Pundits Joe Hart and Shay Given join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures.
And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:
Image source, Getty ImagesDecember has been a tricky month for the Seagulls in recent years.
And the trend continued on Saturday, with their winless streak in the festive month extending to 10 games - a dismal run stretching back to 2023.
Manager Fabian Hurzeler was not helped by high-profile absences, with Lewis Dunk serving a one-game suspension, while fellow centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke was left out of the squad.
Summer signings Diego Coppola and Olivier Boscagli were chosen as their replacements, with just one Premier League start between them this season.
After some early careless passing that gifted possession back to Sunderland in the middle of the park, the pair held their nerve and stood firm defensively.
But the biggest miss for Brighton was an outlet up front, with Danny Welbeck - the club's top scorer this season - out with a back issue.
Georginio Rutter was given the role of centre-forward, but it was Yasin Ayari who came closest for Brighton.
The Swede lacked a cutting edge in front of goal, snatching at a chance in stoppage time, while he skewed two earlier efforts over the crossbar.
December gets no easier with two trips away from home, as they travel to league leaders Arsenal next before facing a struggling West Ham side at London Stadium.
Listen to Bart Verbruggen's post-match interview on BBC Sounds
Image source, Getty ImagesBrighton boss Fabian Hurzeler speaking to BBC's Match of the Day: "We are frustrated, but we have to understand that Sunderland were a good side today, they played well, and it is not a surprise that they are where they are in the table.
"We have to realise that there are big opportunities in the game. The first half was not great to watch, and in the second half, there were enough chances to win the game.
On missing Lewis Dunk, Jan Paul van Hecke and Danny Welbeck: "No excuse. Of course, these players are important enough, but we still have a strong squad."
On what Christmas looks like for him: "Unfortunately, Christmas in Germany on the 24th is quite big, but I have to work here. Overall, during this period, we want to be successful, so we try to keep pushing to get back to winning ways."
Did you know?
Since their promotion to the division in 2017, no team has had more goalless draws in the Premier League than Brighton (30, level with Crystal Palace).
At 23 years and 240 days, Brighton named the youngest average starting XI in the Premier League this season, and the Seagulls' third youngest overall in the competition.
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Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.
Have your say on Brighton's performance
What did you make of Sunderland's display?
Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies
Four changes from Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler after last week's 2-0 defeat at Liverpool.
The Seagulls have a new-look centre-back partnership in Olivier Boscagli and Diego Coppola, with Lewis Dunk suspended and Jan Paul van Hecke an unexpected absentee.
Brighton are also without Diego and Carlos Baleba, who is at the Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon.
Brighton XI: Verbruggen, Gruda, Rutter, Minteh, Hinshelwood, Boscagli, Kadioglu, Ayari, Wieffer, De Cuyper, Coppola.
Subs: Steele, Watson, Kostoulas, Milner, Mitoma, Veltman, Knight, Simmonds, Oriola.
Regis Le Bris also makes four changes from Sunderland's derby win against Newcastle.
Noah Sadiki, Chemsdine Talbi, Reinildo Mandava and Bertrand Traore have all headed to Afcon with their respective nations.
Lutsharel Geertruida, Chris Rigg, Trai Hume and former Brighton winger Simon Adingra are the replacements.
Sunderland XI: Roefs, Ballard, Geertruida, Brobbey, Rigg, Alderete, Mukiele, Adingra, Le Fee, Hume, Xhaka.
Subs: Patterson, Cirkin, Neil, Mayenda, Mundle, Isidor, Diarra, Hjelde, Jones.
There are eight games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.
Newcastle v Chelsea (12:30)
Bournemouth v Burnley
Brighton v Sunderland - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Manchester City v West Ham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live
Wolves v Brentford
Tottenham v Liverpool (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live
Everton v Arsenal (20:00)
Leeds v Crystal Palace (20:00)
Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated
Follow all of the action and reaction here
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Man City v West Ham" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Tottenham v Liverpool", for instance.
Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds
Sunderland are an amazing team, and winning last week's derby against Newcastle United is just the latest high for them in what has been an a brilliant season.
The Black Cats are on 26 points after 16 games, and have already beaten Leicester City's total from 38 games last season - they were relegated with 25 points in 18th place.
That's an extraordinary achievement. I know they are losing a few players to Afcon, but that would only be a big problem if they were languishing near the bottom of the table.
Instead this just feels like an opportunity for the players coming in to try to maintain their momentum. Regis le Bris and his team will be full of confidence too, although this is a tricky trip for them to the south coast.
