The Premier League kicks off its 2025/26 season with an intriguing clash at the American Express Stadium, where Brighton & Hove Albion face off against Fulham on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at 3:00 PM BST.
Both teams are coming off solid campaigns last season, with Brighton finishing eighth and Fulham securing 11th place, each showing flashes of quality that suggest they could push for European qualification this term.
Brighton, under the guidance of Fabian Hürzeler, have evolved into a possession-heavy side with a knack for exciting attacking play, while Marco Silva’s Fulham are known for their resilience and counter-attacking threat.
With both sides looking to set the tone for the new season, this match promises to be a competitive affair on the south coast.
Prediction
Brighton enter this match as slight favorites, largely due to their strong home form and tactical cohesion under Hürzeler.
Their 4-2-3-1 setup, which emphasizes high pressing and fluid attacking moves, could exploit Fulham’s occasional defensive vulnerabilities, particularly with injuries affecting the Cottagers’ backline.
Brighton’s home record last season was impressive, with only three losses at the Amex, and their recent 2-1 victory over Fulham in March 2025, sealed by a late Joao Pedro penalty, adds to their confidence.
However, Fulham’s counter-attacking prowess and strong away form—boasting eight road wins last season—make them a dangerous opponent.
The Cottagers’ ability to score on the break, led by players like Rodrigo Muniz and Andreas Pereira, could trouble Brighton’s defense, especially if key defenders like Adam Webster are sidelined.
Given both teams’ attacking intent and recent scoring trends, a high-scoring draw seems plausible, with a 2-2 result being a likely outcome.
Head-to-head
Historically, Fulham have had the upper hand in this fixture, leading the head-to-head record with 27 wins to Brighton’s 22 across 58 competitive meetings. The Cottagers have been particularly dominant in recent years, remaining unbeaten in their last nine encounters with Brighton, including five victories.
Their most recent clash in December 2024 saw Fulham triumph 3-1 at Craven Cottage, with Alex Iwobi scoring twice and an own goal from Matt O’Riley sealing the win despite a Carlos Baleba equalizer.
Brighton’s last victory over Fulham came in March 2025, a 2-1 win at the Amex, but they have struggled to consistently overcome their London rivals, failing to win in their previous eight meetings before that.
At home, however, Brighton are unbeaten in their last four against Fulham, with three wins and a draw, which could give them a psychological edge.
Possible lineups
Brighton are likely to line up in their preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, though injuries could force some adjustments. Bart Verbruggen is expected to start in goal, with a backline of Jack Hinshelwood, Jan Paul van Hecke, Diego Coppola, and Pervis Estupinan.
The midfield pivot may feature Carlos Baleba and Yasin Ayari, with Yankuba Minteh, Georginio Rutter, and Kaoru Mitoma supporting striker Joao Pedro.
Key absences include Adam Webster (knee), Carlos Baleba (minor knock), Facundo Buonanotte (ankle), and Solly March (knee), while Evan Ferguson could compete for a starting spot after returning from a loan spell.
Fulham, also favoring a 4-2-3-1, are expected to have Bernd Leno in goal, with a defense of Timothy Castagne, Joachim Andersen, Calvin Bassey, and a replacement for the injured Antonee Robinson, possibly Ryan Sessegnon.
Sander Berge and Andreas Pereira are likely to anchor midfield, with Alex Iwobi, Emile Smith Rowe, and Willian supporting Rodrigo Muniz up top.
Injuries to Antonee Robinson and doubts over Reiss Nelson, Kenny Tete, and Harry Wilson may limit Silva’s options.
Betting tips
For bettors, several markets stand out for this match. Brighton to win with both teams to score offers value at around 11/4, given Brighton’s home strength and Fulham’s consistent scoring on the road, with 69% of their away games last season featuring both teams finding the net.
A correct score bet on a 2-2 draw is another attractive option at approximately 10/1, reflecting the likelihood of a high-scoring stalemate based on recent head-to-head trends and both teams’ attacking output.
For individual player bets, Kaoru Mitoma as an anytime goalscorer at +200 is a solid pick, considering his eight goals last season and tendency to perform in big home games.
Over 2.5 goals at -120 is also worth considering, as three of the last five head-to-heads have exceeded this mark, and both sides have been involved in high-scoring games recently.
Finally, Fulham over 4.5 corners at +110 could be a smart bet, as they averaged 5.8 corners in their last five games, and Brighton have conceded over 4.5 corners in their previous three matches.