Brighton vs Aston Villa: Season Opener at American Express Stadium

Brighton and Aston Villa kick off their Premier League seasons on Sunday at the American Express Stadium, where they last met in a seven-goal thriller a year ago. The hosts finished eighth for the second consecutive season under Fabian Hurzeler's leadership.

Aston Villa arrives as Europa League holders but has had a tough pre-season with five defeats from seven matches, including a Super Cup loss to PSG. Unai Emery's side won 14 of their 22 league meetings against Brighton and have the upper hand in head-to-head encounters.

Key players are missing on both sides: Carlos Baleba is closing in on a £65m move to Manchester United, while Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins' future remains uncertain amid interest from Al-Hilal. Brighton has made some new signings, including Promise David, who could make his debut off the bench.

The match will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League channels.