Brighton are a real Jekyll and Hyde side at the moment, but I always feel they will do well at home - they have only lost once there this season.
I watched the Seagulls at Anfield last week. They should have scored at 0-0, but didn't... and lost.
This time? My instinct still tells me to go with Brighton at Amex Stadium, but Sunderland are going to push them very close.
Sutton's prediction: 1-0
Noel Sliney
BBC Sport senior journalist
On Saturday, Brighton and Sunderland will meet for the first time in the Premier League, having not faced each other in any competition since August 2011. Then, Albion won a League Cup second-round tie 1-0 after extra time in their inaugural season at Amex Stadium.
BBC Sport examines some of the talking points for the game between two sides occupying the top half of the table.
Brighton's December blues
Brighton were only two points off third place heading into December but that gap has grown to 10 following a three-match winless spell. It's Albion's worst run of the season, with their only point this month coming courtesy of a controversial stoppage-time equaliser at home to West Ham.
Head coach Fabian Hurzeler felt his side "deserved more" from their 2-0 defeat at Anfield last week but it means Brighton are yet to win a Premier League match in the month of December under him.
They also had a mid-season wobble this time last season, failing to win in six attempts in December as part of an eight-game sequence without a victory.
It all adds up to Brighton - and Hurzeler - enduring the longest ongoing winless run in December by a current Premier League side.
Their most recent December win came against Spurs in 2023 and it is a month that has historically brought Brighton little cheer.
After all, they have only won 20.8% of their Premier League matches in December compared to 31.3% overall.
Sunderland squad put to the test
Sunderland's emotionally-charged victory in last Sunday's Wear-Tyne derby put them within two points of fourth place. Their tally of 26 points is the most by a promoted side after 16 games since Hull City in 2008-09.
The belief and resilience instilled in the team by head coach Regis le Bris will now be needed more than ever. The festive period tests the strength in depth of even the most-stacked squads but Sunderland might have to negotiate their next seven matches, including an FA Cup trip to Everton, without up to half-a-dozen players who will be involved in the Africa Cup of Nations [Afcon].
The Black Cats are losing twice as many players to the tournament as any other Premier League side. Four of those have been instrumental in Sunderland's success this season: Noah Sadiki and Chemsdine Talbi have played in all 16 of their top-flight matches, while Reinildo Mandava and Bertrand Traore have started 12 and nine respectively.
Club record signing Habib Diarra has been selected by Senegal but could first be involved against Brighton after a 12-match absence because of a groin injury.
Regardless, Le Bris admits Sunderland's lofty position means the absence of his African players will be less keenly felt.
"I'm not worried," he said. "We knew this period would come – it's not new or unexpected and, with 26 points, confidence is higher. I trust the players."
Image source, Getty ImagesBrighton midfielder James Milner insists his side have everything they need to improve their position in the Premier League table.
Going into the festive period, the Seagulls are 10th, three points shy of fifth-placed Crystal Palace.
Milner says that their form is to be expected from a team who are still in development.
"We haven't had that consistency," Milner told BBC Radio Sussex.
"We've shown it in parts of games, and in some games and not others. That's part and parcel of being a team that's growing, a team of young players, as well.
"How we're coached and the ability that we have in the team and the heart that we show - all of the ingredients are there, we just need to keep pushing as a team and try to find that consistency together."
After the visit of Sunderland on Saturday, Brighton have seven more Premier League games before the end of January.
Milner believes the festive period is an opportunity for the Seagulls to show improvement.
"This period is always critical," Milner said. "You see the league table going into December and you see it mid to end of January and it's always very, very different, with the amount of games you can have.
"We're close to being a lot better. We're not that far away.
"Although it's been frustrating, we're in a position in the league table where a few wins gets you right up there - where we want to be."
Grace Wheeler
BBC Sport
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Sunderland at Amex Stadium (kick-off 15:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Hurzeler said he has no fresh injury worries; however, captain Lewis Dunk is suspended after receiving his fifth booking of the season against Liverpool: "He will be a big miss but we all know and emphasise week for week that we have a strong squad and have players that can replace him."
Summer signing Olivier Boscagli could replace Dunk in the backline but has only made two appearances this season: "If I choose him, he is a great player. He is training really well and trying to as a club lift this togetherness. He is great in possession, a left-footer. He can outplay his opposition, is a clever player and understands the game."
Hurzeler suggested striker Danny Welbeck might replace Dunk as captain provided he can overcome his back issues: "Danny sometimes does incredible things so lets see if he is an option to start. The issue has not healed yet and he is restricted during training."
