Sutton: Brighton and Brentford Face Top-Six Test in Premier League

Brighton and Brentford hold third and fourth place, and BBC Sport's Chris Sutton is curious whether they can sustain a push for a top-six finish.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton said the strong openings from both clubs have made their prospects a genuine talking point in the 2026-27 Premier League campaign. Brighton currently occupy third place, with Brentford one spot behind in fourth.

Sutton highlighted Brighton's early form, squad depth and style of play as reasons for optimism, while voicing reservations about Brentford. In his view, Brentford brought in fewer players over the summer than Brighton did, leaving them dependent on avoiding the kind of injury problems that can derail a long season.

The Observer's Rory Smith offered context on the differing approaches. He noted that Brighton, playing in Europe, deliberately built a larger squad this season, whereas Brentford's failure to qualify for European football may explain their quieter transfer window.

Smith also pointed to contrasting transfer philosophies. While Brighton actively recruit players to develop and sell on, Brentford do not treat reselling as a core aim, even though players such as Mamadou Sangare and Igor Thiago could eventually command large fees.

The full discussion is available on BBC Sounds.