Why unique Brighton defence is so tricky to unpick

Brighton's man-to-man pressing system and measured defensive shape have made them the Premier League's third-best defence, conceding just seven goals while beating City and Arsenal.

Brighton have made an impressive start to the Premier League season, sitting third behind only Manchester City and Arsenal—both teams they have already beaten. Their success has been built on a distinctive defensive approach that combines high pressing with a unique deeper defensive structure.

Unlike most top teams that switch to rigid zonal defending when pressed back toward their own goal, Brighton continue to employ man-to-man principles even in their defensive block. They use a 'plus-one' system, where if opponents commit four forwards high up the pitch, Brighton defend with five. This allows them to maintain numerical superiority in defence while focusing on blocking the centre of the pitch.

When pressing from opposition goal-kicks, Brighton's attackers press intensely in a man-to-man fashion, with one attacker curving their run to cut off passing angles to the goalkeeper. This intensity and execution of the press has proven more effective than most teams manage. Combined with their attacking prowess—24 goals in nine games, the league's top tally—Brighton have conceded just seven goals this season, fewer than all but Arsenal.