sensational throughball in behind Cook with Mitoma giving chase, and the Brighton winger slides in to poke a shot beyond Kepa but just wide of the target!±
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:42Penalty Goal João Pedro Junqueira de Jesus
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:41WIDE!!! Estupinan gets on the end of a throughball from Joao Pedro and his hooked cutback from the byline sparks chaos, with Baleba keeping the ball alive and Minteh crossing it back into the middle. Kepa punches, but only as far as Rutter, and the Frenchman sends a downward header wide of the far post!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:39Ouattara brings down a high ball from Adams as Bournemouth look to spring forward again, but he's flagged for offside and Brighton get another chance to keep possession ticking over from the free-kick.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:37During their first stint in the Premier League between 2015 and 2020, Bournemouth won four of their six meetings with Brighton. Since their return in 2022, they’ve lost four of the last five against the Seagulls.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:35SAVED!!! An early opening for the Cherries! Christie wins possession in midfield and plays a one-two with Ouattara before bursting into the box. He lashes a left-footed shot across the face of goal, which is parried away from danger by Verbruggen!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:34Bournemouth are straight onto the attack as Kluivert sends a long ball in behind, but after Semenyo tries to combine with Kerkez in the box, Lamptey does just enough to force him wide and behind for a goal-kick.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:32Gomez kicks the game off for Brighton, as this contest between two firm European contenders gets up and running!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:29Brighton have home advantage ahead of this clash on the south coast and are the heavy favourites according to our live win probability tracker, which has the Seagulls on a 46.5% chance of victory to Bournemouth’s 29.3%. The Cherries will be keen to get back to winning ways and keep up their Champions League push though, as both sets of players head out onto the pitch at the Amex!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:29Bournemouth are without Ukraine defender Illya Zabarnyi after his red card against Wolves at the weekend, while Marcus Tavernier drops to the bench. He’s replaced by David Brooks out wide as Tyler Adams comes in for Zabarnyi, with James Hill moving into the heart of the defence and skipper Lewis Cook slotting in at right-back.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:24Fabian Hurzeler makes two changes from Brighton’s 4-0 win at Southampton on Saturday, with Diego Gomez making his first start for the Seagulls in midfield and Pervis Estupinan returning at left-back, in place of Yasin Ayari and Jack Hinshelwood respectively.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:13BOURNEMOUTH SUBS: Will Dennis, Alex Scott, Evanilson, Marcus Tavernier, Luis Sinisterra, Julio Soler, Daniel Jebbison, Matai Akinmboni, Ben Winterburn.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:13BOURNEMOUTH (4-2-3-1): Kepa Arrizabalaga; Lewis Cook, James Hill, Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez; Tyler Adams, Ryan Christie; David Brooks, Justin Kluivert, Antoine Semenyo; Dango Ouattara.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:13BRIGHTON SUBS: Carl Rushworth, Solly March, Brajan Gruda, Simon Adingra, Danny Welbeck, Yasin Ayari, Mats Wieffer, Matt O’Riley, Jack Hinshelwood.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:13BRIGHTON (4-2-3-1): Bart Verbruggen; Tariq Lamptey, Jan Paul van Hecke, Adam Webster, Pervis Estupinan; Carlos Baleba, Diego Gomez; Yankuba Minteh, Georginio Rutter, Kaoru Mitoma; Joao Pedro.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:08Bournemouth are three points and three places above Brighton in the table, sitting sixth and firmly in the push for a Champions League place. Andoni Iraola’s side can climb up to fourth with a victory, but come into this match having lost two of their last three games since beating Nottingham Forest 5-0, including 1-0 at home to relegation-threatened Wolves last time out.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:08Brighton have bounced back in style from their record 7-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest at the start of the month, winning their next two games and scoring seven goals without reply. Chelsea were dispatched 3-0 in their last home game, before thumping bottom side Southampton 4-0 ahead of a second south coast derby in three days.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:02Hello, and welcome to live coverage of this Premier League fixture, as Brighton and Hove Albion host Bournemouth at the Amex Stadium in a clash on the south coast.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
19:00Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth
17:30Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
