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New York Times
4 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Kaoru Mitoma showed his importance to Brighton again. Now an anxious summer transfer window awaits
There is not normally an upside to losing a star player through injury for a lengthy period, but Kaoru Mitoma's absence from the last 16 games of the 2023-24 season had a silver lining for Brighton & Hove Albion. A back problem suffered by the Japan international left-winger dropped him off the radar for would-be suitors in the summer transfer window that followed. Advertisement Mitoma ended the 2024-25 campaign inhibited by injury again, but without accidental protection this time from prying eyes. Three goals and an assist in five appearances from the bench highlighted once more his importance to Brighton and the challenge they will face in replacing him whenever his dazzling stint at the Amex Stadium comes to an end. How long will that be? How long is a piece of string? The only certainty about Mitoma's contribution in the final few weeks of the season is that it reminded everybody about his talent and a range of gifts that now extend to impersonating a false No 9. Each of the three goals Mitoma scored in April and May — in a 4-2 defeat at Brentford and in 3-2 wins against West Ham and Liverpool — were converted from central areas following encouragement from head coach Fabian Hurzeler to take up more dangerous positions inside the box. Hurzeler told reporters a few days after the West Ham game: 'It's important as a player to understand that you need to be in the box, there's a clear area in the box where the most goals happen. If you're not in this area, you can't score. 'Sometimes you make the run and you don't get the ball, but the more times you do these runs, the more times you are present in the opponents' box, the higher the percentage that you score. That's what we try to get in the minds of the players, and if you see Mitoma's last two games and where he scored, it's similar areas. We try to train that and get the players more into that area.' Note Mitoma's starting position for his goal at Brentford (see below). He is on the edge of the 'D' before making a run to the left-hand side of the area to latch onto Jack Hinshelwood's pass and then finishing with his left foot. Against West Ham, Mitoma positions himself between Danny Welbeck and Lewis Dunk in the middle of the penalty area when Diego Gomez delivered a cross… … Mitoma then advances to nod in from close range from Brajan Gruda's header. In the Liverpool game, Mitoma was once again in a central position inside the box, following up after Welbeck's shot was parried by Alisson to acrobatically hook in a volley with the ball nearly chest-high. Instant impact off the bench from Kaoru! 🤩💫 — Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) May 20, 2025 'There he was again, and that's confirmation to be present in the opponent's box, and then you score,' Hurzeler told The Athletic after the match when asked about the repeating pattern of Mitoma's late-season goals. Minor heel and back issues restricted Mitoma to the flurry of substitute appearances. Extra recovery time has been granted by his country. With Japan's place in the 2026 World Cup finals already assured, Mitoma was rested from the national squad for their remaining qualifying fixtures against Australia, which took place yesterday, and Indonesia on Tuesday. Advertisement 'We have to manage him,' Hurzeler told reporters before Brighton's 4-1 victory at Tottenham last month. 'He has some small minor issues, not big issues, otherwise he can't play. But overall, he is not at his highest level regarding physicality, regarding readiness for the games.' Mitoma still made an impact in the recovery from 1-0 down at half-time at Tottenham. When he was introduced at half-time, he helped shift the momentum with direct runs down the right-hand side of the Tottenham defence. He then laid on an assist for Gomez, who curled into the top corner from outside the area deep into stoppage time. He ended up as Brighton's joint-top scorer in the Premier League on 10 goals with Welbeck and Joao Pedro, and tied with Welbeck on 11 goals across all competitions. His overall total for the club now stands at 24 goals and 20 assists in 108 games. Mitoma's showstopper against Chelsea at the Amex in February swept the board as goal of the season for the club, at The Athletic awards night and on Match of the Day, eclipsing, in the latter competition, Omar Marmoush's long-range strike for Manchester City against Bournemouth in the final week of the season. Premier League Goal of the Season 2024/25 🥇 Kaoru Mitoma | Brighton 3-0 Chelsea, 14 February 2025#PL | # — The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) May 20, 2025 Gary Lineker, who had the casting vote on his farewell appearance presenting Match of the Day, said: 'We see lots of goals which are just blasted in, but Mitoma's first touch, second touch, third touch and finish were exquisite.' So too was another moment after coming on in that Liverpool game. The Amex gasped and then broke out into spontaneous applause as Mitoma controlled the ball back over his head when it appeared to be going out of play for a throw-in. Kaoru's control is out of this world… 🤯 — Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) May 20, 2025 Will that match on the night before his 28th birthday turn out to be Mitoma's farewell home appearance for the club? There have inevitably been reports about interest from other clubs. Mitoma had no interest in a move to the Saudi Pro League when Brighton rejected offers from Al Nassr of £54million ($73.3m) and £61m in the January transfer window. Advertisement He gave little away after the Tottenham game to a group of Japanese reporters who follow him at Brighton, commenting only that he 'can't say anything' and 'doesn't know anything' regarding his future. Asked more generally whether playing in the Champions League would be appealing, Mitoma said: 'That is one goal, but if I focus on what's in front of me and do it right, I believe I can play in it.' Whether Brighton's near-miss in qualification for the Europa Conference League with their eighth-placed finish makes much difference to Mitoma is hard to know. He is thriving under Hurzeler, but it promises to be an anxious summer transfer window for supporters accustomed to revelling in his wizardry.
