Richard Keys has sensationally tipped Brighton to be relegated from the Premier League following the departure of Roberto De Zerbi.
The fixtures for the 2024-25 top-flight campaign were announced on Tuesday morning ahead of the opening day on August 17.
Attention in the footballing world is currently focused on the European Championship taking place in Germany but domestic action will swiftly return after the conclusion of the event on July 14.
Manchester City will be looking to claim a fifth straight top-flight title, while the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool – under new boss Arne Slot – will be desperate to put an end to their dominant run.
Many fans will be picking newly-promoted Leicester, Southampton and particularly Ipswich for the drop. But well advance of the new season, Keys has added Brighton’s name to the list of sides he expects to struggle.
The Seagulls parted ways with De Zerbi after their 11th place finish last term and took the landmark decision to replace him with 31-year-old Fabian Hurzeler.
Unsurprisingly, the veteran broadcaster believes that Brighton will end up paying for this ‘strange’ call.
‘Put Brighton down for relegation,’ he wrote in his blog. ‘What a strange appointment they’ve made – 31-year-old Fabian Hurzeler.
‘There’s his first problem. He’s younger than many of his key players – Jason Steele (33), Lewis Dunk (32), Joel Veltman (32), Pascal Gross (32), James Milner (38) and Danny Welbeck (33).
‘He could lose his dressing all too easily if he gets off on the wrong foot. Good luck to him.
‘I’ve said many times that I’ve got a real soft spot for Brighton, but I fear they’re going down the same path as their near neighbours Southampton.
‘There’s only so many times that you can go to the “clever” well before you find it’s run dry.’
Hurzeler’s impressive spell in Germany with St Pauli – which culminated in promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time in 31years – earned him a three-year deal at the Amex.
He has become the youngest manager in Premier League history and the first to be born after the formation of the league in 1992. Brighton chairman Toney Bloom said he was confident the club had made the right choice, after reports linked them to a reunion with former boss Graham Potter.
‘He has a style of play that aligns with how we want a Brighton & Hove Albion team to play and I’m confident it is one our supporters will appreciate and enjoy.’ Bloom said.
‘Fabian also has an excellent coaching pedigree and has worked with the German federation at various age group levels. We are really excited to start working with Fabian to prepare for the upcoming season.’
