The Lowdown: Leicester City's Next Opponents, Brighton & Hove Albion

First Team
05 Mar 2021
5 Minutes
Leicester City travel to meet Brighton & Hove Albion at AMEX Stadium on Saturday evening (8pm kick-off).

Leicester have defeated the Seagulls in both league and cup at King Power Stadium this season, but are without a win in three games in all competitions heading into the south coast clash.

Graham Potter's men, meanwhile, are also looking to get back to winning ways when they welcome the Foxes to AMEX Stadium, following back-to-back league defeats.

Ahead of the latest encounter between the two sides, LCFC.com takes a closer look at Graham Potter's men...

The manager 

The Brighton manager previously gained coaching experience in Sweden with Östersunds FK.

Former Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion and York City left-back Graham Potter signed a four-year contract as Brighton's manager in the summer of 2019, following one year at Swansea City.

The Seagulls made an assured start to the 2019/20 season following his appointment, securing wins over Watford, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Norwich City.

However, Leicester’s 2-0 victory at AMEX Stadium in November put a halt to their good run of form and the south coast outfit would only record two more league wins before the postponement of Premier League football in March. 

At the end of the 2019/20 season, Brighton finished in 15th place, seven points clear of danger.

After graduating from the Open University with a degree in Social Science, working for the University of Hull as a football development manager and as a technical director for the Ghana women's team, Potter also completed a master's in Leadership and Emotional Intelligence, before going into professional football management. 

Potter's career began at Östersund in Sweden, where he led them from the fourth tier to the Allsvenskan, the country's top division, eventually also winning the Svenska Cupen, or Swedish Cup.

That latter success qualified his side for the second qualifying round of the 2017/18 UEFA Europa League, where they would defeat Turkish giants Galatasaray 3-1 over two legs.

Also overcoming Fola Esch and PAOK, Östersund eventually reached the group stage and would finish second, level on points with Athletic Bilbao, seeing them into the knockout round.

Potter and his resilient, skilful side truly made headlines in England by sealing a remarkable 2-1 victory over Arsenal at Emirates Stadium, but would eventually suffer an aggregate defeat in 2018.

In the following summer, Potter moved to Swansea City, reaching the quarter-finals of the Emirates FA Cup, finishing 10th in the Sky Bet Championship and building a youthful, talented squad.

The team

No Brighton player has made more appearances this season than versatile defender Ben White.

Brighton's squad was bolstered with several exciting summer signings, including Adam Lallana, on a free transfer from Liverpool, and Danny Welbeck, who also joined on a free from Watford.

Right-back Joël Veltman signed from Ajax, while centre-back Ben White decided to remain at AMEX Stadium, despite reported interest from Leeds United, after an impressive loan spell at Elland Road.

White is the only player to have featured on 25 occasions for the Seagulls so far in 2020/21, while Yves Bissouma and Neal Maupay have both played 24 times throughout the season.

Former Chelsea youngster Tariq Lamptey, on the other hand, has also earned plaudits for his standout performances at right-back for Graham Potter's men throughout the early months of the season.

Brighton's goalscoring charts are topped by Maupay, with seven strikes in the Premier League, while Lewis Dunk has netted three goals.

Form guide

Steven Alzate wheels away after putting the Seagulls ahead at Liverpool earlier this year.

The Seagulls approach Saturday's visit of Leicester without a win in five games, having lost their last two Premier League fixtures to Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion.

Joël Veltman's goal wasn't enough for Brighton to take anything out of the game against the Eagles, while successive draws against Burnley and Aston Villa preceded their Emirates FA Cup exit at the hands of the Foxes.

Their last victory came at the home of the reigning champions as Steven Alzate struck for the Seagulls against Liverpool, giving Brighton a 56th-minute lead at Anfield - which they defended valiantly in a 1-0 victory. 

Previous encounters

Kelechi Iheanacho headed home for Leicester's late winner in the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round tie.

Leicester City are unbeaten in their last eight clashes with Brighton, all spanning over their shared time in the Premier League, while the Seagulls last enjoyed success in April 2014.

Earlier this season, at King Power Stadium, James Maddison netted a brace and Vardy registered on the scoresheet once as a stunning first-half performance helped City secure a 3-0 victory over Brighton on 13 December 2020.

More recently, on 10 February, the Foxes progressed in the Emirates FA Cup at the expense of the Seagulls with a 1-0 win at the fifth-round stage. Kelechi Iheanacho's injury-time goal proved to be the difference between the two sides on the night.

Last term, meanwhile, the Foxes secured a 2-0 victory at AMEX Stadium, courtesy of goals from Ayoze Pérez and Jamie Vardy, while the two sides played out a goalless stalemate at King Power Stadium.

In total, City have won 17 times against Brighton, who themselves have tasted victory on 13 occasions, while seven matches have ended in draws.

The trophy cabinet 

Gus Poyet guided the Seagulls to the League 1 title in 2011.

Three-time third tier champions Brighton (1958, 2002 and 2011) have also finished as runners-up in the second tier twice, in 1979 and, most recently, in 2017.

Over their history, the Seagulls have also won the fourth division twice, in 1965 and 2001, while lifting the Southern Football League title back in 1910.

In domestic cup competitions, meanwhile, the South Coast side were FA Cup runners-up in 1983, losing a replay to Manchester United, and FA Charity Shield winners in 1910.

The stadium 

AMEX Stadium is one of the most picturesque venues in the Premier League.

AMEX Stadium, Brighton's home since 2011, is among the most picturesque venues in English football, surrounded by woodland and including an iconic curved design to its four stands.

Based in the village of Falmer, the 30,750-capacity ground was built after Brighton left the Goldstone Ground in 1995 with no permanent new home arranged.

After ground sharing at Gillingham's Priestfield Stadium for two seasons, 50 miles away in Kent, the club then moved to Withdean Stadium, where they remained between 1999 and 2011.

After expansion work since its opening in 2011, AMEX Stadium allows Brighton to regularly attract crowds in the region of 30,000, while also providing a day-to-day home for the club.

Upcoming fixtures

The Seagulls have drawn 11 games this term - the joint-highest in the Premier League.

Next up, Brighton are involved in a south coast derby, travelling to face Southampton at St. Mary's Stadium on Sunday 14 March (12pm kick-off), before welcoming Newcastle United to AMEX Stadium on Saturday 20 March (8pm kick-off).

Graham Potter's side begin April by heading to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United on 3 April, ahead of hosting Everton on 10 April and visiting Chelsea a week later (all 3pm kick-offs).

All times GMT.