BreakingNews.ie
20-05-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Glaring miss shows Mohamed Salah is human, says Liverpool boss Arne Slot
Arne Slot said Premier League top scorer Mohamed Salah proved he is 'human' after missing an open goal at a crucial stage of Liverpool's thrilling 3-2 loss at Brighton. With the champions leading 2-1 at the Amex Stadium, Reds forward Salah had a golden chance to mark his 300th Premier League appearance with a 29th top-flight goal of the campaign. Advertisement But he somehow fired wide from the edge of the six-yard box in the 54th minute before goals from substitutes Kaoru Mitoma and Jack Hinshelwood completed Albion's comeback victory. What a MISS from Mo Salah?! 😰 — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 19, 2025 Defeat mattered little to Liverpool, but they have now taken just one point from three games since clinching the title on April 27. 'The first thought that goes through my head when I see the ball moving towards Mo, I'm like, 'It's quite a big chance, this could lead to a goal,' because that's what Mo normally does,' said head coach Slot. 'But he's been throughout this season almost inhuman. But there were moments in the season where he was human, so it's not the first time that he's not scoring for one or two games in a row. Advertisement 'But the good thing for us is this hardly ever happens and, if it happens, you can be sure that he will score in the third game of the fourth game.' Liverpool, who left Trent Alexander-Arnold on the bench ahead of his summer exit, were given a guard of honour as they entered the pitch, which prompted boos from some home fans. First-half goals from Harvey Elliott and Dominik Szoboszlai, either side of Yasin Ayari's leveller, helped subdue Seagulls supporters. But, following Salah's uncharacteristic miss from a Cody Gakpo cross, Mitoma equalised in the 69th minute before Hinshelwood pounced five minutes from time. Advertisement Arne Slot has explained Alexis Mac Allister will not feature in our final game of the season this weekend due to injury. — Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 19, 2025 Slot is confident Reds midfielder Alexis Mac Allister will be fit for the start of next season. The Argentinian World Cup winner was left out against his former club and will miss Sunday's season finale at home to FA Cup winners Crystal Palace. 'He needs rest at this moment in time to recover completely and to be ready for the start of next season,' said Slot. 'But that will be no problem for him to be back next season. Advertisement 'I think he played throughout the last part of the season with the Argentinian mentality that he has, so he never gives up, no matter what he feels. 'But it's not smart to play a player that has, not a big injury, but has something to take the risk with.' Brighton boosted their slender hopes of scraping Conference League qualification by climbing to eighth – three points above Brentford – ahead of Sunday's trip to Tottenham. He's one of our own! 💙🤍 — Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) May 19, 2025 Albion must remain in that position to stand any chance and then hope either Chelsea finish seventh and beat Real Betis in the Conference League final or Carabao Cup winners Newcastle drop out of the top six. Advertisement Match-winner Hinshelwood reflected on a memorable evening after coming off the bench at the same time as his 17-year-old cousin – Premier League debutant Harry Howell – and hitting the decisive goal a minute later. The 20-year-old's finish was initially ruled out before VAR deemed Matt O'Riley, who provided the assist, was marginally onside. 'There was a nervous wait until the goal was allowed, but when it was allowed it was pure relief,' Hinshelwood told Sky Sports. 'It was a really nice moment coming on with my cousin. 'We've been working so hard since we were kids. Playing together since we were just born kicking balls with each other. 'He made a great run across the front post to open the gap for me, I'll be thanking him later.'
