Brighton predicted line-up vs Coventry City: key change made amid big Georginio call
The latest Brighton team news, injury update and predicted XI ahead of their Premier League clash against Coventry City
Brighton & Hove Albion are back in action this weekend, as they look to return to winning ways after a couple of frustrating Premier League results. Last time out, Fabian Hurzeler’s side were held 1-1 at home to Leeds United, with Luka Vuskovic’s second-half goal rescuing a point for the hosts. That result followed a narrow 4-3 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Next up, the Seagulls travel to take on newly promoted Coventry City, who lie bottom of the Premier League table having lost all three of their opening fixtures. The last time the two sides met, back in 2018, Brighton secured a 3-1 home win against their opponents in the FA Cup, with goals from Jurgen Locadi, Connor Goldson and Leonardo Ulloa.
Heading into the game, the Seagulls are without a number of key players. Yankuba Minteh - a player who was heavily linked with a summer exit - is out until well into next month with a foot injury. Kaoro Mitoma won’t back be back until after the international break due to a thigh problem, Jack Hinshelwood is also out until some time in October, along with Mats Wieffer, Stefanos Tzimas and Zadok Yohanna.
Georginio Rutter, Femi Azeez and Michael Svoboda will all face late fitness tests to see whether they’re able to play against the Sky Blues.
Ahead of Brighton’s 300+ mile round-trip to the Coventry Building Society Arena for Sunday’s big game, we’ve taken a crack at naming the most likely starting XI Hurzeler will field as his side look to propel themselves up the Premier League table with a big three points on the road against Frank Lampard’s struggling side.
Brighton predicted XI vs Coventry: goalkeeper and defence
Brighton are expected to set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against the Sky Blues, as they look to win their first game away to their opponents since 1982. There was plenty of summer interest in number one goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, but the Seagulls clung onto their top stopper who will make his 111th appearance for the club on Sunday afternoon.
Ferdi Kadioglu is expected to start at right-back - he’s an invaluable part of the team who was named the club’s Player of the Year for 2025/26. In the middle of the back four, veteran defender Lewis Dunk will make his 525th appearance for the club, and will likely be partnered by Luka Vuskovic, who joined in a £46m summer move from Tottenham.
Olivier Boscagli is set to start at left-back against Coventry City, having broken into the starting eleven after having to settle for limited first-team football last season, following his move from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven. He netted Brighton’s final goal in their 4-0 thrashing of Tromso in their Europa Conference League play-off second-leg last month.
Will Georginio Rutter play against Coventry City?
35-year-old Pascal Gross is showing no signs of slowing down despite being in the twilight of his career, and remains a firm favourite with Seagulls fans and canny Fantasy Premier League managers alike. The set-piece wizard spent two seasons with Borussia Dortmund after his first spell with Brighton, before returning to the south coast side last season.
He’ll start against Coventry, most likely alongside 22-year-old Yasin Ayari, who has become an integral part of Hurzeler’s midfield. Diego Gomez is set to start on the right flank, having turned in some impressive performances so far this season, and Maxim De Cuyper is expected to start on the left flank and look to add to the two goals and two assists he’s recently notched up.
Malick Yalcouye is set to keep his spot in behind the central striker, after scoring against Chelsea and putting in a good shift against Leeds last weekend. Leading the line, it’s a toss up between Georginio and Charalampos Kostoulas. If the former is fit, which he may well be despite missing Brighton’s last two games, then he’ll come in to start against Coventry.
Brighton predicted XI vs Coventry: Verbruggen; Kadioglu, Vuskovic, Dunk, Boscagli; Gross, Ayari; Gomez, Yalcouye, De Cuyper; Georginio.