5 things to take away from Burnley 1-2 Brighton

Brighton kicked off their 2021-22 season with a 2-1 win away at Burnley, an excellent result given that Turf Moor can be one of the tougher places to go in the Premier League.

Much of the focus both during and after the game was on Graham Potter. He named a bizarre starting XI with Adam Webster at right back and Pascal Gross at left back in an unfamiliar 4-1-4-1 formation.

Potter did at least realise that things were not working and changed things around at half time, reverting to 3-4-1-2. He then introduced Jakub Moder from the bench who claimed an assist within a minute of being on the pitch. Alexis Mac Allister went one better shortly after, scoring the winner within 60 seconds of his own introduction as a substitute.

There was plenty more to comment on from Turf Moor then just Potter’s afternoon which lurched from disaster-class to masterclass.

Warren Morgan has picked out five things to take away from Burnley 1-2 Brighton.

1) The Albion’s squad strength
Despite all of the farewells during the summer, the imminent departure of Percy Tau and the absence of Tariq Lamptey, Dan Burn, Danny Welbeck, Aaron Connolly and Joel Veltman, not only did Potter have a strong starting line up but he also had a quality bench from which he deployed subs to devastating effect.

There will always be injuries, suspensions and, for the foreseeable future, Covid-related absences, but there is cover there and real options if all are available, the striker question aside.

And what can you say about the return of big Shane Duffy, firmly staking a claim to a regular matchday place with an awesome performance at Turf Moor.

2) Jakob Moder
Moder is one of the few players to have scored this calendar year against the England team that went all the way to the Euro 2020 final, beating Jordan Pickford when Poland lost 2-1 at Wembley in March.

He gave hints at the end of last season – particularly in the Manchester City win – of just what he might contribute. A revelation this season I would wager if that assist for Neal Maupay’s equaliser is any indicator.

3) Mwepu might need some time.
Enock Mwepu was not the problem in the first half, but he was not quite the threat he appeared in the pre-season friendlies either.

As we have seen from other European league signings, the step up to Premier League pace and play is a big one. He will get there, like Veltman did, but it may take a while.

4) XGoals
This is the second game – alongside the the City one – where not only have we come from behind to win, but scored actual real back-of-the net goals rather than just in-theory, could-have, should-have ones. Hopefully, the commentators cliché of “Brighton as we know are not clinical in the final third” can be retired soon.

5)Leandro Trossard and Alexis Mac Allister
This interchangeable duo have both had experience with their national teams over the summer with Trossard at the Euros and Mac Allister at the Olympics.

Both may not have had a long enough break following their tournament commitments, but both may also have been fired up and given a confidence boost by their respective time away.

Mac Allister in particular seemed brimming with confidence when he came on, and what a finish for the winner.

Let us hope the team can carry forward that second half performance into the Watford game and stake a very, very early claim to a top ten place.