Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler speaking to TNT Sports about the changes: "I wouldn't say we have two teams. I think it's important to manage the energy of the players. All the players who are playing today they have the quality to play in the Premier League. And all of the players who are playing currently in the Premier League they have to keep going because the others are there to compete with them. For us it's very important to have this competition. It always makes teams better.

"These games are really good to give opportunities to players to perform and we give them these kind of opportunities not only because we have to manage the energy it's also because they deserve it. Every player who is on the pitch today deserve to be on the pitch. I think that’s very important to emphasise as well."

On their opponents: "Really impressive. We saw the [previous] games. Well structured in and out of possession, they'll be a tough opponent. We have to be ready for that."

On his 100th game in charge: "I go game by game, if it's 100 games of course it's something special. Great to be part of the journey, it’s great to be part of this amazing club. Hopefully we can keep going."

Sunderland

Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris, speaking to TNT Sports before the game starts: "We earned it last season, and it's a privilege to be in this position. Playing in Europe is a privilege, a learning process and it's demanding, but we have to stay creative and demanding."

On six players in the starting line-up being 23-years-old or younger: "You need to play games and I think at the top level, it's much better because you will struggle, [but] you will show your qualities as well.

When it's more demanding, it's the best place to learn. Those players are talented, they need time and support, but I'm sure they will be rewarded."

Sunderland midfielder Noah Sadiki says "the plan is to show our fans the mentality has changed a little bit" against Europa League opponents Lech Poznan on Thursday night (17:45 BST).

The Black Cats are currently rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table, having taken just one win and one draw from their first seven matches, but they are holding on to an unblemished record in Europe.

Sadiki, who scored a stoppage-time winner against Torreense in Sunderland's last Europa League fixture, believes his team-mates are "ready to respond from the bad performances" at Enea Stadion.

"It has been a little bit difficult for us after the loss against Bournemouth, if I'm honest, but we've all had a good talk," Sadiki told BBC Radio Newcastle. "We have put things on the table that we need to do better.

"We have had enough of the talking though, what we do on the pitch is going to do the talking now.

"Nobody here wants to lose a game, there's no question about that. It is now a case of whether we can bounce back from this, which I think we can.

"As players, the plan is to show our fans that the mentality has changed a little bit. We want to show that we are tired of losing as well, but we need to translate that into the game."

Image source, Getty Images

We've spoke about the pressure building on Sunderland boss Regis le Bris and the fans were singing for winger Chemsdine Talbi at full-time of the defeat at Bournemouth on Sunday.

He's been limited to just 31 minutes in the Premier League this season and has played 86 minutes in the Carabao Cup.

Nilson Angulo was signed in January and only has scored one goal and assisted another in 17 games.

Sunderland battled Crystal Palace for Malick Fofana on transfer deadline day but he is yet to score or assist seven games.

It is another question mark hanging over Sunderland and Regis le Bris' tactics.

Fabian Hurzeler will hit the 100-game landmark as Seagulls boss against Europa League opposition Jablonec today.

In charge since June 2024, Hurzeler has won 46 games, drawn 27 and lost 26.

Goals from the halfway line are etched into football fans' minds across the globe - David Beckham against Wimbledon in 1996, Xabi Alonso against Newcastle in 2006 and Wayne Rooney against West Ham in 2017.

Now, Brighton's Diego Gomez's name will be added to that list after his spectacular finish to beat Crystal Palace's Walter Benitez.

On the latest Albion Unlimited podcast, former Seagulls forward Warren Aspinall said: "Diego Gomez has driven it and he meant to do it. It is a wonderful strike.

"It's a beautiful goal. It will be up there as goal of the month in October, if not goal of the season."

Sunderland’s xG against total (1.36) is the second best of any team in the Uefa Europa League this season (after Rennes’ 0.79), with the Black Cats facing the fewest shots on target so far (3).

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris on the squad's reaction to Sunday's loss to Bournemouth: "When we lose games we are not happy and it's always emotional after a game.

"This team has emotions and this team cares a lot as well so it's only positive to have reactions and to try to find solutions because we we still have a good team and the results are not good enough in the Premier League.

"We know how relentless this league is when you make few mistakes and you get punished really quickly it was the case once again at Bournemouth. So it's important to understand, it's important to work together, it's important to share ideas as well and to be tough with each other, telling the truth when it's necessary to move forward."

Image source, Getty Images

"Arrogant" and "not good enough".

Nordi Mukiele offered a brutally honest verdict about why Sunderland have struggled so far this season, following their impressive return to the Premier League last term.

The Black Cats defender had his say after a 2-0 defeat by Bournemouth on Sunday. It was Sunderland's fourth Premier League loss in a row and leaves them second bottom in the table.

Only those inside the club can answer Mukiele's "arrogant" claim after the Black Cats' drop-off in results and performance.

They surprised everyone last season by qualifying for the Europa League at the first time of asking after eight years away from the top flight.

But have Sunderland been found out by their rivals? Are they suffering the somewhat mythical second season syndrome? Or might they simply be struggling with the added demands of European football?

"I think this game is just what we are looking [like] from the beginning of the season," Mukiele told Sky Sports. "We are not good enough.

"Why? I don't know. Maybe because we became arrogant, this is what I think."

Image source, Getty Images

While European football has been a welcome distraction from league struggles, that is certainly not the case for Brighton.

They are flying high in the Premier League as they currently sit third, while they kicked off their Conference League campaign with a 4-0 win against Lithuanians FK Kauno Žalgiris.

Excluding the Conference League qualifiers, Jablonec are winless in their last six games in the third tier European competition, conceding at least once in each of those games.

However, Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler says it would be wrong to underestimate them.

"We know we have to play at our highest level," he said.

"Jablonec won against Rangers and played a really good game last week against Freiburg."

Hurzeler added: "We watched these kinds of games, and we saw that they are a team that try to build from the back. They want to play football, and they have good individual quality."

Gary Bennett
Ex-Sunderland defender on BBC Radio Newcastle

I’m a bit surprised. We didn’t expect the team to be as strong.

I imagine they’ve had that conversation after that bad result at the weekend. They want to put things right, get confidence built up ahead of a huge game coming up against Leeds United.

We’ve still got a strong bench, if we are struggling, to change the game but hopefully the starting eleven can do the job.

Sunderland fan Eleanor McCabe discusses the club's defeat against Bournemouth, the reality check from Thursday's European success, and the fact that something needs to change.

Brighton have made eight changes from their 5-0 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Bart Verbruggen, Olivier Boscagli and Pascal Gross are the players to keep their place.

Brighton XI: Verbruggen, Costinha, Boscagli, Svoboda, Hadjam, Yalcouye, Hinshelwood, Gross, Osman, Rutter, O'Riley.

Subs: Chema Andres, Ayari, David, Dunk, Hall, Ibrahim, Kaioglu, Kostoulas, McGill, Nti, Oriola, Vuskovic.

Regis le Bris guided Sunderland back to the Premier League and then a seventh-placed finish in their first campaign back in the top flight.

He's surely got credit in the bank, right? Well, maybe not.

Some fans are questioning whether the Frenchman has taken the club as far as he can.

The Black Cats are bottom of the Premier League, with one win in seven games, but they have won both of their Europa League games.

Sunderland and Crystal Palace fans, how do you feel about Regis le Bris and Pierre Sage respectively?

Bournemouth fans, are you happy about the start that Marco Rose has made?

Brighton fans, assume you are loving life at the moment?

Let us know all your thoughts pre-match and during the games using the get involved button on this page.