In-depth Analysis
Since the heavy 1-4 defeat to Arsenal on December 31, 2025, Aston Villa have shown clear signs of slowing down in the 2025/26 Premier League season. In their last six league matches, Unai Emery’s side have managed just two wins, two draws and two defeats — a return that falls short of expectations for a team competing near the top of the table.
This inconsistent run of form has allowed Manchester United to significantly close the gap, with the Midlands club now holding only a one-win advantage over the Red Devils. Should Aston Villa drop points against Brighton in Round 26, they could realistically lose their third-place position, especially if United secure all three points against Fulham in the same round.
Nevertheless, Aston Villa still possess several advantages ahead of their clash with Brighton. Statistics show that they have won seven of their last nine Premier League meetings with the Seagulls, drawing once and losing once. Notably, Villa are aiming to complete a league double over Brighton for the third consecutive season, following their success in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns.
At Villa Park, Brighton’s record is far from convincing. They have claimed just one win in six Premier League away matches against Aston Villa (one draw, four defeats), conceding at least two goals in all five games they failed to win. In addition, Brighton have struggled badly in matches played on Wednesdays (UK time), winning only three of 26 Premier League fixtures on that day — the lowest win percentage (11.5%) among all current top-flight teams.
Brighton’s recent away form offers little encouragement as well. Since their 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest under Sean Dyche, the Seagulls have gone five consecutive Premier League away matches without a win, recording three draws and two losses. Remarkably, that victory remains their only away win in the last seven such matches against managers currently coaching in the league, with the other six coming against Kieran McKenna, Ruben Amorim, Ivan Juric, Vitor Pereira, Ange Postecoglou and Enzo Maresca — all of whom have since been dismissed.