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Brighton's 'meticulous' plan for 17-year-old Howell
Amongst the chaos of a win over the champions on Monday night, Brighton handed a debut to their youngest ever Premier League forward 17 year old Harry Howell. And what trust Fabian Hurzeler must have in Howell to put him into a situation like that. I asked Hurzeler about him afterwards, and he called the teenager a "special" player, who had really impressed in training. For the Brighton manager, age is no has been a meticulous, well-thought out plan by Brighton to get Howell some Premier League minutes before the end of the season. It might be a new name to anyone outside the walls of the Amex Stadium, but Howell has been training with the first-team for a couple of months now. Internally, they feel like he is destined for a very bright future. When Howell came off the bench with his cousin Jack Hinshelwood, it was 2-2. A minute later, Howell was almost stood next to Hinshelwood when he popped in the winning goal. Maybe it was purely coincidental, but Hurzeler's decision to send Howell on with Hinshelwood felt deliberate to me. A familiar face to settle the nerves perhaps?Howell reminded me a bit of when Tyler Dibling burst onto the scene at the start of the season for Southampton. There are similarities in style and been in tremendous form for the Brighton Under-21s this season, and has an excellent grounding in his dad, Jamie. He was a youngster with Arsenal and part of their team that won the FA Youth Cup in reputation for developing players means the teenager is in very good hands.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Premier League reaction: Brighton beat champions Liverpool to keep Europe hopes alive
Update: Date: 07:49 BST Title: Post Content: Brighton 3-2 Liverpool Brighton midfielder Jack Hinshelwood came on in the 84th minute along with winger Henry Howell - his 17-year-old cousin - who became Brighton's youngest player. Hinshelwood then made an instant impact as, just a minute later, the 20-year-old scored the fourth quickest goal by a substitute in the Premier League this season. Update: Date: 07:36 BST Title: Seagulls beat champions after coming from behind twice Content: Brighton 3-2 Liverpool Michael EmonsBBC Sport Premier League champions Liverpool twice let a lead slip as Brighton fought back in style to gain a victory that boosts their slim hopes of securing European football next season. Substitute Jack Hinshelwood proved to be the match-winner as he made an instant impact and turned in Matt O'Riley's cross in the 85th minute, with the goal being given following a check by the video assistant referee (VAR) after it had originally been ruled offside. The Reds led 1-0 and then 2-1 at half-time, before the Seagulls recovered well to move eighth in the table, three points above Brentford. In an entertaining match at Amex Stadium, Liverpool took a ninth-minute lead through Harvey Elilott following good work from Conor Bradley, before Yasin Ayari equalised with a low strike. But Dominik Szoboszlai restored the Reds' advantage in fortunate fashion. He and Elliott combined to take a quick free-kick, and from the right side of the penalty area Szoboszlai seemingly attempted a cross into the box, only for the ball to fly over the head of home goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen into the net. Alisson produced a superb fingertip save to deny Danny Welbeck, but could do nothing about Kaoru Mitoma's strike when he showed great technique to make it 2-2 before Hinshelwood's winner. Update: Date: 07:32 BST Title: Good morning Content: And welcome to today's live page. Brighton became the latest Premier League team to give a guard of honour to champions Liverpool on Monday and the Seagulls then came from behind twice to inflict the Reds' fourth league defeat of the season. We're about to bring you reaction, look at the race for Europe and then continue the build-up to this season's Europa League final between Tottenham and Manchester United in Bilbao on Wednesday.
The Independent
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Glaring miss shows Mohamed Salah is human, says Liverpool boss Arne Slot
Arne Slot said Premier League top scorer Mohamed Salah proved he is 'human' after missing an open goal at a crucial stage of Liverpool's thrilling 3-2 loss at Brighton. With the champions leading 2-1 at the Amex Stadium, Reds forward Salah had a golden chance to mark his 300th Premier League appearance with a 29th top-flight goal of the campaign. But he somehow fired wide from the edge of the six-yard box in the 54th minute before goals from substitutes Kaoru Mitoma and Jack Hinshelwood completed Albion's comeback victory. Defeat mattered little to Liverpool, but they have now taken just one point from three games since clinching the title on April 27. 'The first thought that goes through my head when I see the ball moving towards Mo, I'm like, 'It's quite a big chance, this could lead to a goal,' because that's what Mo normally does,' said head coach Slot. 'But he's been throughout this season almost inhuman. But there were moments in the season where he was human, so it's not the first time that he's not scoring for one or two games in a row. 'But the good thing for us is this hardly ever happens and, if it happens, you can be sure that he will score in the third game of the fourth game.'
