Albion start their Emirates FA Cup campaign on Saturday with a visit to the bet365 Stadium to take on Championship side Stoke City (3pm).
If the game is drawn after 90 minutes the replay will be at the Amex on Wednesday 17 January, kick off 7.45pm.
The fourth round draw will be broadcast live on ITV on Monday 8 January at around 7.50pm.
Team news
Lewis Dunk returns after suspension and is available. Ahead of the third round tie head coach Roberto De Zerbi confirmed that Jakub Moder and Evan Ferguson will start. "We will play with the best team I can choose," said Albion's head coach.
Last time against Stoke
We met in the fifth round last season when a first-half goal from Evan Ferguson earned Albion a 1-0 win.
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The opposition
New boss Steven Schumacher, who left Plymouth last month to join Stoke, is unbeaten in four games since his appointment, with 0-0 draws in their last two home game against Millwall and Ipswich Town, a 3-1 win at Birmingham City on Boxing Day and a 1-1 draw against Watford.
Schumacher, who guided Plymouth to promotion from League One last season, is a big fan of Albion. “They look a really good team and they’ve been one of the best teams to watch over the last couple of seasons. I really like the way they play, it’s exciting to watch. They’ve got really talented players, have recruited extremely well and all of a sudden players get into their environment and their system and you go ‘Wow, who’s that? How good is he?’
“It’s something that a lot of clubs should look to emulate. I’ve been so impressed with them and it’s going to be a tough game.”
Facts and stats
- Albion have won just one of their last 18 away games against Stoke in all competitions (D8 L9), though that victory did come in the FA Cup last season.
- Stoke City have lost their last eight FA Cup matches against Premier League opponents, since beating Bolton Wanderers 5-0 in the 2010-11 semi-final.
- Brighton have lost just one of their last seven FA Cup third round ties (0-1 v Sheffield Wednesday in 2019-20), reaching the semi-final last season.
- Kaoru Mitoma has been involved in four goals in five FA Cup appearances for Brighton (2 goals, 2 assists), with their 0-0 draw against Manchester United in last year’s semi-final the only game in which he hasn’t scored or assisted a goal.
Match officials
Referee: Paul Tierney
Assistants: Scott Ledger & Blake Antrobus
Fourth Official: Ben Toner