Hurzeler targets a season to remember

Fabian Hurzeler wants Brighton to "take the next step" this season as the Seagulls look to build on successive eighth-place finishes in the Premier League. After qualifying for the Conference League last term, Brighton's latest European campaign is set to start next month, and the German coach has made clear that the club's ambition goes beyond merely consolidating.

'We want to play a season the fans will always remember'

The Seagulls have taken four points from their opening three top-flight matches, beating Aston Villa 4-0, losing 4-3 to Chelsea and then drawing 1-1 with Leeds United. Ahead of Sunday's trip to Coventry City — who are without a point so far — Hurzeler has highlighted his ambition for this campaign to serve as the next step in the team's development.

"We have high expectations of ourselves. We want to play a season the fans will always remember, but we have to see as a club that we are capable of playing a lot of games in a very successful way," he told Sky Sports.

"We always [talk] of making the next step, growing as a club, and therefore we have to show now that we are capable of being successful and achieving things without losing our style and intensity."

Integrating a new-look squad

Brighton had a busy transfer window, with 13 players leaving and 10 coming in, and integrating that new blood is a key priority for the head coach.

"It's now our responsibility to really integrate these new players," said Hurzeler. "They are here for a reason, and we proved in the past that we have one of the best recruitment systems in the world, so they have potential and they will show this potential."

Hurzeler also believes he has developed as a coach since arriving on the south coast.

"I can say that I'm a better manager now than I was before, but not only because I reflect on my mistakes; I reflect on my decisions, I reflect on my progress and my development. I have great staff around me, I have great experts, great support from all of my staff members and I have great support from my team and great personalities."

Players to watch

Coventry City – Jack Rudoni: Frank Lampard's Coventry are yet to score a goal in the league this term, and they need their attacking talents to start delivering. Rudoni was their talisman in the Championship, accumulating 35 goal involvements (17 goals, 18 assists) over the past two seasons, and the midfielder will be key to breaking the Sky Blues' duck.

Brighton – Maxim De Cuyper: Only Bruno Fernandes has played more passes into the box (38) and made more successful crosses (eight) in the Premier League this season than De Cuyper, who has registered 29 passes into the box and seven successful crosses.

Match prediction: Brighton to win

Lampard has lost 12 of his last 15 Premier League games (W1 D2), a run that includes two home defeats against Brighton (1-4 in January 2023 with Everton, 1-2 in April 2023 with Chelsea). Brighton have had more big chances (15) and a higher xG (7.4) than any other side in the Premier League this season, while only Arsenal (24) and Manchester City (26) have faced fewer shots than the Seagulls (33).

Coventry have lost all three of their Premier League games by an aggregate score of 0-5 this season. In the competition's history, only Crystal Palace in 2017-18 have lost each of their first four without scoring, ultimately finishing 11th that campaign.

However, history offers Coventry some encouragement: they have won each of their last three home league games against Brighton, with this their first meeting since a 2-0 Championship success in December 2011. Brighton and Coventry last faced off in the top flight in 1982-83; the Seagulls have only lost one of their last seven meetings at this level (W3 D3).

The Seagulls have lost just one of their last 14 Premier League games against promoted sides (W7 D6), though it was in their last such game at Leeds United in May (0-1).

Opta win probability

• Coventry City – 26.4%
• Draw – 23.8%
• Brighton – 49.8%