'Fluidity & Mobility Runs Through Brighton's XI'
- Leicester City host Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday (3pm kick-off)
- Andy Naylor, from The Athletic, has provided his verdict on Roberto De Zerbi's Seagulls
- The journalist is excited for the future of the south coast outfit under the Italian
The Seagulls are set to visit the East Midlands on Saturday to face Leicester City in the Premier League. Italian coach De Zerbi joined the south coast outfit in September and has added small but exciting tweaks to their playing style.
Brighton could climb to fifth in the table with a win at King Power Stadium - which follows a 3-0 home win over Liverpool. Ahead of this weekend's clash with the Foxes, Naylor, a close follower of De Zerbi's side, offered his perspective on their season.
"They’ll be going to Leicester brimming with confidence," he told LCFC Radio's Matchday Live show, which airs from 2pm on Saturday. "They are on fire at the moment and they'll certainly be confident.
"Roberto De Zerbi has taken things on, which is some feat. He came in and, in his opening month, the fixtures on paper looked horrendous. They started at Liverpool and they had Man City, Spurs and Chelsea. It looked really severe.
"Ever since a 3-3 draw at Anfield in his opening game, we’ve seen what De Zerbi ball is all about. They’re scoring goals from all over the pitch and just playing really well. The 3-0 win against Liverpool certainly didn’t flatter them.
"Roberto was selected because there are quite a few similarities between the way him and Graham Potter play, very much building up from the back, possession based. He’s got his own tweaks within that.
"He likes to lure the opposition in and then exploiting spaces in behind. They’ve got so many players throughout the squad who are adaptable and can play in different positions. It’s that fluidity, that mobility, that runs all through the team.
"That makes them a threat everywhere. The goals are being spread around. They’re not coming from one or two sources. If you stop one or two players, there’s others who can score."
One of several players to have shone for Brighton this term is Japan international Kaoru Mitoma. The Kanagawa-born winger is an exciting star of a team littered with talents.
"He’s going to be the next one," Naylor explained. "Brighton have got a lot of exceptionally talented players. He’s a bit of a throwback to one of those wingers who have got a lot of pace and is very direct.
"He’ll just go at a full-back and just go past them easily as well. He’s not the finished article yet. He played very well against Liverpool. He had a couple of chances and he’s a hugely talented prospect.
"He did well for Japan at the World Cup and he’s now established himself in the starting line-up for Brighton. He was basically coming on as an impact substitute and making a real impact in games.
"Now he’s having a run of games in the starting line-up and is certainly justifying his place in the team."
All times GMT.