Brighton & Hove Albion-Fulham Preview

Brighton and Hove Albion boss Graham Potter is unsurprised by the interest of European heavyweights in Moises Caicedo, but says the club are "calm and confident" he will not leave before the transfer window shuts, ahead of their Premier League trip to Fulham.

The Ecuador international's fine form last term and this year so far has commanded several clubs to explore pursuits for a potential move, including Liverpool after the Reds bucked their mixed start to the new season in dramatic fashion against Bournemouth.

But Potter does not feel Caicedo is set to head out of the door imminently, though he completely understands and agrees with the attention feted upon his star as warranted praise.

"It doesn't surprise me that people are looking at him because he is playing at a fantastic level," he stated. "As soon as you do research on him you realise he is a top kid, great person, young, playing in the Premier League, has all the attributes to play at the very, very highest level. But we know the position he is in and we know the position the club are in, which is why we don't want to lose him.

"We don't think we will, but in football you never know. That is how it is, but we are quite calm and confident."

Opposite number Marco Silva, meanwhile, paid tribute to star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic after he netted his 100th club goal against Arsenal, while also tipping his hat to Potter's achievements with the Seagulls.

"Mitro is really confident in this moment," he added. "From the first day I joined this football club, he's been like that. We, as a team, have to keep playing in a certain way to give him the chances to score."

"(Brighton have) real high quality in their squad, (are) really tough to play against, with individual players who can create problems at any time (too). (Potter) deserves all the credit for what he's doing. The job he's done has been fantastic."

Fulham – Aleksandar Mitrovic

The Serbian has scored three goals in his two Premier League starts against Brighton. His goals against the Seagulls accounted for 27 per cent of his total strikes in the 2018-19 campaign (3/11) – this could prove a happy hunting encounter for him.

Brighton – Pascal Gross

The German was essential to an imperious performance against Leeds United, breaking up their creative link through the middle and wide to the wingers. If he does that again in London, his side will find it much easier going forward on the counter.

- Fulham are unbeaten in all four of their Premier League games against Brighton (W1 D3), with both meetings the last time the sides met in 2020-21 ending goalless.

- Brighton lost 11 of their first 13 away league games against Fulham (W2) between 1929 and 1985 but have since won five of their last nine at the Cottagers since 1988 (D1 L3).

- Brighton have kept a clean sheet in each of their last seven Premier League games against promoted sides (W5 D2) since a 1-0 loss at West Brom in February 2021. That defeat to the Baggies is their only loss against a promoted side in their last 15 such games (W7 D7).

- Fulham have won just one of their last 16 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) Premier League games (D7 L8), though that was a home victory over Brighton on a Tuesday in January 2019.

- Brighton failed to win a single midweek (Tues, Weds, Thurs) Premier League game last season, drawing three and losing four. Their previous three such matches before this saw them draw with Chelsea and pick up victories over Liverpool and Manchester City.

Updated August 29, 2022