Shades of Barca and Beckham - Brighton aim to maintain superb start

Not only are Brighton scoring more than everyone else in the Premier League, they are netting better goals too.

Centre-half Lewis Dunk won the Premier League goal of the month for September with a 35-yard stunner against Coventry. Now, five weeks later, that has already been eclipsed.

Step forward Seagulls team-mate Diego Gomez, who shot from the halfway line having seen Crystal Palace goalkeeper Walter Benitez off his line during Brighton's emphatic 5-0 win over their rivals on Sunday.

Benitez made a rapid dash back to his goal and produced a desperate dive but could not stop the ball going in just under the crossbar.

"As soon as he struck it, I knew it was in. He's taken the club goal of the season off me," joked Brighton skipper Dunk.

"That's the goal of the season so far, what a hit," added former Premier League striker Efan Ekoku, part of the commentary team for BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra. "[It was] superbly struck and right over the head of the keeper from the centre-circle."

Gomez's seventh-minute goal at the Amex put Brighton 2-0 up and was from 51 metres, the furthest long-range Premier League goal since Wayne Rooney scored from 58m for Everton in their 4-0 win over West Ham in November 2017.

"When I scored, I didn't know where to run, or what to do," admitted 23-year-old Paraguay midfielder Gomez. "When I got the ball, I knew the goalkeeper was a little bit ahead. I was very happy with the goal."

Former Newcastle goalkeeper and Match of the Day pundit Shay Given said the goal was "reminiscent of David Beckham [for Manchester United versus Wimbledon in 1996]" and added: "I don't even blame Benitez the goalkeeper.

"We're always talking about sweeper goalkeepers and you've got to be high up for the through ball and the defence playing a high line. I think his position was fine.

"You've just got to take your hat off to Gomez. That is just a brilliant, brilliant goal."

Brighton have never finished higher than sixth in English football's top flight, but now have 16 points from seven matches, with fan hopes rising that they could make a real push for Champions League qualification, or even a title challenge.

Their tally of 23 top-flight goals is four more than league leaders Manchester City, and more than double the 11 of reigning champions Arsenal.

Since the top flight was rebranded as the Premier League in 1992, only three sides have scored more goals across their first seven games of a season - Arsenal in 2009-10 (24), Manchester United in 2011-12 (24), and Manchester City in 2019-20 (27).

In the top five European leagues, only Barcelona, with 39 goals from nine La Liga matches, have more domestic league goals than Brighton.

With 10 different goalscorers, Brighton, third in the table, have also been the great entertainers of the season so far.

They won their opening league game 4-0 against an Aston Villa side that came fourth in 2025-26 and Fabian Hurzeler's team have shown that was not a one-off. Results since have included winning 5-0 at Coventry, 3-0 against Arsenal, 2-0 at Sunderland despite having a man sent off, and now 5-0 against rivals Palace.

In the Carabao Cup, they fought back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Old Trafford and eliminate Manchester United. In Europe, they have justified their position as Conference League favourites, putting four past both Norwegian side Tromso and Lithuanian champions Kauno Zalgiris.

Hurzeler was also keen to ensure Gomez remained grounded.

"It's not simple to score a goal like this," added Hurzeler. "Everyone speaks about his goal, but to me the most important thing is the things we can improve, small easy passes we missed.

"It's good to celebrate the win but understand there is still space for improvement especially for individual players.

"We don't train shots from 50 metres. Overall, we know he has a really good finish. In these moments it's about being very precise with his long kick. The perception to recognise the keeper and be quick to go to the action was impressive."

Brighton fans will have to savour the memories of this win and Gomez's goal as all of their next five matches are away from home.

That run includes league games at Liverpool and Manchester City, another trip to Etihad Stadium in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup, as well as Conference League matches in Czech Republic and Spain, against Jablonec and Getafe respectively.

By the time Brighton return to the Amex on 8 November to face Brentford, we will have a better indication of just how optimistic the Seagulls fans can be about their season.

"I know it's rare, but you look at Leicester in 2016 and Blackburn in 1995 when I was a kid," added Given. "At the minute, you'd say they could upset the apple cart, but obviously it's a long winter coming up.

"Being in European competition as well, that will take its toll for sure. But they're having an unbelievable start to the season. Even set-plays as well, they're the best in the league (nine goals scored).

"They've scored the most goals overall and kept the joint-most goals out, so that's a good start for any team to do well, isn't it?!"