On the prospect of Sunderland academy graduate Tommy Watson featuring for Brighton against his former club: "We can feel he is desperate to play. He has trained well this week but I think his start wasn't for him to get into the rhythm. There were small issues regarding his body."
Finally the boss said that some of his players leaving for the Africa Cup of Nations has not caused a selection headache: "I just emphasise that every player is important for our squad. It's a perfect opportunity for us as a club to show our togetherness and to show how we can replace the individual players. We will see the opportunity and use it."
Listen to Fabian Hurzeler speaking to the press on BBC Radio Sussex
Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Brighton midfielder Dale Stephens believes the current group of players reflects a model the Seagulls have refined over a number of seasons, but stressed that potential alone is no longer enough once players step into the first team environment.
Speaking on BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast, Stephens believes Brighton's continued reliance on youth has once again put the spotlight on the balance between development and results.
"It is tough and it's a challenge, and every time they do it, they improve and get better. Long term, Brighton are in a great place. They have developed really good players consistently throughout the years and this looks like a crop of players of that similar ilk. But the responsibility is on them - they are playing in the first team, they are responsible for what they need to do and picking up results is key."
Stephens also highlighted the importance of experience within a young squad, pointing to Danny Welbeck's influence both on and off the pitch, particularly in providing leadership, composure and a consistent reference point for those still finding their feet at the top level.
"Not only does he bring a threat in goal, he also brings calmness, especially around young players in the team. He is someone you can look to, and he's going to give you consistency in an inconsistent group.
"I don't know if he's carrying a niggle, but the quicker he can get fit, the better for everybody."
Brighton are interested in Aston Villa's 21-year-old Dutch midfielder Lamare Bogarde, though the West Midlands side do not want to sell. (Football Insider), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
On the latest episode of Albion Unlimited, Jack Hinshelwood assesses the defeat to Liverpool and missed chances, former Seagulls midfielder Dale Stephens discusses the Albion then and now, and the team preview the visit of Sunderland
Listen to the full episode here
Explore all Brighton content on BBC Sounds
Listen to every Brighton game live on BBC Radio Sussex, with all the build-up and full commentary with Johnny Cantor and Warren Aspinall, and there is a full preview of all Seagulls' matches on Fridays at 18:00 in The Weekend Warm-up
Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty ImagesCarl Rushworth has made such an impact at Coventry City this season their fans want to sign the Brighton goalkeeper on a permanent deal.
Whether the Seagulls would sell remains unknown, but it is easy to see why fans of the Sky Blues have fallen into the trap of falling in love with a loan player.
The 24-year-old produced another impressive performance against Bristol City on Saturday, making a string of important saves to earn another clean sheet and three points for Frank Lampard's side.
Rushworth, who was signed to replace injured first-choice keeper Oliver Dovin, has started all 21 Championship league games this season and kept eight clean sheets to date.
Earlier this season he went 613 minutes without conceding a goal for the Sky Blues – the longest run without conceding a goal of any goalkeeper in the club's history.
His run eclipsed the previous record of 608 minutes set by Horace Pearson in 1934.
Prior to this spell in the West Midlands, Rushworth spent half of last season at Hull City before being recalled in January and spent the 2023-24 campaign as first choice goalkeeper at Swansea City.
The Premier League feels like the next step for the former England-Under 21 shot stopper, but how likely is he to feature in Fabian Hurzeler's plans?
Brighton currently have goalkeepers Bart Verbruggen, Jason Steele and Tom McGill, who are all under contract for several more years.
Would one have to leave for him to re-gain a squad place? Or could the club be willing to cash in for the right price?
Regardless, Rushworth appears to be destined for the top flight, whether it be at Brighton or elsewhere.
Scott McCarthy
Fan writer
Being a long-term, match going supporter of a Premier League club in 2025 – or 'legacy fan' to coin a popular phrase - often feels like you are taken for granted.
Matches are rescheduled to suit broadcasters without a thought for away fans. Teams chase new supporters from emerging markets and want a greater number of tourists inside stadiums, knowing they will pay more for tickets and in megastores.
Which is why it was refreshing that Brighton not only reversed their decision to replace Heritage Tiles at the Amex with a digital screen, but Paul Barber also apologised for the debacle.
Albion supporters have been able to buy Heritage Tiles since the stadium opened. Many of these tiles feature names of grandparents, parents and even children who have passed away.
Each of the 2,500 Tiles was more than just a brick on a wall. People treated them like graves - visiting them before home matches to say hello to lost friends and relatives and touching them for good luck.
Many of these Heritage Tiles are now damaged. The club announced on Friday that all would be removed and a digital wall installed in their place.
