I saw what Brighton did at Chelsea - Gordon and Isak will be licking their lips

Wesley Fofana congratulates team-mate Cole Palmer of Chelsea
-Credit: (Image: Getty Images)


The headlines were all about Cole Palmer, which is hardly surprising after the Chelsea star's four-goal blast against Brighton last Saturday. But Newcastle United and Eddie Howe will have been paying close attention to something else at Stamford Bridge.

The Magpies coaching staff will have needed no reminder of England star Palmer's talents, nor how well Chelsea are playing under Enzo Maresca this season. United could face Chelsea twice in the space of just a few days later this month, with the Premier League meeting at Stamford Bridge scheduled for the weekend before the fourth round of the Carabao Cup. Newcastle must beat AFC Wimbledon first, but a home tie against the west Londoners awaits the winners of that game.

But while plans will no doubt be in the bag for nearer the time, it was Chelsea's opponents Brighton who will have had United's analysists taking notes. Fabian Hurzeler has impressed since arriving at the Amex Stadium in the summer, and was backed handsomley in the summer transfer market.

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No club had a bigger net spennd in the last window than the Seagulls, with just short of £200m invested, including a hefty sum on former Newcastle United winger Yankuba Minteh. But while the 4-2 defeat at Chelsea's was Brighton's first in the Premier League this season, it comes on the back of three consecutive draws - one admittedly at Arsenal - with the last league win coming back in August against Manchester United.

Brighton face Spurs at home this coming Sunday before a date with Newcastle at St James' Park on October 19, and United will be very much hoping they adopt the same tactics for that game as they did at Stamford Bridge. Hurzeler - like Eddie Howe - wants his team to play on the front foot and press the opposition in their own half.

However, the high defensive line they used against Chelsea was their downfall, with Maresca's men almost picking them off at will. Palmer scored four, saw another ruled out for offside and hit the post as Chelsea sprang their line with ease.

That is exactly what Newcastle would love to see at St James' in three weeks. United have the players to cause havoc if given space behind, with Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy custom-made to take full advantage. Not only that, they have the players to provide the service in Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and others, provided they get control in midfield.

We've seen on countless occasions how Newcastle can pick teams off if given the chance, but we're become accustomed to sides sitting back and trying the stifle United on home turf. Brighton have the talent to cause Newcastle problems, no doubt, but if they are willing to take the risks they did at Chelsea then we could be in for anothe thriller.