Albion Analytics: Stunning stats from Leicester thrashing

Brighton scored five goals for the first time in 364 top-flight matches when they beat Leicester at the Amex on Sunday.

The win means the Albion have matched their club record-breaking start from last season where they also took 13 points from the first six fixtures. Last season, Brighton’s fourth win of the season also came at home to Leicester (2-1).

But this season Brighton have set personal bests under Potter for, in the first six games of a season, most goals scored (11), most xG (11.26) and goal difference (+6), while impressively conceding fewer xGA than ever before (5.66). Of course, in a results-driven industry, Brighton’s location in fourth position is better than their previous best of sixth after six last season (2021/22).

As per Opta data, it was Brighton’s best display among the first six matchdays this season for final third pass accuracy (75%), open-play passing sequences of 10+ passes (22), open-play crosses (15) and big chances created (4). Impressively, it was Brighton’s lowest game this season for clearances (5), indicating how well they dominated the game and pitch territory.

In front of goal, Brighton had their most shots (23), xG (2.76) and shots on target (11) in any Premier League game this season, also posting a season best 21.7% conversion rate. For shots on target, their total was the most of any non ‘big-six’ side.

With the game balanced at 2-2 at half-time, it took a dominant second-half display for Brighton to take all three points. In the second half Albion outshot Leicester (12 to 2), had more shots on target (9 to 1), more big chances (3 to 0), more final third passes (73 to 14) and even more tackles plus interceptions (17 to 14), despite having less possession. A fitting way to extend their best top-flight home run for 40 years.

Eight of Brighton’s ten starting outfielders recorded a shot, with Solly March (6), Danny Welbeck (4), Alexis Mac Allister (4), Moises Caicedo (3), Pascal Gross (2) and Enock Mwepu (2) all recording multiple shots, evidencing the variety in attacking Albion threat. Post-match Graham Potter described it as “a great team performance." 

Seven different Brighton players recorded multiple shot-creating actions and Brighton had four different goalscorers (own goal, Alexis Mac Allister, Leandro Trossard, Moises Caicedo). Pascal Gross picked up his second assist of the season, again setting up Leandro Trossard. They are one of six Premier League pairings to have already combined for multiple goals this season.

The Belgian also won the penalty for Mac Allister to give Brighton a second half lead – he beat Ndidi with a dribble and the defender pulled him over. Trossard has the most chance creating carries (10) of any Brighton player so far this season, while also topping the club charts for successful, open-play passes plus crosses into the box (19), touches in the opposition box (35) and dribbles (11).

But player of the match on Sunday was Mac Allister. SofaScore’s algorithm rates that as the best individual Brighton performance so far this season and by their player ratings he has been Albion’s top player in four of the six games (versus Leicester, Fulham, West Ham and Newcastle).

Mac Allister becomes just the third Brighton player, after Lewis Dunk and Pascal Gross, to score a direct free-kick goal in the Premier League. 

Across the first six games, the Argentinian is Brighton’s top player for passes made under pressure (47), completed passes to the final third (29), tackles plus interceptions (26), pressures and successful pressures (113 and 42) and ball recoveries (77). The 23-year-old has adapted almost seamlessly to a deeper-lying role and is controlling games with and without the ball.

While he has benefited from three penalties, Mac Allister has converted all three without the goalkeeper touching any, indicating his ability to strike with power and precision. Only four Premier League players have scored more goals than Mac Allister (four), who is just one strike away from matching his goal haul from last season.