Their solution shocked fans for its callousness and lack of foresight. Especially when a much more obvious solution existed.
Create a replacement memorial somewhere at the Amex, featuring as many of the names inscribed as possible. A physical place fans can go and remember those no longer with us. Not pictures flashing up on a screen.
An unanimously critical thread on fan forum North Stand Chat ran to 36 pages. Season ticket holders said they would not renew. Fans emailed Barber and a petition quickly reached over 3000 signatures.
By Monday evening, the club announced every Heritage Tile will instead be transferred to a new installation. They acknowledged they had made a mess of it and even said sorry for the hurt caused.
The U-turn and apology show the club do care and will listen to what 'legacy fans' think; a connection which is rare in the Premier League and a credit to both the club and fan power.
Find more from Scott McCarthy at We Are Brighton, external
Image source, Getty ImagesBrighton deputy chairman Paul Barber has apologised for the "distress and confusion" caused to fans by the club's proposal to remove heritage tiles from the Amex.
In a previous announcement, the club suggested it was unlikely that tiles would be saved in the process of removing them from the outer North Concourse ramp walls, but that messages would be preserved in a digital photograph.
Fans responded with a petition against the change,, external which has accrued more than 3,400 signatures.
The petition stated: "These plaques are more than just engravings; most are heartfelt tributes dedicated by families and friends to honour loved ones who have passed on, keeping their memory alive in a place that held significance to them."
Bill, who signed the petition, wrote: "The stones represent tens of thousands of people and their decades of loyalty to the club. Please reverse this decision and find a better solution."
On Monday, a letter from Barber, external was published on the club website which explained the possible solutions to the deteriorating tiles which were considered, and that communication issues had arisen due to third party involvement.
He announced that, in response to fan feedback, the club no longer intend to merge the existing heritage tile messages with the new 125 wall, and that the club will look again for "a new format that will allow a higher degree of tangibility and tactility than a digital installation".
"This remains a very difficult and challenging issue for all of us with no easy answer," Barber said.
"However, please be assured our staff have done, and will continue to do, their very best to ensure this matter is managed as sensitively as possible for everyone."
Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent
Image source, Getty ImagesPremier League video assistant referees continue to have a problem with red cards.
In the past two seasons 15 of the 49 VAR errors (30.6%) have related to missed or wrongly given red cards for serious foul play or violent conduct.
Brighton forward Diego Gomez may well be the 16th mistake after a chest-high challenge on Liverpool's Florian Wirtz only resulted in a caution.
It came in first-half injury time of Liverpool's 2-0 victory on Saturday.
After referee Craig Pawson only showed Gomez a yellow card, VAR Darren England reviewed the challenge but ruled that it was not made with excessive force and was not serious foul play so did not upgrade it to a red card.
According to the International Football Association Board (Ifab) - football's lawmakers - 'serious foul play' is a tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality.
Gomez made the challenge from a standing position and there did not appear to be full contact on the opponent's chest - but it is hard to see how it did not endanger the safety of an opponent.
Let's look at what happened.
Wirtz got to the ball first and it had gone before Gomez even began to make his challenge. He then raised his foot high into the chest of Wirtz.
There was no obvious reason why Gomez needed to make the tackle in this fashion, with studs leading and a straight leg.
If both players had challenged in a similar way, both with high feet, then a yellow could have been more understandable.
If the Premier League's key match incidents panel do rule this is an error it will be the second time this season Liverpool's opponents should have been reduced to 10 men on a VAR review.
In August, Bournemouth's Marcos Senesi should have been sent off when handling the ball as Hugo Ekitike was about to run through on goal.
England was also the VAR for the hugely controversial red card shown to Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly at Wolves last season.
Referee Michael Oliver had sent off Lewis-Skelly for serious foul play but he had misread the nature of the tackle. England did not intervene to downgrade it to a yellow card.
Coincidentally, Arsenal and Wolves met again this weekend at Emirates Stadium, and there was a check for a red card for a challenge by Hwang Hee-Chan on Lewis-Skelly.
Crucially, although Hwang was sliding into the challenge he was pulling out of it when he crashed into the opponent. Hwang did not lead in with studs or a straight leg, which indicate increased force.
A yellow card was a fair outcome in this incident.
Image source, Getty ImagesBrighton have announced the creation of a 'Fan Wall' to celebrate the club's 125th anniversary.
This fan mosaic allows supporters to upload photos to appear alongside club legends and is expected to be in place for the 2026-27 season. Profits made from the sale of space on the wall will go to the club's foundation.
