Brighton & Hove Albion Vs Crystal Palace [5-0] Premier League 2026/2027: How Fabian Hürzeler Combined Pressing & Positional Rotations To Dominate The M23 Derby - Tactical Analysis

On Sunday, Brighton & Hove Albion hosted Crystal Palace in a very entertaining M23 Derby.

After just 10 minutes, Brighton were already winning 3-0.

The first came from a Crystal Palace own goal by Jaydee Canvot after a Pascal Groß free-kick.

The second goal was something special.

Diego Gómez scored from close to the halfway line, catching the goalkeeper off guard with an incredible shot.

It was the kind of goal that could be nominated for Goal of the Season, or even the Puskás Award.

From 51.3 yards, Gómez scored the longest-range Premier League goal since Wayne Rooney in 2017.

Only seven players in the history of the competition have scored from further away.

Brighton added two more goals in the second half.

Jack Hinshelwood scored the last one just 13 minutes after coming on.

With this win, Brighton moved into third place after seven league games.

They are also the league's highest-scoring team, with 23 goals, and have conceded just five, the same number as defending champions Arsenal.

Brighton are in great form, having won their last six matches in all competitions.

In the league, they have recorded five wins and one draw against Leeds United, with their only defeat coming against Chelsea.

It has been a strong start to the season for Fabian Hürzeler's team, who are showing they can be dangerous in attack while remaining solid defensively.

In this Brighton vs Crystal Palace tactical analysis, we look at how Brighton secured the win, focusing on how they broke Crystal Palace’s back five and how they adapted their press.

Brighton Vs Crystal Palace Lineups & Formations

Brighton Lineup Vs Crystal Palace

Hürzeler set his team up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Bart Verbruggen in goal behind a back four of Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Luka Vušković, Lewis Dunk and Olivier Boscagli, from right to left.

Pascal Groß and Chema Andrés started in midfield behind Yasin Ayari as the No. 10, with Gómez and Maxim De Cuyper on the wings and Charalampos Kostoulas up front.

The German coach made five changes in the second half.

In the 71st minute, Hinshelwood and Georginio Rutter came on for Groß and Kostoulas.

Close to the end of the game, in the 81st minute, Jaouen Hadjam and Malick Yalcouyé came on for Boscagli and Ayari.

Lastly, in the 90th minute, Dunk was withdrawn for Michael Svoboda.

Crystal Palace Lineup Vs Brighton

Pierre Sage started the match in his preferred 3-4-3 formation, with Walter Benítez in goal, Jaydee Canvot, Chris Richards and Honest Ahanor as centre-backs, while Anan Khalaili and Tyrick Mitchell lined out as wing-backs.

In midfield, Adam Wharton and Quinten Timber started as central midfielders, with Daichi Kamada and Yéremy Pino as wingers and Jørgen Strand Larsen as the striker.

The French coach also made five changes in the second half.

At half-time, Dwight McNeil came on for Timber, while eight minutes after Jefferson Lerma came on for Ahanor.

In the 61st minute, two players were withdrawn, as Strand Larsen and Pino made way for Jean-Philippe Mateta and Eddie Nketiah.

Lastly, in the 81st minute, Will Hughes came on for Kamada.

How Did Brighton Break Down Crystal Palace’s Back Five?

In the build-up, the Seagulls used a back four with two midfielders in front, while the No. 10 dropped deeper to offer another passing option.