However, the fact that it will replace the 'Heritage Tile Wall' that is on the outer North Concourse ramp walls at Amex Stadium is not universally popular within the Seagulls fanbase.
There is currently a petition on the website Change.org, external, titled 'Urge Brighton and Hove Albion to preserve Heritage Tiles', which has reached over 2,800 signatures as of Monday evening.
The petition - started by Brighton fan Terry Robinson - details reasons for wanting the club to reconsider this decision, including pointing to many of the tiles paying tribute to loved ones who have passed away.
However, in their announcement, external, the club have said many of the existing tiles need replacing after up to 15 years outside the stadium.
The club said: "We know that many of these bricks have sentimental value to fans and whilst it is unlikely that tiles can be 'saved' during removal we are intending to photograph the wall for digital posterity so that the brick in situ can still be viewed online.
"Appreciating that some of the tiles were only purchased relatively recently (after January 2023), we are planning to give these owners the opportunity of a free 'spot' on the 125 Fan Wall."
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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Liverpool and Brighton.
Here are some of your comments:
Liverpool fans
Paul: The scoreline was better than our performance and had Brighton been clinical in front of goal, the spotlight could have been on Arne Slot again. But again I am confused as to why Slot continues to insist on playing Alexander Isak when Federico Chiesa again did more in his short cameo appearance and unselfishly played the ball for Mohamed Salah at the end instead of going for goal. This insistence could be Slot's downfall as he needs to play his strongest XI.
Ben: Hugo Ekitike showed why he's been by far the best out of the summer signings and why he should always start ahead of Isak. However, despite his two goals, all eyes will be on Salah following recent events and how well he responded by setting up the all important second goal. Let's hope that once he comes back from Afcon that he will play how he did here and how we know he can - not how he has for most of the season.
Robin: One of our best performances of the season. Ekitike looks worth every penny, Florian Wirtz is really starting to pull the strings and we looked less fragile at the back. A little worried about some of the knocks we took but great to get back-to-back wins with clean sheets!
Kenneth: Strong performance all round with crisp goals from Ekitike who bossed it. Great to see Salah back in play and we need him back from his international duties next year. Still looked defensively shaky at times with Brighton missing clear chances.
Brighton fans
Ed: So wasteful! After a disastrous start, we created chances but missed them all. Diego Gomez should have scored both of his but that is the same old Brighton - create lots but take so few. Not playing Danny Welbeck showed just how reliable we are on him as we were so limited down the middle and nobody to cross to. Must do something about it in January given Kostas Tzimas' injury. Left the ground disappointed.
Bez: Fabian Hurzeler is truly a decent and likeable chap, but his starting selections are often our undoing, and this time he thought strikers didn't need to be on the pitch until the 82nd minute. Something feels wrong and needs changing.
Mick: Difficult to understand why we started without a recognised striker. Two sloppy goals and our inability to convert good chances. Charalampos Kostoulas and Welbeck should have been the first substitutions and two of our players are now suspended- not a good start to a busy few weeks.
James: Joint worst performance of the season alongside playing West Ham. There is zero ambition and urgency in this squad. We looked fresh out of ideas and I have no clue why we're trying to float crosses in to a striker with no aerial threat, nor why we brought on James Milner in the 85th minute when we're chasing the game. We do not have an identity and currently I do not believe Hurzeler is the right man for the job. The mentality must change.
Tottenham are prepared to wait until next summer to sign Brighton's 25-year-old Netherlands defender Jan Paul van Hecke. (Football Insider), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column
Image source, Getty ImagesBrighton's Jack Hinshelwood says the Seagulls must make sure they "start bright" when they host Sunderland next weekend after conceding an opener to Liverpool within the first minute on Saturday.
Hugo Ekitike scored the first of his double after just 46 seconds in Albion's 2-0 defeat at Anfield before heading home from a corner after the break.
"There's a big disappointment because we had such big belief this week we could come here and get something from the game and I think it took until the second goal to go in to kick us into life," Hinshelwood said.
"That is a disappointment - myself included.
"The way we started the game didn't help. We sense it is a chance missed. We have to really work hard this week to put it right and make sure we are at it for the full 90 minutes next weekend."
Pushed on what was behind the slow start, Hinselwood added: "Maybe it was the first goal. We don't really know.
"We need to find answers this week as to why we are not at it straight away because after the second goal, all of a sudden we come to life. Whether it is a belief thing, a confidence thing, we don't know. It can't be that because we came into the game with such great belief we could get something.
"We have to find ways this week or making sure we start bright and I'm sure next Saturday we will put in a performance and be better."
